Pippa:

Sorry the folks on Fodors shocked you. It doesn't surprise me.

You are absolutely correct though about it indirectly effecting their own poor residents. Even with the lowered rate for park fees and accomodations, the average joe cannot even afford to get his family from his home into the park let alone pay the reduced accomodation fees. And it is these poor people who are farmers and cattle herders that you would hope would indeed get a chance to see the parks and wildlife as we do. If they could see the wildlife living in harmony, no elephants killing buffalo in the park for instance, perhaps it might make them stop and wonder what it is that causes an elephant to kill one of their cows. Then it just MIGHT made them change the ways.

Nyamera:

Other than banging your head on the ground, how do you go about getting the resident rates? Share with us any hints you may have.

Jan,
I really don’t know how I go about it. I just truthfully say that it’s too expensive and then I get better offers than I hear people are paying all the time. Last year I paid the “resident rate” when I walked into the Heritage office and bought a flying package to Mara Intrepids. Though it was expensive anyway. Maybe I looked frantic and mildly threatening? In 2004 when I walk into a travel office in Mombasa asking for hotels on the beach, they almost immediately said they’d try to get me the resident rate. I would like to know how exactly to go about this myself as I’m going to Kenya on 19 June.

I'll let you practice your wiles on tour operators first then. I don't go again until August. Thus if you have any luck please let me know!!!