The Masai Mara Conservancies in Kenya are probably what you’re picturing if you have an image of tawny-coated lions chasing wildebeest in Africa. The Masai Mara, arguably Africa’s most well-known protected region, provides an unparalleled wildlife feast.

However, notoriety brings with it overdevelopment, and astute safari-goers are now focusing more on the exceptional Masai Mara conservancies that encircle the national reserve.

An explanation of Masai Mara Conservancies

Alright, let’s start by going over some fundamentals. Why would I want to visit a wildlife conservancy, and what is it? In the past, a Kenyan safari essentially consisted of a tour of the country’s national parks and reserves.

But that has changed over the past ten or so years, and conservatism has become the new buzzword. An area of privately held land designated for the purpose of conserving wildlife is known as a conservancy. The local population consents to lease their land to safari and conservation organizations in collaboration with the safari tourism sector.

The Conservancy System Helps African Families

Each family receives a certain amount of money each month in exchange for letting wildlife conservation use their land. Projects promoting health and education benefit the entire community, and assistance is provided in establishing further long-term revenue-generating initiatives.

The local population is typically permitted to graze their cattle within the conservancy, but under strict supervision, as they are undoubtedly an essential part of Maasai culture. The area is mostly used for safari and wildlife tourism in exchange for all of this. Both local residents, whose infrastructure and revenue have improved quickly, and nature, whose populations of nearly every animal species are growing quickly, have benefited greatly from the system.

The Safari Experience in Masai Mara Conservancies

The conservancy idea has benefited more than simply local inhabitants and animals. Simply put, the Masai Mara conservancies provide one of the greatest safari experiences in East Africa for visitors who want to see animals.

There are fewer small, private camps and no lines of minibuses circling like vultures around a lion, unlike in the nearby Masai Mara National Reserve, because the entire conservancy strategy is based on the idea of high-paying, low-number, elite tourism.

Indulgence, exceptional wildlife watching, and the satisfaction of knowing that your presence is directly benefiting the animals and local populations are the main features of a safari in the Mara conservancies. Luxury safaris in the Masai Mara conservancies are provided by numerous firms.

Extraordinary Wildlife in the Masai Mara

Some may be concerned that the Masai Mara reserve itself has more animals than the conservancies. False! There are no strict boundaries here, and animals freely go between the conservancies and the reserve. Overall, the animals enjoy the peace and quiet of the conservancies.

In many respects, it is now preferable to watch animals in the conservancies than in the actual reserve. The plains are teeming with life from July to October, when the migratory wildebeest are moving through, and it can be challenging to decide where to concentrate your attention. However, you can expect a Noah’s Ark-style wildlife spectacle at any time of year.

There seems to be a different animal star in every conservancy. One of the densest lion populations on Earth can be found in the Motorogi and Naboisho conservancies, as well as the isolated Ol Dereski conservancy in the ecosystem’s extreme southeast.

The Olarro and Siana conservancies’ scrubby forests are true hotspots for buffalo and elephants, and it’s not unusual to be surrounded by herds of more than a hundred elephants in Olarro. In the renowned Mara North, on the other hand, each day might seem like a scene from a David Attenborough documentary. Additionally, Mara North is a great starting point for river crossings during the wildebeest migration.