The Maasai Mara Conservancies represent one of Africa’s most successful and scalable community-based conservation models. Operating under the Maasai Mara Wildlife Conservancies Association (MMWCA), these conservancies cover thousands of hectares of wildlife-rich land surrounding the Maasai Mara National Reserve, contributing to the preservation of migratory routes, biodiversity corridors, and local livelihoods.
Each conservancy is formed through lease agreements with local Maasai landowners, who set aside their land for wildlife conservation in return for regular income from eco-tourism partners. This model provides ecological integrity, cultural preservation, and economic sustainability.
🔍 Key Features of the Conservancy Model
- Community-Owned Land: Land is leased from thousands of individual Maasai families.
- Low-Density Tourism: Strict caps on visitor and vehicle numbers maintain exclusivity and minimize habitat disturbance.
- Conservation Incentives: Landowners earn income through leases, employment, and community benefits.
- Integrated Livestock Management: Many conservancies allow regulated grazing in harmony with wildlife conservation.
- Ecological Corridors: Conservancies protect vital migration and dispersal routes for species like elephants, wildebeest, and big cats.
Size of Masai Mara Conservancies & Number of Masai Landowners:
The Maasai Mara’s network of community conservancies now spans an impressive 207,586 hectares of protected land—equivalent to over 513,000 acres—making it one of the largest and most impactful community-led conservation landscapes in Africa. This vast expanse of savannah, woodland, and riverine habitat surrounds the Maasai Mara National Reserve and forms a critical buffer zone for wildlife migration routes and dispersal areas.
| Conservancy Name | Land Size (Ha) | Land Size (Acres) | % of Total Land Size | Number of Landowners |
| Mara North | 29,170 | 72,090 | 14.05% | 783 |
| Ol Choro Oirouwa | 6,472 | 15,993 | 3.12% | 154 |
| Enonkishu | 1,624 | 4,013 | 0.78% | 32 |
| Lemek | 7,021 | 17,350 | 3.38% | 350 |
| Naboisho | 22,500 | 55,600 | 10.84% | 694 |
| Olare Motorogi | 15,200 | 37,560 | 7.32% | 297 |
| Nashulai | 4,856 | 12,002 | 2.34% | 198 |
| Ol Kinyei | 7,544 | 18,645 | 3.63% | 240 |
| Olderkesi | 3,108 | 7,683 | 1.50% | 7,000 |
| Pardamat | 25,900 | 63,985 | 12.48% | 850 |
| Siana | 11,000 | 27,182 | 5.30% | 2,000 |
| Mbokishi | 3,642 | 9,002 | 1.75% | 600 |
| Olerai | 2,020 | 4,990 | 0.97% | 23 |
| Ripoi | 24,500 | 60,541 | 11.81% | 2,200 |
| Oloisukut | 23,000 | 56,835 | 11.08% | 109 |
| Enarau | 866 | 2,140 | 0.42% | 1 |
| Mount Suswa | 3,259 | 8,052 | 1.57% | 634 |
| Nyekweri Kimintet | 2,600 | 6,425 | 1.25% | 318 |
| Isaaten | 2,600 | 6,425 | 1.25% | 318 |
| Loita Hills | 2,500 | 6,178 | 1.20% | 141 |
| Maasai Moran | 6,070 | 14,996 | 2.92% | 250 |
| Nyekweri Oloirien | 2,134 | 5,272 | 1.03% | 112 |
| Total | 207,586 | 512,947 | 100.00% | 17,304 |
The conservancies are co-managed by 17,304 individual Maasai landowners, whose participation has made this model globally recognized for balancing ecological integrity with community livelihoods. Key contributors in terms of land area include Mara North (29,170 ha), Pardamat (25,900 ha), Mara Ripoi (24,500 ha), Oloisukut (23,000 ha), and Naboisho (22,500 ha), which together make up more than half the total conservancy land. These figures not only highlight the scale of grassroots conservation but also underscore the power of local stewardship in preserving Kenya’s iconic wildlife heritage.
23 Masai Mara Conservancies:
Here’s a comprehensive, region-by-region expert guide to the 23 Maasai Mara conservancies, summarizing each conservancy’s location, size, land ownership, wildlife highlights, conservation focus, and tourism model.
🧭 Northern Mara Conservancies
These conservancies form the upper edge of the Greater Mara Ecosystem and are essential for dispersal corridors, conservation-livestock integration, and community-led innovation.
1. Mara North Conservancy
- Size: 29,170 Ha | Landowners: 783
- Highlights: Predators, big cats, and migration corridor
- Tourism: 12 tourism partners (10 camps, 2 riding outfits)
- Focus: High-end, low-density safari with direct community benefits
- See website.
2. Lemek Conservancy
- Size: 7,021 Ha | Landowners: 350
- Highlights: Open plains, Mara River frontage, high wildlife density
- Known For: Big cats, elephants, and spectacular migration scenes
- History: Broke away from Koiyaki Lemek Trust in 2009
3. Ol Choro Oirouwa Conservancy
- Size: 6,472 Ha | Landowners: 154
- Unique Feature: Only conservancy in Mara with southern white rhinos
- Established: One of the earliest conservancies (1991–1993)
- Protection: Rhinos under 24/7 ranger and KWS surveillance
4. Enonkishu Conservancy
- Size: 1,624 Ha | Landowners: 32
- Focus: Conservation-livestock balance & grazing innovation
- Wildlife: Aardvark, wild dogs, giraffe, Colobus monkeys
- Landscape: Riverine forests, plateaus, and wooded savannah
5. Mbokishi Conservancy
- Size: 3,642 Ha | Landowners: 600+
- Role: Wildlife corridor for elephants and raptors
- Communities: Comprises 5 local communities
- Vision: Reduce conflict and promote sustainable development
6. Enarau Conservancy
- Size: 866 Ha (expanding to 3,140 Ha) | Landowners: 27
- Founded: 2022
- Goal: Restoration of degraded farmland & threatened habitats
- Partners: Linked to CERK (Center for Ecosystem Restoration Kenya)
🌿 Central Mara Conservancies
These conservancies sit adjacent to the Maasai Mara Reserve, forming buffer zones and critical migration habitats. Many are well-known for luxury eco-tourism.
