Why We Partner with Conservancies, Not Just National Parks

A national park is government-owned. A conservancy is community-owned. This difference matters enormously.

The economic model

In the Mara conservancies, each Maasai landowner receives a monthly lease payment in exchange for keeping their land wild and unfenced. No cattle, no farming, no settlement. The payment comes from tourism operators — including us.

Why it works

Before conservancies, a Maasai herder could earn $2 per acre per year from cattle. The conservancy model pays $50-100 per acre. The financial incentive for conservation is 25-50x higher than agriculture. Wildlife wins. Communities win. Guests win.

The numbers

The 14 conservancies surrounding the Masai Mara protect 350,000 acres — larger than the national reserve itself. Vehicle density is capped. Night drives are permitted. Walking safaris are permitted. You see fewer vehicles and more wildlife.