The conservancy was formed from land leased from individual Masai landowners. This marks the first time that they have received substantial and direct income from nature and wildlife.
By establishing a community-owned nature conservancy, Saruni Basecamp provided the Maasai with an alternative to selling their land to outsiders and helped protect vital wildlife territory. Mara Naboisho Conservancy borders the Maasai Mara National Reserve to the north, thereby protecting land necessary for the future survival of the Maasai Mara ecosystem.
Read MoreBesides supporting the ecosystem Mara Naboisho provides more than 500 Maasai families with a monthly income, creating unprecedented economic stability.
Together, the tourism industry and the Maasai community implement sound land management policies including, controlled grazing, holistic management practices, low-volume and low-impact tourism, and community land-use plans. As a result, we protect a natural wildlife habitat and alleviate poverty.
Like in nearby Mara North Conservancy, the core economic model of Mara Naboisho Conservancy is the fixed lease fee paid by tourism operators, which goes directly to sustaining the monthly lease fees.
The land in the conservancy is leased for a 25-year period, demonstrating the landowners’ significant long-term commitment to wildlife conservation and the conservancy’s survival. 95% of the workforce in the tourism camps in Mara Naboisho comes directly from the local community.
