Masai Mara Conservancies

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Those looking for a more private Masai Mara Kenya safari experience may find the Masai Mara National Reserve to be a bit overwhelming in terms of numbers. It is not always easy to find pockets of exclusivity in one of the world’s most popular safari destinations.

This began to change in 2006, when dedicated conservationists saw the negative effects of increasing human and domestic livestock populations on wildlife and migration numbers. They immediately began working with Maasai landholders to clear more land for wildlife. With the establishment of the Olare Orok Conservancy, which borders the Masai Mara National Reserve, the Masai Mara Conservancies were born. This conservancy model has since become the blueprint for the long-term sustainability of the Masai Mara ecosystem. Mara North Conservancy, Naibiosho Conservancy, and other Masai Mara conservancies quickly followed, and the Greater Masai Mara ecosystem now encompasses an area nearly twice its original size.

The private Masai Mara conservancies, Mara North, Ol Chorro, and Lemek, have the lowest tourist densities, allowing for secluded game drives without other vehicles vying for the same prime location when viewing game. Day and night game drives in Land Rovers led by Maasai guides will take visitors into the 100,000-acre game reserve, where they can expect to see leopard, lion, wildebeest, and hyena all trampling the plains.