Narok County

Attractions in Narok County

26. Enonkishu Conservancy

Established in 2011, the 24 km2 Enonkishu Conservancy, bringing together 46 landowners and community members with 2 lodges and 1 camp is the northern most conservancy in the Maasai Mara Ecosystem; with Lemek Conservancy to its south. “Travellers to the Conservancy can stay at the Mara Training Centre Banda’s, House in the Wild – a boutique lodge on the Mara River, or in private home within the Naretoi Estate” – Enonkishu. One of the feature highlights at Enonkishu Conservancy is the walking safari to the top of Kileleoni Hill, which serves as useful observation point, and to Ol Chorro and Lemek Conservancies. To get there “from Narok, take the tarmac road towards Sotik for about 55 kms, past two turnoffs to Masai Mara. At about 53 kms you will see a green fuel levy sign on your left. You want to take the next dirt road on the left, at the Mulot Junction. There will be signs to the Fairmont Mara Safari Club. Follow these”.

Aerial View of the House in the Wild. Image Courtesy of House in the Wild

27. Pardamat Conservancy

Currently in formation, between the Naibosho and Enonkishu Conservancies in the far northeast section of the Masai Mara Ecosystem, the 260 km2 Pardamat Conservancy brings together 850 Maasai landowners and community members. Pardamat Conservancy, neighbouring both Mara North and the Olare Motorogi Conservancies, was previously a particularly vulnerable region with some of the highest incidences of elephant poaching in Kenya. Alarmed at the sharp spike in elephant deaths in 2010, Pardamat Conservancy, in partnership with the Mara Elephant Project, was created to conserve the arc and provide a lasting solution.

28. Naboisho Conservancy

Established 2010 and covering 206 km2, bringing together 554 landowners and community members, Naboisho Conservancy has 6 member camps – Naboisho Camp, Ol Seki Hemingways Mara Camp, Kicheche Valley Camp, Eagles View Base Lodge, Wilderness Camp, and Encounter-Mara Camp – offering 142 jobs in hotel and conservancy management, and 33 ranger jobs. It is found between Pardamat Conservancy and the Siana Group Ranch, on the eastern side of the Masai Mara Ecosystem. Ol Kinyei Conservancy forms an offshoot on its eastern side. Naboisho is located just 11 kms north of the Masai Mara National Reserve.

29. Ol Kinyei Conservancy

Situated between Naibosho Conservancy and the Siana Group Ranch, along the outer eastern edge of the Mara Ecosystem, the 74 km2 Ol Kinyei Conservancy, established in 2005, brings together 177 landowners and community members. Ol Kinyei is home to two small safari camps, the Porini Mara Camp and Porini Cheetah Camp, each with a maximum capacity of 12 guests. Contiguous with the Naibosho Conservancy, along its western frontier, Ol Kinyei has all-round splendid views of the magnificent Loita Hills and the eye-catching Loita Plains.

Map of the Masai Mara Ecosystem. Photo Courtesy of The Maa Trust — Map of the Masai Mara Ecosystem. Map Courtesy of The Maa Trust

30. Siana Group Ranch

Wedged between Ol Kinyei Conservancy (north), Masai Mara National Reserve (west) and Ol Derikesi Conservancy (south), on the eastern edges of the Masai Mara Ecosystem, the 115 km2 Siana Group Ranch established in 2018 brings together 3,500 landowners and community members. It has plenty of camps, to include; Amicabre Camp Site, Flamingo Camp, Leleshwa Camp, Mara Bush Tops Camp, Gypsy Mara Safari Camp, Hippo Mara Safari Lodge, Mara Safari Camp Springs, Maasai Mara Sopa Lodge, Olperr Elongo Camp, Oropile Camp, Line Africa Safari Camp, Sekenani Camp, Siana Springs Intrepids, and Spur Wing Camp Site. Conveniently located between the Sekenani and Ololamutiek Gates, it covers a wildlife-rich zone known for the galore company of elephants. Since the priority for Siana Group Ranch is wildlife protection, it is not listed a fully functional conservancy, but its rangers continuously sentry its jurisdiction.

31. Ol Derikesi Conservancy

Located at the southeast end of the Mara Ecosystem and bordering the Masai Mara National Reserve, the 30 km2 Ol Derikesi Conservancy established in 2001 brings together 500 landowners. It is best known for its only camp, the award-winning (Africa’s leading luxury private villa 2016, WTA) Cottar’s 1920’s Camp, revered as one of the most enliven safari destination in Kenya. It caters luxuriously for the middle-upper budget to provide an elegant and indelible wilderness experience. It is run by the Cottar’s Family who are one of the oldest established and continuing safari family in Africa – “In 1919, together with his sons, Mike, Bud and Ted, Charles established ‘Cottar’s Safari Service’, one of the very first registered safari companies offering superior big game hunting and film safaris outfitting throughout Africa, India and Indochina” – Cottar’s Camp.