Masai Mara National Reserve vs Masai Mara Conservancies

Masai Mara National Reserve vs Masai Mara Conservancies : Visiting the iconic Masai Mara National Reserve is one of the highlights of any African safari to Kenya, for clarification there is the Masai Mara National Reserve and Masai Mara Conservancies (which most people do not know the difference between the two). continue reading this article to know more about Masai Mara National Reserve vs Masai Mara Conservancies

Masai Mara National Reserve and the conservancies are one of the best places on earth to have an African safari come true and with no failure, they offer the best and exciting safari experience.

Masai Mara National Reserve was established as a protected area in 1961, at the time of establishment it consisted of only 520 square kilometers including the Mar Triangle. Later the area was extended to the east and converted to a Game Reserve, the Masai Mara is known for the highest concentration of wild animals in the world. The reserve protects more than 40% of Africa’s larger mammals, a side from the main Masai Mara National Reserve, there are a dozen community conservancies, several group ranches and quite a few Maasai villages in the area. These conservancies are privately owned by Maasai families.

The first Mara Conservancy was established in 2005, the number of conservancies is 15 covering an area of 347,011 acres. These conservancies are privately managed and as such have stricter control on visitor numbers creating exclusivity, while retaining the freedom to offer a wide range of guest activities that are not available in the main reserve.

The Maasai families that own the conservancies lease their land to Safari Organizations and lodges for a monthly fee. Safari organizations also pay Maasai landowners a daily fee for each tourist that visit the wildlife conservancies. These fees are in turn invested in the local Maasai Community and generally are used for education or other developmental initiatives.

Staying at the Masai Mara conservancies have some added benefits such as having an entire range of safari options available to you, the Masai conservancies also offer the excitement of bush walks lovely bush meals, cultural interaction with the Maasai and exciting night game drives. This is unique to the conservancies and isn’t an option were staying in the actual Masai Mara National Reserve.

Differences between Masai Mara Conservancies and Masai Mara National Reserve

Masai Mara conservancies

Masai Mara Conservancies are not crowded, visitors’ numbers to these conservancies are also strictly limited on a number of acres per guest tent basis.
Staying in a conservancy do not limit you to make daily visits to the Masai Mara National Reserve
Conservancies offer a more flexible approach to safari activities where off-road driving, walking safaris and night game drives are permitted.
The 5 vehicles per wildlife sighting rule is more effective to the conservancies which make for excellent sightings and less pressure on individual animals
The land is owned by Maasai landowners who lease it to tourist partners
Only those staying in the conservancy can do game drives in the conservancy, those staying outside the conservancy cannot do game drives in the conservancy.
The wildebeest migration does not take place in the conservancies.

Masai Mara National Reserve

The famous wildebeest migration river crossing happens here
Rhinos can only be seen in the reserve with the Mara Triangle being of particular note for this rare creature
No restrictions on the number of the vehicles allowed at the wildlife sightings
Anyone can enter the game reserve by paying the park fees
The land is owned and managed by the country government
Masai Mara National Reserve does not allow activities such as off-road driving, walking safaris and night drives

In conclusion, Masai Mara Conservancies and Masai Mara National Reserve are in essence two sides of the same coin. They have their own advantages but whichever you choose, you can be certain of the incredible safari experiences in this iconic region of East Africa.