What Are Conservancies?
A wildlife conservancy is land managed by an individual landowner, a body or corporate, group of owners or a local community for purposes of wildlife conservation and other compatible land uses to better livelihoods working in partnership with the safari tourism industry and conservation groups. The local community agrees to lease their land to safari and conservation groups.
In the past if you went on a Kenyan safari then you were basically limited to a tour inside Kenya’s National Parks and Reserves. However, over the years things have completely changed since the establishment of conservancies.
This is also connected with the fact that Kenya has lost nearly 70% of its wildlife in the past 30 years. Loss of space and connectivity, poaching, increasing development pressures and impacts of climate change is threatening Kenya’s iconic wildlife, its tourism industry and livelihoods for rural communities. The establishment of private conservancies brings hope.
The conservancies’ collaboration nurtures a sustainable relationship between conservation, tourism, and the community, ensuring the protection of the land and wildlife while benefiting the local Maasai people. Tourism benefits which could be anything in form of educational, healthcare programmes to livestock management and grazing management.
Conservancies’ vs Mara National Reserve
There are several differences between the Maasai Mara conservancies and the Masai Mara National Reserve. These differences include:
For travelers planning for the Great Wildebeest Migration safari in Kenya, the best place to experience this is inside the Masai Mara National Reserve and not inside a conservancy.
If you wish to elevate your safari experience with additional activities such as night game drives, this is only allowed inside Masai Mara private conservancies and not in Masai Mara National Reserve.
Anyone can pay park fees and enter the Main Reserve, including those staying in camps in private conservancies or outside the Greater Mara Region.
Only those staying within the conservancy can game drive within the conservancy – It is not possible to visit a conservancy if staying in a camp located in the main reserve.
In Masai Mara Main Reserve there are no restrictions on the number of vehicles allowed at a wildlife sighting, while inside the conservancies, a maximum of five (5) vehicles are allowed at a sighting.
In Masai Mara National Reserve, guides must stick to the park’s roads whereas in the conservancy, your game-drive car can make its own tracks, on the lookout for lions, leopards, cheetah, and elephants.
While you cannot do walking safaris in the Masai Mara National Reserve, you can do so in the Mara Conservancies. These private conservancies afford travelers much greater exclusivity as well as a wider range of activities. Ditch the car and get close to the land, the flora, and even the smaller wildlife.
Fly camping safaris are only allowed in private conservancies and not permitted in the main Masai Mara National Reserve.
In Masai Mara Main Reserve, the balloon launch sites are closer but if you are inside the conservancies, the balloon safari launch sites are far away; this may affect your hot air balloon safari planning.
Wildlife Sightings In Masai Mara Conservancies
Masai Mara is one of the most famous and popular wildlife destinations in Africa, and for good reason. It is home to a stunning variety of animals, from the majestic Big Five to the elusive leopards, from the speedy cheetahs to the massive elephant herds.
These are some of the popular wildlife sightings in Maasai Mara Conservancies;
The conservancies are home to a large number of giraffes, resident buffalos, and occasionally large herds of Elephants can be spotted. Discover prides of lions, plenty of hippos and crocodiles in the section of the Mara River that borders the conservancies and the riverine forests provide an area popular with leopards. Watch out for the rare species such as Serval cat, Ratel, Aardvark, Striped Hyena, Pangolin Caracal, and Aardwolf which are occasionally found. Colobus monkeys have been spotted in some of the conservancy valleys and there have also been sightings of wild dogs in some conservancy.
Sundowners
All-Day Safari
Night Drives
Golden Afternoons
The Best Conservancies In The Masai Mara
Discover some of the top conservancies surrounding the Masai Mara and the exclusive experiences they offer to help you plan your next Kenya safari. By staying at a Masai Mara conservancy, you experience the luxury of exclusive wildlife viewing and contribute to community conservation, improving local communities’ lives and wildlife.
Safari Activities At Masai Mara Conservancies
There exists plenty of things to do at Masai Mara private conservancies; conservancies offer a more flexible approach to the safari experience, with walking safaris, horseback riding, off-roading and night game drives, all of which are not allowed in the reserve. This enables closer wildlife encounters and a wider variety of experiences.
Horse Riding Safaris
Safari Sundowner
Night Game Drives
Walking Safari Experience
Safari Tours To Masai Mara Conservancies
We are always here to help. Rest assured, wherever you choose to stay — in the Masai Mara National Reserve or in one of the Mara Conservancies — you are sure to have a spectacular safari experience that will leave you with memories to last a lifetime.
FAQs About Our Kenya Luxury Safaris
Still wondering what to expect on a luxury holiday in Kenya? From the best time for safaris, Kenya’s top luxury hotels and what to wear to family holiday tips, our experts answer some of our most asked questions.
