Hi there
Myself my wife and two children were some of the ones (and two other tents) attacked and robbed on the night of 7 October 2009 at the Naibor camp. I have posted the abbreviated story on Trip Advisor, and pasted here again below.

From what some of the staff said after the robbery was that the guy with the AK47 was a Somali but the other 4 bandits were likely Masai. I guess it doesn’t really matter where the bad guys come from, what surprised us is that it happen in a major game park. It is obvious the Kenyans can’t manage the problem.

The bottom line is the robbery was violent and we lost approx $10,000 in money jewelry and camera gear. Given that i thought we going to die or be seriously injured i guess we got a way lightly. If the robbers had more time they would have been intent on rape and injury

Most people think that violent crime is only in Nairobi; well unfortunately all these ugly forms of criminal activity have made it to where the tourists are. Be very careful even in the Mara, and make sure your lodge/camp site has armed guards. Naibor is owned by a couple of light weights and did nothing to prevent the robbery or help us after the fact. In fact I have significant evidence that confirms that one or more Naibor staff members were involved in the incident.

Trip Advisor Post

On the night of 07 October 2009 at approx 11.30 pm the camp was raided by armed bandits. They discharged a fireman then proceeded to rob the camp site tents including the managers tents and the 4 tents of camp guests, 2 of which were ours. 4 bandits dressed as Masai entered our tent armed with machetes, spears axes etc proceeded to assault us at rob us of money, jewelery and camera gear and other electronics. They then proceeded in to our children’s tent roughed them up and robbed them. After the bandits left our tent my family and I hid down along the river. We figured it was a better option to risk it with wild animals than face the prospect of the bandits returning, these guys meant business and it was obvious they had little regard for life; it would not have taken much for this to have turned really ugly.

The camp owners did not give a damn and did not investigate the claims of staff involvement, their response : "We should have know of the dangers in Africa" & "our injuries were only bruises and therefore no big deal".

Good news is we made it out alive.

Naibor is owned by a couple of Kenya clowns Anthony Cheffings of On Safari Kenya and Nigel Archer of Nigel Archer Safaris who do not take safety and security seriously.
• Prior incidents of robbery in the Mara, the last one only 6 weeks before but Naibor had no armed guards.
• Obvious Naibor camp staff involvement in the robbery but no intention of follow-up by management

My advice: If you must go to the Masai Mara stay in a lodge. If you insist on staying in a tented camp enquire about security and make sure the camp is protected against bandits by armed guards, and lastly STAY AWAY FROM NAIBOR

Incidents like ours have happened before and will happen again, don’t be a victim.

What's so upsetting about this is the physical violence and the lack of concern on the part of the owners for their guests' safety....the loss of valuables was considerable but the violence and nonchalant attitude of Cheffing and Archer is most troubling.

Was wondering if you would post this story to The Daily Nation, Kenya's leading newspaper. I wonder if they would even run it as it might have a negative impact on their tourism?

The Narok County Council is supposed to protect its guest in the Mara and if they can't, or won't do it - turn the operation of the reserve back to the Kenya Wildlife Service. The Council is running the infrastructure and the wildlife into the ground. This reserve needs the professional hand of the central government.

So sorry for your troubles, or as the Kenyans would say: "pole" (sorry).

Hi Kat

I would like to send my story to the The Daily Nation, can you help out with a contact email address?

Thanks

Hi Paul,

Thank you for taking the time to register and post details on the robbery. I am very sorry for what happened to you.

Most shocking is that the camp doesn't seem to care.

Having lived in Kenya, I can tell you that robberies take place all over Kenya, not only in Nairobi.

You did well by staying put and handing over your valuables, any kind of "hero behaviour" is likely to make things worse.
Do you really think that armed guards would have helped? As you say, these robbers meant business and therefore an encounter with armed guards would definitely turn really nasty. You also state that you have evidence that staff was involved. If so, what difference would it make if the staff had weapons?

I believe, the main problem is that there are people starving whilst others go camping with 10.000$ worth of valuables. A tented camp in the middle of the bush can not provide such safety. Indeed, better stay at a lodge. Don't get me wrong, I am not putting the blame on you. I am criticising the fact that tourists are not made aware of this. The opposite is the case, camps are advertised as safe heavens, well protected from wildlife and robbers.

Hi Simba
Fair comment
Yes in my opinion armed guards would have helped. I understand with the Entim camp robbery a few weeks prior that the camp had 2 armed guards and they managed to fend off the bandits, while other staff members escorted the guests to a safer location. All hearsay I guess I can’t prove any of this, it’s only what I have read on the net.
Yes, the real cause of the dramatically escalating violent crime in Kenya and neighboring countries is poverty. $10,000 does not buy much in camera gear and electronics these days, and there were other guys around the Mara with camera gear worth a lot more than mine.
Again, my main beefs are:
• I was not aware such events could happen in the Masai Mara game reserve. Call me naïve, but like most tourists I felt the main risk was in and around Nairobi not way out in the game reserve. Had I been aware of the recent incidents I more than likely would have opted for a lodge.
• This was an inside job to some extent.
• In light of past incidents the Naibor camp should have had some sort of protection against such events, armed guards, panic buttons back to the ranger stations etc. For the camp staff to run away and leave the guests to the mercy of some pretty desperate individuals is very hard for me to accept.

Original von Paultraveller
$10,000 does not buy much in camera gear and electronics these days, and there were other guys around the Mara with camera gear worth a lot more than mine.

True, its not a lot for us, but its probably 10 YEARS of salary for locals!

Original von Paultraveller
Again, my main beefs are:
• I was not aware such events could happen in the Masai Mara game reserve. Call me naïve, but like most tourists I felt the main risk was in and around Nairobi not way out in the game reserve. Had I been aware of the recent incidents I more than likely would have opted for a lodge.

You can not be considered naive if you are not aware of the risk. That is exactly what I mean, people need to be informed about such risks before their trip.

Original von Paultraveller
• This was an inside job to some extent.

This is very often the case. Someone tells the robbers when and where to go.