Discover the Wonders of the Maasai Mara Conservancies
Situated in southwest Kenya, Maasai Mara (Masai Mara) National Reserve is the heartbeat of Kenya’s tourism. The Maasai Mara National Reserve sits on a 1,510 square kilometers piece of land and forms Africa’s most spectacular ecosystem alongside Tanzania’s Serengeti National Park. Add the conservancies, and the Mara is twice as large as its size.
Before the colonial period, the Maasai community lived in harmony with the wildlife. Lions were only hunted during a rite of passage by young warriors. However, things changed with the arrival of European hunters who started hunting these animals for trophies.
Only nine lions were left in the Mara by the time the Masai Mara National Reserve was established in 1961. Fast forward to 2025, the Mara is a thriving ecosystem with hundreds of lions and other members of the Big Five. The Mara also provides habitat to other species such as zebras, giraffes, cheetahs, gazelles, hippos, and wildebeest.
The region is world-renowned for the spectacular wildebeest migration which takes place annually and involves millions of animals crossing the Mara River from Serengeti in search of greener pastures. With that said, let's take an in-depth look at the Maasai Mara Conservancies.
What Are the Conservancies in the Maasai Mara?
The Maasai Mara Conservancies are areas surrounding the Maasai Mara National Reserve. They are owned by the local Maasai community who work with tour operators to promote sustainable tourism and protect the wildlife.
There are several conservancies surrounding the Mara and they offer one of the best safari experiences in Africa. Interestingly, there aren’t any fences between the conservancies hence the animals roam freely throughout the land.
The Maasai Mara Conservancies
1. Masai North Conservancy
Established in January 2009, Mara North Conservancy sits on more than 29,170 hectares piece of land. It forms the north-western zone of the Maasai Mara ecosystem and boasts plenty of wildlife.
MNC is home to the Big Five and has a maternity ward at Leopard Gorge for the big cats. There’s also a lesser-known wildebeest migration that takes place at Loita Hills, which is situated within the conservancy.
2. Mara Naboisho Conservancy
Naboisho in the Maasai language translates to ‘come together’. The Mara Naboisho Conservancy stems from the collaboration of 694 Maasai landowners who have agreed to work together to conserve wildlife.
This conservancy is located adjacent to the Maasai Mara National Reserve and is home to an impressive number of big cats, giraffes, elephants, and herds of wildebeest, among other animals. The number of tourists entering Mara Naboisho is strictly monitored by the management.
3. Ol Kinyei Conservancy
Ol Kinyei Conservancy, established in 2005, sits on over 7,544 hectares piece of land. It is located between the Loita migratory plains in the greater Mara Ecosystem and the Maasai Mara National Reserve.
The conservancy has brought together more than 240 landowners and provides habitat to various species such as resident lions, leopards, elephants, giraffes, and buffaloes. It is also a paradise for birdwatchers as more than 300 bird species have been recorded here.
