The Mara North conservancy covering an area of 30,000 hectares is located in The Greater Masai Mara and South of Kenya. The Masai Mara is one of the world's prime ecosystems and home to a splendid variety of plants, birds, reptiles, mammals and of course the big cats. Established 2009 as a non-profit outfit, Mara North Conservancy is devoted to protecting this matchless environment with its vibrant wildlife and wealthy biodiversity. The key to flourishing wildlife conservation is partnership, land protection through lease agreements, professional wildlife management and the promotion of low-impact tourism.

Mara North believes that conservation of a natural wildlife area depends on the following components:

• Partnership between private sector and the local community

• Guaranteed income. Fixed lease agreements give the community the economic incentives to set aside their land for wildlife conservation

• Transparency and equitable distribution of conservation fees collected is essential to ensure the stability of this system

• Professional wildlife management; including security, anti-poaching, infrastructure maintenance, and managed grazing plans

• Low density, low-impact tourism

• Strong eco-tourism practices

• Reforestation projects to restore natural habitats

Low Density Tourism

Mara North Conservancy has a conservation area of 30,000 Ha which accommodates the eleven member camps in a sustainable way that benefits the environment, the wildlife, and the community. The Mara North Conservancy has one of the lowest tourist and vehicle densities in the ecosystem due to managed volume and strict land-use plans.

The number of beds per camp is restricted based on Mara North's formula of one bed per 350 acres (or one tent per 700 acres). Low density tourism, as well as a limited number of game vehicles provides an exclusive safari experience, while minimizing the impact on the environment.

Camps:
 

	Serian Camp		Elepphant Pepper		Mara Plains camp		Kicheche Mara Camp
	Nomadic encounters		Karen Blixen		Rekero Tented Camp
	Safaris Unlimited		Saruni Camp		Royal Mara  Lodge

 

Ecosystem management

Professional land and wildlife management is equally important as securing the land. Brian Heath, Seiya Ltd. has been appointed as Mara North Conservancy wildlife and land area manger. Mr. Heath is a well known international conservationist and has worked for more than forty years within the conservation community. Mr. Heath is also managing the Mara Conservancy in Transmara, a neighboring conservancy. This allows holistic management of a much larger ecosystem. The guiding principle of MNC's ecosystem management is the formation and implementation of policies that maximize the long term value of the area. Mara North is in the process of finalizing a partnership with African Parks Network, an organization that specializes in professional conservation management.

 

Mara North management objectives are:

• Management and training game wardens and rangers

• Anti-poaching enforcement

• Responding to and finding solutions for human/wildlife conflicts

• Controlled grazing management plans for livestock

• Security for the communities as well as the camps

• Infrastructure maintenance for roads and tracks

Environmental Practices

Mara North Conservancy is committed to promoting sound environmental practices including:

• Low-impact, low-density tourism based on a bed/hectare ratio

• All guests are required to drive with a professional, qualified guide

• Member camps and their guests must adhere to a professional code of conduct within the conservancy

• Member camps must strive to implement environmentally friendly
  practices such as:

• Solar panels for electricity and heating water

• Gas burners for heating water

• Strict waste management systems

• Effective treatment of waste water

• Organic composting for fertilizers or bio-gas

• Environmentally friendly detergents

• Recycling programs

• Sustainable grown firewood

Conservancy Fee

All guests visiting the Mara North Conservancy camps are required to pay a Mara North Conservancy fee. Conservancy fees support Masai landowner's lease payments and professional land management. Mara North Conservancy is a non profit outfit. Neither the MNC Board of Directors nor the Masai Landowner Committee receives any payment or allowances for their work.

All Conservancy Fees listed below are daily conservancy fees and are listed in US$ unless otherwise noted. Conservancy fees should be paid through the camp at which you stay.

 

CATEGORY	DAILY FEES
Non-resident Adult	$60 - $90
Non-resident Child (below 12 years)	$30
Kenyan Resident Adult	KES 1,000
Kenyan Resident Child	KES 500