The Mara Conservancy plays an active role in initiating and encouraging conservation efforts within the Maasai Mara National Reserve. It began in 2000, when several of the local leaders became concerned about levels of mismanagement in the Mara Triangle, the Mara Conservancy was established to manage the Triangle in collaboration with the Trans Mara County Council.
The Mara Conservancy started operations in the Mara Triangle on June 12, 2001. This created the first public/private sector partnership of its kind in the region and has led to an active and cooperative partnership between conservation professionals and the local Maasai community that endeavours to improve the conservation and management of one of the most visited and well-known protected areas in the world. The latest ten year agreement between the Narok County Government and the Mara Conservancy was signed in 2016.
A list of ongoing goals include:
-
A reduction of poaching in the Mara Triangle and the surrounding area
-
Improved infrastructure through road maintenance within the Mara Triangle as well as the access roads to camps and lodges outside of the Triangle
-
Maintenance of a network of secondary roads and tracks to improve wildlife viewing
-
Restoration of existing ranger stations and installation of renewable energy and water harvesting systems
-
Establishment of a transparent and modern, IT-based revenue collection system
-
Strengthened relationships between the Reserve and the surrounding areas by encouraging community projects
-
Promotion of responsible eco-tourism principles among camps and lodges
Over its history, Mara Conservancy has developed a unique and very strong relationship with the Serengeti National Park which has gone a very long way to making both the Masai Mara and the northern Serengeti a safe and highly sought after tourist destination. This has led to a significant increase in tourist camps in both areas and a major reduction in poaching throughout the region.
Mara Conservancy operates across a range of different conservation and community development areas. Some specific achievements include:
-
Arrested 4,500 poachers over the last 16 years.
-
Collected 57,000 wire snares set by bushmeat poachers.
-
Created safe heaven for the wildlife
-
Local employment
-
Improvement of infrastructure in the park
-
Pay for 15 nursery school teachers
-
Pay compensation for livestock killed by predators – over $20,000 per year
-
Provided security for local community
-
Provided security for camps & lodges
-
Vaccinated 100,000 community dogs against rabies and canine distemper virus
-
Employ 15 community scouts as an interface between us and the community
The Masai Mara is an iconic African landscape, for its wildlife, people and cultures. Wild Philanthropy now supports both Enonkishu Conservancy in the northern buffer zone of the Masai Mara and Mara Conservancy in the western part of the Masai Mara. In doing so, we hope we can help support these vital organisations in protecting one of Africa’s most loved landscapes and cultures.