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UNITED LAND

LIVING FUTURE

VISION

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The Mara Hills Conservancies is a transformative force where land, people, and wildlife unite to create a resilient ecosystem that sustains both natural heritage and human prosperity.

 

Through innovative conservation leadership and community partnership, we are building a landscape where ancient wildlife corridors remain open, endangered species thrive, indigenous communities prosper, and traditional knowledge guides modern stewardship.

ABOUT US
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OUR APPROACH

Mara Hills Conservancies is a locally led initiative employing a triple bottom line approach; People (Social-Community), Profit (Economics-Business), Planet (Land, Water, Wildlife). Respecting local knowledge and traditions we restore grasslands, soils and nature whilst empowering local communities. We have a learning by doing culture within the conservancies.

MARA HILLS CONSERVANCIES

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Purpose

The Mara Hills Conservancies exists to protect and restore the northern Maasai Mara ecosystem by uniting three conservancies: Enonkishu, Ol Choro and Mbokishi.  By bringing together three conservancies to achieve greater efficiencies and impact at scale, we will join fragmented lands, regenerate degraded habitats, empower local communities, and demonstrate that conservation can be the economic engine driving sustainable development. We bring to life collaborative solutions that deliver both for nature and human aspirations.

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Our Commitment

The formation of the Mara Hills Conservancies is the culmination of over four years of collaboration, negotiation, and meticulous planning among the conservancies of Enonkishu, Mbokishi, and Ol Chorro. This process has involved extensive discussions to ensure that all stakeholders are aligned in their vision for sustainable wildlife conservation, community upliftment, and tourism development. Recently, the initiative has received significant support from CI Ventures, a critical investment that will help to scale impact, streamline operations and promote sustainable tourism. This financial backing marks a key milestone in the journey toward creating a unified and thriving conservation model in the Northern Mara.


Mara Hills is committed to conserving wildlife across nearly 30,000 acres, with ambitions to scale conservation impact further by working with existing and new conservancies, in addition to promoting and improving tourism revenue for landowners and tourism partners, developing infrastructure, and ensuring robust administration and financial oversight of the three conservancies

Our work
SERVICES
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OBJECTIVES

PLANET

PARTNERSHIPS

PEOPLE

Local leadership + knowledge  maintaining Maasai heritage and traditional values

Strategic partnerships and improving livelihoods

Restoring soils, Protecting wildlife and Securing habitat

 

RANGELANDS, LIVESTOCK, TOURISM & COMMUNITY

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RANGELANDS

  • A resilient rangeland ecosystem is built on the foundation of healthy soils and abundant grasslands. The Mara Hills we're regenerating it, breathing new life into once-degraded rangelands through traditional knowledge combined with strict management.

  • By implementing holistic grazing plans that mimic ancient migratory patterns, we're witnessing nature's remarkable resilience. By embracing Sustainable Rangeland Management, we are also improving Social Cohesion, Governance and Leadership as well as running a profitable livestock model.

 

LIVESTOCK

  • The beating heart of Maasai culture—their livestock—stands at the centre of our innovative approach to conservation. At Mara Hills, cattle and conservation aren't competitors but complementary forces. In Enonkishu, the "Herds for Growth" program demonstrates how traditional pastoralism, when practiced regeneratively, can actually enhance biodiversity while providing sustainable livelihoods. By implementing planned grazing patterns that mimic natural wildlife movements, we're seeing healthier cattle, more abundant grasses, and the revival of indigenous knowledge systems that have sustained these landscapes for millennia.

  • This partnership between people, livestock, and wildlife represents the true path forward—one where human prosperity and ecological health advance together, proving that the ancient wisdom of the Maasai contains solutions for our most pressing modern challenges.

 

TOURISM

  • Your journey matters here, not just to you, but to the entire living landscape of the Mara.

  • Experience the Mara like never before, where every game drive, sunrise, and moment of wonder directly supports the restoration process. At Mara Hills, tourism isn't simply about viewing Africa's wildlife icons; it's about becoming an agent of change.

