I have got confirmation that ENTIM camp got attacked again in Sep as well as Naibor, also in Sep.
The rumour goes that 2 guests at Naibor got heavily beaten but none at Entim. In both camps cellphones, which were charging batteries in the mess area, and minor things were stolen.

The mobsters fired several warning shots. Guests had to hide for 1 and a half hours in the bush until help came (from neighbouring camps, Ranger station) and the perpetrators disappeared.
An imediate search and the deployment of bloodhounds were without result. The hounds lost the trace in the Mara river. Obviously these folks are crossing from TAZ into the Mara.

Obviously the camps within the reserve are much more vulnerable than these outside in the conservancies. The camps outside have good relationships to the landlords from whom they lease the land. The camps within the reserve live obviously under much more insular conditions. And the reserve offers better escape routes particularly as the language/accent which was spoken by the mobsters points toward Tanzanian Massai.

These incidents are not particularly enhancing Kenya's reputation which had its share in bad news recently.

Pippa:

This is so very upsetting to read. It appears that some of the camps don't have adequate security set up.

I have often asked the manager of one of my favorite places what would one do if Somalias over-ran the camp and shooting was going on. Where on earth could tourists run/hide? They tried to reassure me by saying they were too far away to have this happen. However, you know as well as I that if herdsmen can walk with their cattle from Amboseli to Malindi, some of these illegal Somalis could walk from Malindi to Tsavo.
In my case, my tent is often surrounded by elephants and sometimes lions, and there is no way I would walk out into the bush at night by myself with these wild animals so close.

Makes me think that everyone should have their own plan in place at each lodge/camp they stay "just in case".

I would be very surprised if Somali robbers pitched up in Tsavo. Maybe in the very east of Tsavo-East but this area is anyhow closed to the public.

There is not much you can do, Jan. If armed robbers enter a camp, you better just sit still and let them take what they are after. Also the camp can not do much. What kind of security should they have to protect themselves from armed robbers? If they had armed guards, tourists could find themselves in the middle of a shoot out or get shot accidentally in their tents or hiding in the bushes.

The huge gap between the rich, paying 600 US$ per night, and the poor that don't have enough to feed their families, is to blame. As long as that exists, you will always find the odd ones grabbing "their share".

Your points are well taken Simba. However, remember Somalis were already in the parks herding their cattle. And one is now able to go into the formerly closed northern area if you are heading toward Ithumba. Fairly easy for them to cross the Galana from the North into the main park some time of the year.

However, I must say I don't agree entirely with your

The huge gap between the rich, paying 600 US$ per night, and the poor that don't have enough to feed their families, is to blame.

Jan
Just imagine you sit in the bush for 90 minutes pitch dark not knowing what comes from behind.............
Something I cannot book for you in advance Should be taken as a bonus ?!

hehe, an experience you will never forget and will tell your grandchildren