Impacts of Climate Change on Tourism in Kenya

Abstract

Kenya is facing climate change induced challenges, such as variation in weather patterns, unpredictable water levels in lakes and rivers, frequent and prolonged droughts and flash floods. The country's wild life and other tourist attractions, which are major contributors to the nation's economy, are vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. The paper discusses how tourist destinations are affected by climate change. Specific examples include: flash floods associated with El Niño rains and their impact on infrastructure especially in Masai Mara and Lake Nakuru, prolonged droughts in major national parks, the shifts in wildebeest migration in response to rain fall patterns, melting of snow caps on Mount Kenya due to increase in temperature.