Greater Mara Conservancies Safari Vacations
These conservancies are situated around the Maasai Mara and are perfect for those keen to see a lot of wildlife while enjoying a quieter atmosphere.
When to go to Greater Mara Conservancies
Best Time to Go
Situated around the Maasai Mara’s borders
Day and night game viewing
Made up of six smaller conservancies
Balloon safaris & local community tours
An Exclusive Kenyan Safari
The private Mara conservancies form an extended area for game viewing, and the wildlife is just as prolific as it is in the reserve, as there are no fences and the animals are free to roam. A vacation here is an excellent option for travelers who are keen to see a lot of wildlife while enjoying a quieter atmosphere on safari in Kenya. And many camps offer the opportunity to venture into the Maasai Mara National Reserve itself, so you get the best of both worlds.
The Mara Conservancies
Unlike as in the national reserve, visitor numbers in these private conservancies are restricted, thereby creating low-impact conservation areas offering a more exclusive safari experience. Due to their status as private land, they can also offer a greater range of safari activities, including walking safaris, horse riding (best enjoyed in the Mara North), and night drives.
There are six main conservancies, all offering superb safari, previously used for cattle grazing by land-owning Maasai. These conservation wildlife areas have been created via land-use and lease agreements between the local people and safari camp operators, benefiting local communities and wildlife alike. The private areas also create vital corridors for wildlife to travel through. There are approximately 24 Greater Mara Conservancies, in different stages of development, but only three that we would strongly recommend.
Mara Naboisho Conservancy
Situated to the north of the Maasai Mara National Reserve, this is a fairly new conservancy of over 200 sq. km of savanna and bush, and it’s home to impressive numbers of elephant and giraffe. Its lion population is strong, comprising between 70 and 100 individuals and including the Enesikiria or KGS pride, the area’s largest. Mara Naboisho has plenty of wild dog, which are always amazing to see. Your guide should know the rough whereabouts of these elusive predators, as they tend to dominate a region for periods. Naboisho also witnesses the Loita Migration of wildebeest and zebra, when huge herds move between the Loita Hills, the Maasai Mara National Reserve, and Mara North Conservancy. Game viewing is excellent all year round and overall Mara Naboisho makes for an excellent secondary safari location.
Mara North Conservancy
Another great spot for wildlife, and the best horse-riding location of the conservancies. Mara North, similar to Naboisho, consists of savanna and bush, an area totalling 320 sq. km, and it’s distinguished by ridges formed by ‘luggas’ – the courses of seasonal streams. There are plenty of plains animals and very strong lion numbers, including the Acacia and Gorge prides. It is not unusual to spot Maasai herders out with their cattle in Mara North, as the local people still retain grazing rights in certain areas, which adds a lovely dimension to your safari!
This is where the BBC’s Big Cat Diaries was filmed, at ‘Leopard Gorge’. It’s a stunningly beautiful landscape, with classic open plains, riverine forests along the Mara River, and the scenic rocky backdrop of the Lemek Hills. Documentary locations are not chosen by chance! This is big cat territory.
Olare Motorogi Conservancy
This area once formed two conservancies, Olare Orok and Motorogi. The former was one of the earliest conservancies and did much to establish the model, proposing a maximum of 12 tents per camp and a maximum number of camps in total. It merged with Motorogi in 2012, creating 140 sq. km of protected land, and conservation work continues to this day. There are only five camps in this conservancy.
Olare Motorogi is a wonderful choice for watching the Great Migration with exclusivity. Big cat numbers are plentiful here, with lion, leopard, and cheetah all thriving. It features wide open savannas where cheetahs love to achieve their top hunting speed, alongside acacia forests and the river valleys of Ntiakitiak and Olare Orok, which are teeming with an array of birdlife.
Ol Kinyei Conservancy
Established in 2005, Ol Kinyei contains just one camp, Porini Mara, but benefits to the Maasai people from this property are phenomenal! The first conservancy to be owned by the local community, from its creation Ol Kinyei has shown how landowners can earn their keep through safari tourism, providing inspiration throughout the region. There is great game viewing here too, with healthy populations of lion, other big cats and ample herbivores roaming 65 sq. km of plains.
Ol Derikesi Conservancy
Ol Derikesi is another example of an area boasting just one amazing property – Cottar’s 1920s Camp. The wildlife count in this conservancy has always been impressive, but it has increased even further since local people agreed to make a cattle-free zone around the camp, at cost to visitors to the area.
Private Conservancies & Activities
Experience the privacy and seclusion of the Mara conservancies, where you can do both day and night drives, walking safaris, romantic bush dinners, hot air balloon safaris, and local community visits.
Day and night game drives
Game walks
Bush dinners
Hot air balloon safaris
Local community tours
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Game drives in the conservancies offer exceptional wildlife viewing, with the added bonus of night drives. This activity is not permitted in the national reserve, adding to the exclusive feel of staying in the conservancies. Daytime game drives take place from early morning until midday, then again from mid- to late afternoon until sundown. This is when wildlife is most active. Early mornings can be especially exciting, as you can see plainly the aftermath of what happened during the night!
Typically, night game drives are from sundown till around midnight. You can spot nocturnal animals, and if you’re lucky you may see some serious big cat activity. If you’re interested in night driving and wish to go deeper into the night, chat to one of our specialists as to the best place to do this.
Embark on walking safaris led by professional guides and enjoy a more intimate, ground-level perspective of the bush. Track wildlife, read animal prints, and learn more about the local ecosystem at a much deeper level. When you’re out of the vehicle, it can feel strange at first. However, walks soon become addictive, what with being at one with nature and on foot! All walking safari guides are armed and specially trained to approach wildlife.
A walk can be designed to be as long as you wish. There’s always something interesting going on, even close to camp! In the conservancies especially, due to the much lower vehicle numbers, guided walks are a very special experience.
Dine out under the African night sky with a private bush dinner. Enjoy this atmospheric dining experience surrounded by lanterns, firelight, and the sounds of the wild. Each lodge will have its own special locations for dining beneath the stars, both within camp and sometimes at pre-arranged beautiful locations. Rocky outcrops with stunning views, dry sand riverbeds, or the open plains are some of the places this can be arranged. Your guides are always close at hand to make sure your meal is undisturbed. As with night safaris, it can be the sounds of the bush that make the evening truly memorable!
Ballooning over the Mara Conservancies offers a quieter, less-crowded alternative to flights over the national reserve. Hot air balloons offer a unique way to view the beauty of the savanna. You float silently high above the plains and can watch the movement of the wildlife from the sky.
Rides take place in the very early morning, timed specially so you can watch the sunrise. It’s a truly spectacular sight as the sun emerges from beneath the horizon, lighting up the acacia-strewn landscape. After your 1-hour flight, you descend for a delightful, private champagne breakfast. Balloon safaris need to be pre-booked and come at an extra cost.
Visits to nearby Maasai communities are authentic and respectful, offering insights into traditional ways of life. A village visit can depend slightly on the camp at which you’re staying. Sometimes you can visit a school, meet the elders, or join in with their dancing. What remains a constant is the warmth of the welcome!
You will learn about the Maasai way of life, which has been passed down through the centuries and remains strong to this day. The Maasai diet is always a fascinating subject and may surprise you. You can also purchase lovely handmade crafts and beads directly from the local community. Village visits from within the private conservancies tend to be less busy and more authentic.
Talk to someone who’s been there
Real expertise doesn’t come from a few trips to Africa. All our specialists have either been guides, run the camps, or grown up and lived in Africa. That’s over 600 years of genuine safari experience.Speak to an Expert
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