Mara North Conservancy Files Suit Against Transworld Balloons

A privately-owned self-described "beautiful private wilderness area of more than 30,000 hectares (~74,000 acres)" in Kenya, Africa has filed an injunction against Transworld Safaris to halt balloon flights over its property.

A high court in Nairobi granted the injunction filed by the Mara North Conservancy last week, despite the fact that the balloon company holds all of the necessary licenses to operate in Kenyan airspace which is controlled by the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority.

But the online travel news site eTN reports that the court also required the Mara North Conservancy to deposit 3 million Kenya shillings ... about $35,000 ... into a fund that would compensate Transworld Safaris should a final decision be made in favor of the eco-resort. If the non-profit does not make that deposit, the flights may proceed as usual.

The complaints are not unique. The Mara North Conservancy says the balloon overflights endanger people on the ground, and that there have been complaints from tourists about the noise from the aircrafts' burners.

Transworld has reportedly asked the court to lift the injunction so that it can continue to operate while the case is being heard. Most tourism industry insiders in the region say the injunction is not so much about safety and noise as it is about an attempt by the Mara North Conservancy to boost its revenue from balloon operators for landings made on the resort. Transworld already pays the Mara North Conservancy $50 for each person it carries in a balloon when it lands on the Conservancy's property.

FMI: www.maranorth.org, www.judiciary.go.ke