  • The $2 million generated annually through the tourism model represents the economic engine driving everything from wildlife protection to community healthcare initiatives. When you stay in one of our partners, you're not just a visitor— you're a catalyst for change, helping to secure crucial wildlife corridors, support local livelihoods, and protect endangered species.

 

WILDLIFE

  • The return of wildlife to the Mara Hills Conservancies represents a most inspiring conservation success story. Where once there was silence, now lion roars echo; where wheat fields stood just years ago, elephants now traverse ancient corridors. This remarkable resurgence—from endangered cheetahs raising cubs to critically endangered vultures soaring overhead—isn't just about numbers; it's about restoring nature's delicate balance and securing the future of iconic species that define the Mara landscape.

  • When you support Mara Hills, you're not merely observing wildlife—you're participating in a profound restoration of nature.

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COMMUNITY

  • The true measure of conservation success isn't found in wildlife counts alone, but in the transformed lives of the surrounding communities. At Mara Hills, our community-cantered approach has resulted in remarkable changes: 90% of landowners reporting improved well-being, children receiving educational support through bursary programs, and women finding economic independence through innovative enterprises.

  • These aren't just positive side effects—they're the essence of our mission. By supporting over 100 full-time jobs, funding healthcare initiatives, and investing in the next generation of conservation leaders, we're demonstrating that when communities thrive, conservation flourishes.

  • The Maasai people aren't just beneficiaries of conservation; they are its architects and guardians. Their knowledge, commitment, and partnership form the foundation of everything we achieve. Together, we're writing a new story for the Mara—one where prosperity and nature advance hand in hand, creating a legacy of hope for the future.

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GOALS
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Mara Hills, on the northern boundary of the transboundary Mara-Serengeti Ecosystem is implementing a culturally-relevant environmental and cultural restoration project across three conservancies. Following a community-led approach we align economic incentives with conservation outcomes, generating over $1 million annually in direct lease payments and creating more than 100 local jobs. By implementing holistic rangeland management, sustainable livestock practices, and strategic wildlife protection efforts, Mara Hills supports the restoration of areas that were farmland just a decade ago, while simultaneously improving food security, health services, and educational opportunities for local Maasai communities.

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Beyond conservation and community development, Mara Hills represents a scalable solution to the pressing challenges of habitat fragmentation and climate change. By dismantling fences, implementing rotational grazing, and investing in women's enterprise programs and youth education, the conservancies build climate resilience while fostering a new generation of conservation leaders. This unified approach—bringing together tourism partners, landowners, and conservation expertise—demonstrates how collaborative governance can transform landscapes, revitalize ecosystems, and empower communities through a shared vision of sustainable stewardship.

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OUR PARTNERS

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The Team
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Support our efforts of protecting the wildlife  of the
Mara Hills Conservancies

GET IN TOUCH

We'd love to hear from you

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+254 702 483 539

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CONTACT

DIRECTIONS

GETTING HERE
 
By Car: 
From Narok take the tarmac road towards Sotik for about 55km. You will go passed 2 big turn offs to the Maasai Mara.  At about 53-54km you will see a Baraka Hospital 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 this.
 
Once you are on the dirt road, reset your trip mileage to 00km and follow the following directions.
At 1.8km there is a fork but keep left
At 12km keep right (there is a private road to the left fork)
At 20km keep left (there is a fork to the right)
At 24.5km turn right (there should be a fenced manyatta on your left)
At 27.5km turn right
At 27.8km turn right into the Mara Training centre / Bandas in the wild gate.  
 
Scheduled Flights: There are twice daily flights into Ngerende with Air Kenya or Safarilink. Ngerende is a 15 minute drive the HQ at Mara Training Cente, Enonkishu.
 
By Private Plane: There is a private airstrip on the conservancy, please call before arriving. The coordinates are: S01 04.231'E035 14.127'

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