Somak Holidays has refuted claims it is selling holidays to a safari lodge in Kenya that will affect the habitat of the black rhino.

According to a report in The Sunday Times, leading conservationists including BBC’s Big Cat Diary presenter Jonathan Scott and safari writer Brian Jackman, have joined in a call for people to boycott the operator and sign a petition on the Care2 campaign website.

The Sunday Times report claimed the 60-bedroom hotel, called the Ashnil Mara Camp, is owned by Somak subsidiary Ashnil Hotels. However, Somak Holidays marketing manager Louise Newton said it is a 30-tent camp lodge, owned by Olkeju Ronkai and is only contracted by Somak.

Newton said Somak has evidence from the chief game warden of the Masai Mara National Reserve that the lodge will not damage the habitat of the black rhino.

Newton said: "If anyone can give us evidence that rhino are affected by the lodge then we would walk away from it.

"This lodge has been planned for five years and has received planning permission."

The lodge is set to open in mid-March.

• Read the Masai Mara chief game warden's report on Olkeju Ronkai (pdf, 8MB)