Private luxury safari because of its mix of exceptional wildlife experiences, inspiring landscapes and highly professional safari guides. If you’re staying in lodges, the comfort levels are even higher, with stylish decorations and fabulous views. The plenty private conservancies such as Mara North, Mara Naboisho, Olare Motorogi and many more are less crowded and offer magnificent luxury tented camps and lodges that adds depth to the whole luxury experience. These makes Kenya rank among Africa’s best choice for luxury safari destinations.”
“Our luxury safari packages in Kenya are based on an all-inclusive basis. The safari price you pay includes breakfast, lunch and dinner, safari or wildlife game drives, transport between the parks or lodges and camps, and, the best luxury accommodation. We will always confirm everything with you before you make your reservation.
Additional/ optional safari activities will usually cost extra. These may include such things as a bush breakfast by the riverbank, or a scenic hot air balloon ride over the Masai Mara followed by a champagne breakfast. SPA treatments and massages, if available, are also rarely included in the initial price.
“On a Kenya luxury safari, expect two types of luxury accommodation. The first is the tented safari camps which consists of a large room with a bed, writing desk, sitting area and somewhere to hang your clothes. Windows can be left open to allow the breeze in or zipped shut. Out the back is usually a bathroom area, sometimes with an outdoor shower which is an old safari favorite; bucket showers are common.
The other type of luxury safari accommodation is the safari lodges, where rooms are customarily four-walled structures, although canvas elements are sometimes incorporated. Lodges on a luxury safari in Kenya, like their tented camps, are large, luxurious and comfortable. They are the sort of places that bring to mind luxury hotels the world over, often with a safari theme.”
“The price of a Kenya luxury tour can be at US$450 per person per day and go up from there. For solo travelers, the cost of the single supplement is rarely less than 75% of the price for two people traveling together.
HOWEVER, since our trips are custom-made, these are estimates based on the sample itineraries we’ve put together. The final safari cost will be unique to your trip and dependent on the experiences, accommodation and flights you book or wish to experience on your luxury Kenya holiday.
Another thing about our luxury Kenya holidays is that it’s possible to pay less than this, but the less you pay, the more likely it is that you’re not getting the luxury level you want. Again, it depends because the standards you expect from a luxury holiday will differ from one traveler to the next.”
Our luxury safaris in Kenya usually range from 3 to 12 days; however, our tours are custom-made so we can create a holiday that suits your timings.
We often recommend at least 4 days for a safari, but after that, you can head over to Kenya’s luxury beaches to relax on miles of white sand beaches or even Zanzibar.
The best destination for a Kenya luxury beach holiday is Diani Beach on Kenya’s southern coast.
The ideal duration for an East Africa safari package often ranges from 5 to 14 days, this allows you to enjoy a comfortable and a well-rounded rewarding safari experience during this African tour package. It also depends on the destinations you will visit, wildlife interests, and personal preferences.
We’ll take you to the quietest corners of the Masai Mara, and as you journey with us on safari, prepare to feel inspired by the things you will see and the people you’ll meet. Kenya’s collection of private safari conservancies are some of the areas you want to explore. For travelers staying in a conservancy, enjoy exclusivity away from the crowds, sweeping views from the comfort of each tented suite and their spacious deck, and a plenty of exciting activities which may not be possible in the normal national parks.
Sharing a borders with Tanzania’s Serengeti National Park, is the iconic Masai Mara National Reserve; Kenya’s most famous safari destination—and it’s got the wildlife to back up its renowned reputation. On the other end of Northern Kenya, exciting safari adventures await on the Laikipia Region and in Samburu.
The silent Southern part of Kenya also comes in handy with Amboseli’s mesmerizing views of Mount Kilimanjaro, Tsavo West, Tsavo East and the Chyulu Hills, where another tempting wilderness brings the safari vibe alive.
Whatever you choose, an East Africa safari is the place to soothe the soul and make you feel totally alive.
Every luxury Kenya holiday we offer promises to make you feel better, and beyond pampering. We offer the best luxury destinations (and views) to indulge in a soothing treatment; going over and beyond average wellness every day.
A private luxury safari will be incomplete without optional activities like hot air balloon ride (in the Masai Mara), guided bush walks, community or conservation project visits, horseback riding, camel safaris, mountain biking, fishing, scenic flights (and so much more) add a little of mixture to the day on your Kenya luxury safari.
Most of the times, safari-goers prefer these areas; the iconic Masai Mara, Amboseli National Park, which lies in the shadow of the majestic Mt Kilimanjaro, a magnificent park rich in scenery and wildlife. It has a small but elite collection of luxury lodges and tented camps. Tsavo West and Tsavo East together make up one of Africa’s largest and wildest protected areas. In the north, lies Lake Nakuru National Park and Samburu National Reserve offer world-class wildlife viewing. Samburu, Ol Pejeta and the private conservancies up on the Laikipia region have some of East Africa’s most celebrated luxury options.
Having Trouble?
Have any further question about your Africa safari that we haven’t answered above? Contact our office and we’ll be more than happy to answer any of your queries.
