In early 2025, a new luxury hotel development from Marriot was announced. The Ritz-Carlton Maasai Mara Safari Camp promises visitors “front row seats” to the Great Migration. But soon after the hotel was announced, community members and wildlife experts spoke out, saying that the lodge was approved in a place it never should have been.

Janna Giacoppo joins the show to discuss. She is a photographer and documentary filmmaker focus on animal-human conflict, and notably started the change.org petition to stop the illegal safari lodge.

Links:

1. jannagiacoppo.com
2. Change.org | Help the Maasai Stop Marriott and Ritz-Carlton’s Illegal Safari Lodge Threatening Wildlife
3. Ritz-Carlton Is Sued Over Luxury Safari Camp in Kenya - The New York Times
4. Behind The Viral Video: How Safari Vehicles Endangered The Great Migration In Serengeti
5. https://www.instagram.com/p/DSbIaX0EjEh/?img_index=5
6. https://www.instagram.com/jungle_doctor/

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CREDITS

Written and Hosted by Erin Hynes

Produced by Kattie Laur

Music is "Night Stars" by Wolf Saga/David R. Maracle/Chippewa Travellers. Additional music from Motion Array.

Logo by Nicole Hall

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