Why You Should Visit the Mara Naboisho Conservancy: Sharing borders with the famous Masai Mara National Reserve in Kenya, the Mara Naboisho Conservancy is a success story of conservation and community development. In the Masai “Maa” language “Naboisho” means “coming together”, which is exactly what the 500 landowners of the conservancy achieved when the conservancy was originally created.
Since its creation, the conservancy has gone from strength to strength, benefitting the people, the wildlife, and the natural resources of the environment. With so many high-quality safari destinations available within the borders of Kenya, here are five reasons why the Naboisho Conservancy should be included in your safari plans.

Background
When the Mara Naboisho Conservancy was originally founded, the landscape was in dire need of resuscitation. Overgrazing and misuse had eroded the soil quality, placing further strain on the ecosystem and contributing to the financial problems the traditional pastoralist communities were facing.
In order for the new conservancy to be a success, it was acknowledged that careful land management would be crucial in allowing the ecosystem to not only recover, but the thrive on a sustainable basis. In line with this, the carrying capacity of the conservancy was determined to ensure that the number of visitors never exceeds the available natural resources.
Each camp within the conservancy is therefore limited to a specific size, both in terms of the number of beds in the camp as well as the number of vehicles the camp is allowed to operate. These two key guidelines ensure that the conservancy always offers its guests a sense of exclusivity whilst placing the sustainability of the ecosystem at the top of the agenda.
Guests staying in camps outside of the conservancy are not permitted to enter, only vehicles registered to the conservancy may drive inside it. The result is an elevated guest experience, a healthy system, and a thriving wildlife population.
Reasons to Visit Naboisho Conservancy
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Experience Impeccable Wildlife Viewing
Under the land management plan, cattle were moved into demarcated grazing areas, used on a rotational basis to allow for regeneration, and informal communities were relocated into more formal villages where the development of communal resources could be better implemented. In the absence of both people and cattle, the grasslands began to recover, and the wildlife began to arrive.
Today, the conservancy is home to one of the highest densities of lion of Africa, large herds of elephants, resident leopard and a variety of plains game. The border to the Masai Mara is unfenced, allowing animals to move freely between the reserve and the conservancy. During the high season months, when the Masai Mara is at its busiest, Naboisho Conservancy provides the perfect combination of phenomenal game viewing and exclusivity.
The rich landscape, in conjunction with the lower number of tourists and vehicles, quickly made the conservancy an ideal environment for game viewing experience that now rival that of the Masai Mara. In addition to the abundance of wildlife, the experience is further enhanced by the strict code of conducting governing the safari guides.
There is a minimum distance that must be adhered to when approaching wildlife, and a maximum of only six vehicles are allowed at a sighting at any given time. These rules prevent wildlife from feeling harassed or threatened, and ultimately improve the guest experience.

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Enjoy Day and Night Game Drives
As a standard, guests enjoy the luxury of two game drives daily, one in the morning and another in the afternoons. Days begin a head of sunrise during the quiet of dawn, before the first notes of birdsongs commence. The air is still crisp from the night, and early as it may be, the rush excitement for the activities a head of jolt your senses, waking you up. An early departure from your camp is usually the best option, to encounter wildlife at its most active.
Morning drives aren’t just catching the day’s first sightings, they are also the perfect way to capture the beauty of the African landscapes at sunrise, and whenever you are ready, you can request a stop for a cup of some hot thermos coffee accompanied by fresh homemade breakfast sandwiches. Start your day with scenic beauty of endless plains, coffee, and the rising sun, as wildlife joins you in the morning.
Afternoon drives are a mandatory safari experience, allowing you catch the breathtaking view of an African sunset. They are the perfect way to close off your day before returning to your camp, but not without a stop to enjoy a lovely drink.
As the Mara Naboisho Conservancy is independent of the Masai Mara, the rules of the reserve do not apply to the conservancy. This allows for a far wider scope of activities beyond the twice daily game drives typically enjoy night game drives – an experience like no other that invites you into the dark of the night to safely watch as big cats and hyena take advantage of the cover darkness provides, and nocturnal creatures venture out from their daytime hiding places. Head out after dark with a red filtered spotlight allows for the tell-tale reflection of eyes from within the darkness. To sit in the complete darkness with both the lights and the engine off, listen to lions calling through the darkness of the night is always a memorable safari experience.
