PRIVATE CONSERVANCIES IN MASAI MARA

As a public Narok County Council operated establishment, Masai Mara National Reserve has limited resources to protect its wildlife and key habitats. Additionally, majority of Kenya’s wildlife lives in areas outside the protection of national parks and reserves, and therefore, are at greater risk of poaching and encroachment. Prior to the introduction of conservancies in Masai Mara, the land that borders the reserve were divided into small parcels and used for cattle herding, village communities and agriculture. As a result, wildlife was at risk of losing established migration routes, food and water resources and other wildernesses that animals have relied upon for generations. The establishment of Kenya’s conservancies that encircle Masai Mara National Reserve advanced wildlife management strategies that are core to AfricanMecca’s preservation values. The conservancies essentially extend the protected land for flora and fauna.

If government-operated lands were the only type of protection in Kenya, only 10% of Kenya’s land would be set aside for national park conservation. The presence of conservancies, though, more than doubles those figure. Additionally, these conservancies in Masai Mara are “stand-alone” entities that support their own operations, including patrolling and security. The Mara conservancies are the result of a brilliant approach to wildlife management – work with local Maasai landowners to set aside land and help communities benefit from the generated revenue. Under the conservancy agreements, landowners establish zones that are not to be used for grazing and agriculture. Instead, these zones are allowed to return to a natural and pristine state. Once flora re-establishes in the zone, grazing and foraging herbivores return, along with many species of avi-fauna. These prey animals in turn attract predators, including birds of prey, scavengers and Kenya’s powerful hunters – lions, cheetahs, leopards, hyenas and wild dogs.

The conservancies in the greater Mara also offer many advantages to landowners, local communities and AfricanMecca guests. Within each conservancy are lodges and camps that offer exclusive access to safari activities. These accommodations generate revenue. Landowners, in turn, receive monies from leasing their land. Portions of the revenue are also dedicated to local community projects in Masai Mara, such as medical facilities, schools, micro-financing and much more. Our guests benefit by spending time in Masai Mara’s pristine wilderness country and partaking of wholesome safari activities.

The conservancies offer a more extensive range of activities than what is allowed in the reserve, such as night game drives, safari walks and off-road game drives, to name a few of the outdoor activities that are unique to the conservancies. Additionally, the conservancies restrict the maximum number of guests and rooms, so seeing many safari vehicles during game drives is lessened compared to the public reserve (read more on where to stay in Masai Mara). Also, in-camp guests are limited, so the room ratio per acreage ranges from one bed to hundreds of acres. The lower tourism activity levels in the private conservancies also mean that the animals are more likely to engage in normal behaviors rather than those behaviors that result from human presence.

Read More About Each Conservancy In Masai Mara

Within the great plains of Masai Mara are Maasai community-owned conservancies that offer distinct safari activities, superlative accommodations, stunning scenery and varied wildlife experiences. Select your preferred region to view individual details of your preferred conservancy in Masai Mara.