Mara North Conservancy

Mara North Conservancy is a private, community-run wildlife conservancy covering roughly 310 square kilometres on the northwestern edge of the Masai Mara ecosystem, bordering the Masai Mara National Reserve. Established in January 2009 and owned by over 900 Maasai landowners, it partners with a dozen tourism operators running six camps, three lodges and three horse-riding outfits. Unlike the neighboring national reserve, the conservancy permits night game drives, walking safaris and off-road driving, giving visitors close access to the wildebeest, lion, elephant and leopard populations that move freely across the open Mara ecosystem.

Set up in January 2009 as one of the first and largest of the Mara's community conservancies, Mara North Conservancy protects roughly 310 square kilometres of open grassland, riverine forest along the Mara River, and acacia woodland directly north of the Masai Mara National Reserve. More than 900 Maasai landowners lease their land to a consortium of tourism partners - six camps, three lodges and three horse-riding outfits - operating at deliberately low bed density to limit environmental impact. Because its activity rules are set by the conservancy itself rather than national park regulations, guided night drives, walking safaris and off-road driving are all allowed here, activities banned inside the adjoining national reserve.