Mara North Conservancy (MNC) is a beautiful private wilderness area of more than 25,000 hectares (~61,000 acres). It is a vital part of the Maasai Mara ecosystem as it forms the north-western zone, bordering the Maasai Mara National Reserve in the south of Kenya.
Mara North Conservancy is a not-for-profit company established in January 2009. The conservancy is a partnership between 13 Tourism Partner members (7 camps, 3 lodges and 3 riding outfits) and over 800 Maasai Landowners. The aim is to create a best practice, world-class conservancy with long-term commitments to the environment, wildlife, and local communities.
MNC strongly believes in low bed density tourism and aspires to an ideal minimum ratio of 142 ha per bed (350 acres per bed) so as to guarantee an exclusive safari while minimizing the impact on the environment.
Conservancy fees are collected by Tourism Partners and forwarded onto the conservancy to support the monthly Maasai Landowner’s lease payments and professional land management.
Mara North Conservancy is led by a Board of Directors elected by the Tourism Partners and Landowners, with equal representation from both groups of stakeholders. The Board further works in partnership with the Maasai Landowner Committee to meet long and short term conservation objectives for the future.
To form the Conservancy, Mara North leases land parcels from individual Maasai landowners. This marks the first time that these Maasai landowners have received substantial and direct income from wildlife. Together, MNC and the Maasai community are implementing sound land management policies including, controlled grazing, holistic management practices, low volume and low impact tourism, and community land-use plans.
VISION: To be a world class conservancy with a long term commitment to benefit the environment, wildlife and community livelihoods through a strong tourism partnership.
LOCATION: North of the Maasai Mara National Reserve, in the South-Western corner of Kenya.