Africa: How Kenya’s New Standard Gauge Railway Is Impacting Safari Tourism

Your African Safari (YAS), a safari planning website, interviewed over 50 tour operators to learn more about the effects the new Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) has had on tourism to two of Kenya’s key tourist destinations: Tsavo and Nairobi National Park. The first phase connects Mombasa to Nairobi and is roughly 480km in length. Of that, about 140km runs through Tsavo National Park.

Tsavo is one of Kenya’s top safari destinations and also the country’s largest park. A 2017 census showed that the elephant population has risen above 12,000 again, which is great news.

According to Kenya Railways, the railway has been designed for environmental compatibility, particularly within the National Parks where fencing will be provided, along with underpasses for wild animals to ensure minimal animal displacement. It further claims that the National Land Commission (NLC) and Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) were consulted on Tsavo and Nairobi National Parks, and negotiations were made on how to ensure the railway wouldn’t harm the animals.

In some areas, the train will be elevated on pillars – sometimes as high as 40 metres – so that animals can pass freely below. In other instances, they have constructed underpasses to help ensure minimal animal displacement. Features Of Kenya’s High-Capacity SGR

• The standard gauge line was selected so that Kenya can eventually, and seamlessly, connect to neighbouring railways in Uganda, Rwanda and, eventually, South Sudan.

• Each freight train will have a haulage capacity of 4,000 tonnes and a designed speed of speed of 80 km/hour.

• Each passenger train will have a capacity of 960 passengers and a designed speed of 120km/h.

• The railway is being built by China Road and Bridge Corporation.

Construction of the railway began in 2014 with an investment of US$3.8billion, 90% of which is funded by China’s Exim Bank.

What Tour Operators Are Saying 

YAS surveyed tour operators who offer tours to at least one of the two parks and asked if they would start to incorporate the new railway in their itineraries. The response was overwhelmingly in favour (75%) of including the new railway. The survey then moved on to Nairobi National Park. Most of tour operators include Nairobi in 25-75% of their Kenya safari itineraries. Lastly, YAS asked how they felt about the new railway and what they thought its impact will be on tourism and, more importantly, the well being of the wildlife. Most of tour operators felt that the new SGR will have a positive impact on safaris. However, many tour operators who wrote in their thoughts commented on the difficulty of pre-booking on the SGR.

Trankstrek Safaris Ltd said, “We would only use the SGR if it was specifically requested by a client, as we have tried it and found it to be quite difficult in regard to buying tickets. The boarding process is very long and can take several hours so, although it’s a novelty, it isn’t a quick or easy process to actually get onto the train!” Brogibro Safaris also commented on the booking process, “We should be allowed to book the SGR online like other flight reservation, the present system of booking is not sufficient for tour operators. Booking in 3 days to travel is not acceptable, since some of our clients make reservations one year earlier or more.”

Africa Last Minute added that “Until SGR goes online and payable via credit card, the railway will have little impact for wildlife safari itineraries. However, it has boosted beach hotel sales for locals.” YAS also received many comments that voiced concern about the wildlife and park size reduction. Authentic East Africa Adventure said, “As much as the SGR is a welcome project that modernises travel and makes moving between the Kenyan coast and the rest of Kenya easier, its passing through Nairobi National Park will affect wildlife movement. It will also make a tour to Nairobi National Park less authentic. Having said that, the train tour will be more scenic with views of wildlife from aboard the train.”

 Kenya’s Safari Tourism And The SGR

According to the Director General of KWS, some elephants have been collared and are adapting positively to the new SGR. However, according to research done by Save the Elephants, who has been recording elephant movements since March 2016, eight elephants were killed because of the SGR embankment barriers in 2016. In recent years, the average annual kill from road carnage was two elephants. Unfortunately, there has been a significant increase in the roads and railways that cut through wildlife-rich areas.

Source: railwaysafrica.com