7. Olare Motorogi Conservancy
- Size: 15,200 Ha | Landowners: 297
- Combo: Merged Olare Orok & Motorogi
- Wildlife: Rhinos, wild dogs, elephants, predators
- Model: High-end lodges, tightly managed tourism
8. Mara Naboisho Conservancy
- Size: 22,500 Ha | Landowners: 694
- Lions: Among the highest lion densities in Africa
- Birds: Pygmy falcons, Von der Decken’s hornbill, bush pipits
- Tourism: Strict visitor limits = top-tier exclusivity
9. Ol Kinyei Conservancy
- Size: 7,544 Ha | Landowners: 177
- Tourism Partner: Gamewatchers/Porini Camps
- Habitat: Plains, riverine forest, streams, and rolling hills
- Awards: IUCN Green List 2018–2023
10. Nashulai Conservancy
- Size: 4,856 Ha | Landowners: 198
- Unique: Fully Maasai-run & founded
- Theme: Coexistence of people, livestock & wildlife
- Wildlife: Giraffes, lions, birds, and migratory species
11. Pardamat Conservation Area
- Size: 25,900 Ha | Landowners: 850
- Model: Mixed-use conservation + settlement zone
- Corridors: Connects Loita Plains to Mara Triangle
- Landscape: Hilly, forested, and open wildlife habitat
- See website.
12. Mara Ripoi Conservancy
- Size: 9,308 Ha | Landowners: 2,007
- Tourism: Two eco-friendly safari camps
- Focus: Low-impact conservation and local landowner empowerment
🐘 Eastern & Loita Region Conservancies
These areas are key for elephant migration, cultural preservation, and expanding community tourism beyond the main Mara circuit.
13. Isaaten Conservancy
- Size: 2,600 Ha | Landowners: 318
- Wildlife: Lions, cheetahs, elephants
- Habitat: Rich vegetation and scenic landscapes
- Significance: Important eastern Mara corridor
14. Loita Hills Community & Wildlife Conservancy
- Size: 2,500 Ha | Landowners: 141
- Established: 2023
- Activities: Hiking, cycling, safaris, hot springs
- Unique: Highest number of elephant corridors and maternity zones
🦓 Western Mara & Siria Escarpment Conservancies
These conservancies provide breathtaking escarpment views, rare species protection, and vital buffer zones between forests and open savannah.
15. Oloisukut Conservancy
- Size: 23,000 acres | Landowners: 109
- Biodiversity: Pangolins, giraffes, Mountain Reedbuck
- Elephant Corridor: Connects Mara North, Triangle & Nyakweri
- Partners: WWF, Basecamp Foundation, MMWCA
16. Nyekweri Kimintet Conservancy
- Size: 2,600 Ha | Landowners: 318
- Unique: Only known habitat of Giant Ground Pangolin in Kenya
- Support: WWF, Africa Foundation, Indigenous Networks
- Also Protects: Siria Plateau and Maasai culture
17. Nyekweri Oloirien Conservancy
- Size: 2,134 Ha | Landowners: 112
- Founded: 2020
- Wildlife: Rare birds, pangolins, small predators
- Location: Edge of Nyekweri Forest & Mara Triangle
18. Maasai Moran Conservancy
- Size: 6,070 Ha | Landowners: 250
- Projects: Beekeeping, giraffe research, eco-bandas
- Connectivity: Links to Mara Triangle, Nyekweri & Oloisukut
- Focus: Rangeland preservation and cultural heritage
🌋 Outer Ecosystem Conservancies
These conservancies play an essential role in expanding conservation beyond the immediate Mara, offering additional experiences for travelers and biodiversity corridors.
19. Mount Suswa Conservancy
- Size: 3,259 Ha | Landowners: 634
- Geography: Caldera, lava tubes, hot springs
- Wildlife: Baboons, hyenas, rock hyrax
- Activities: Hiking, cave exploration, cultural tours
20. The Olerai Conservancy
- Size: 2,020 Ha | Landowners: 23
- Habitat: Yellow barked acacia, horse safaris
- Conservation: Focuses on flora protection and habitat restoration
21. Olderkesi Conservancy
- Size: 15,000 acres | Landowners: 7,000+
- Partners: Cottar’s Wildlife Trust
- Location: Borders Serengeti and southeast Mara
- Protection: Critical wildlife corridor and elephant range
22. Mara Siana Conservancy
- Size: 11,000 Ha | Landowners: 2,000+
- Support: WWF-funded expansion
- Focus: Community empowerment, schools, ranger jobs
- Wildlife: Plains game, predators, and migratory species
23. Olare-Orok and Motorogi (Now Olare Motorogi)
- Combined & Covered Above
🧩 Final Thoughts
The Maasai Mara Conservancies are more than safari destinations—they are living landscapes where communities, wildlife, and tourism coexist. Each conservancy has its unique character, focus, and ecological role. Collectively, they protect over 450,000 acres, sustain 8,000+ landowners, and serve as models of inclusive conservation.
Whether you’re a traveler, researcher, or conservationist, the conservancies offer opportunities to experience the Maasai Mara beyond the mainstream—in ways that are ethical, authentic, and deeply impactful.
