Abstract:
The impact of climate change on nature-based tourism is gaining significance. This study
evaluated the impacts of climate change and tourism stakeholders’ perspectives on the subject in the
Maasai Mara National Reserve and World Heritage Site. Surveys and interviews were used to collect
data. The main climate-related threats to tourism were heavy rain, floods, and extreme droughts.
These events adversely impacted infrastructure, such as roads, bridges, and accommodation facilities,
and outdoor tourism activities, such as game viewing, cultural tours, birdwatching, and hot air
ballooning. They also exacerbated human–wildlife conflicts. The key challenges identified in dealing
with impacts were poor planning, non-prioritizing climate change as a threat, a lack of expertise,
inadequate research, and a lack of internal early warning systems. The key recommendations
included prioritization of climate change planning, development of internal early warning systems,
and building resilience toward climate-related disasters. This study contributes to practice by making
recommendations for management and other stakeholders. It also extends the discussions of climate
change and tourism to wildlife tourism destinations in Africa.