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Explore Walking Safari and Fly Camping
Walking safaris in Mara Naboisho Conservancy and fly camping are only available from Naboisho Camp, while night game drives are available from both Naboisho and Encounter Mara.
Naboisho Conservancy walking safaris are best enjoyed in the early morning as soon as it’s light enough to safety venture out on foot. Away from the rumble of the vehicle, the snap of every twig underfoot becomes audible as your senses dial in to the reality that you are now venturing into lion territory. The focus of a walking safari shifts towards the smaller ecosystems, spoors and tracks often overlooked from the height of the vehicle, but bigger game is always seen and observed from a safe distance.
From the adventurous traveler, a night spent in a fly-camp is often the highlight of their stay. In the afternoon, set out on foot from Naboisho Camp for a walking safari that culminates with your arrival into your private fly camp. Simple dome tents with comfortable bedding, dinner and breakfast prepared on the fire, evening drinks under the starts, and hot morning coffee accompanying sunrise over the Naboisho Conservancy.
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Embark on a Cultural Excursion
Dotted around the outskirts of the conservancy are villages and bomas of the Maasai families that own the land of the Naboisho Conservancy. While many aspects of their lifestyle are unchanged from their heritage and traditions, the income and development generated through the creation of the conservancy has resulted in a variety of positive changes to their everyday quality of life.
Many of the staff in both Naboisho Camp and Encounter Mara are from these communities, so for them to be able to accompany guests into their villages
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Stay in World – Class Camps and Lodges
Lodges and camps in Mara Naboisho Conservancy provide an exclusive and intimate safari experience, bringing you closer to the wilderness than you could imagine. Staying within the conservancy enables you to indulge in a range of curated experiences not available in national parks whole enjoying the luxury of staying in one of only eight boutique hotels within the conservancy.
Outside of the revered night drives, if the weather allows, a hot air balloon safari over the Mara Plains is something to be experienced at least once in your lifetime. Enjoy the endless views as the skies change colour and the landscapes transition from dry land to lush treetops. Back on land, cultural and community visits make for an enriching cultural experience that connects you to the land and its indigenous inhabitant.
When you return from your day’s activities, you can wind down and enjoy the homemade meal or drink where the safari doesn’t quite end because you are forever surrounded by the bush. Swimming is available at Naboisho Camp, and a night sleeping under the stars can be arranged.
At Encounter Mara, educational bush walks around the camp and bow-and arrow shooting with the Maasai are just some of the activities on offer for you to explore.
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Contribute to a Sustainable Tourism Model
The land of the conservancy is leased to tourism partners who pay an annual fee for the use of the land, irrespective of whether there are guests in camp. This ensures that the landowners are receiving fair rental income for the use of their land. However, tourism brings with it a wealth of additional opportunities for income creation. All safari camps require staff, and most of these staff are hired from the surrounding communities, creating an income that stretches far beyond the primary bread winner.
The creation of products which can be sold to camps either to be resold to guests or for use in camp is another wealth generation opportunity which has yielded positive results. Maasai beadwork is famous for its details and vibrant use of color, adorning belts, an assortment of jewellery, bags, and more. Ladies in the surrounding communities create beautiful pieces which are bought by camps both for staff use as well as for resale through camps shops.
Every guests that stays in the conservancy pays a conservancy fee, which creates a fund for financing additional initiatives for the upliftment of the surrounding communities, improving the roads and infrastructure of the conservancy and employ rangers. By choosing to travel to the Naboisho Conservancy, you are choose to travel with purpose, as the impact of your decision extends far beyond the personal enjoyment gained from the experience benefitting the people and wildlife of Naboisho.
If you are looking for a safari experience that offers excellent game viewing without needing to jostle against other safari vehicles competing for the best view, and that makes a meaningful difference to both people and wildlife, then the Mara Naboisho Conservancy should be at the top of your safari destination wish list.
Start planning your Naboisho Conservancy safari with Explore Eco Safaris – Enquire Now.