The drought in the Mara bites ever deeper and the Maasai cattle are being zoned into portions of the Olare Orok Conservancy to graze. A smaller core area is set aside as a safe haven for the cats, as in the middle of the territory there is the 14 strong Monica pride of lions. We still do not expect rain until about the middle of October but by conserving what grazing we have; providing the rains are not late, the OOC should pull through. The Meteorological Department have predicted above average rain to follow the drought. Large portions of the Mara ecosystem have been overgrazed with cattle deep inside the protected area of the Maasai Mara National Reserve. Many parts of Kenya have been given disaster status with pastoralists losing practically all their livestock. Perhaps just another sign of the effects of overpopulation and global warming.
Six extra community scouts have been temporarily added to the ranger force to help monitor cattle grazing and also to keep cattle away from lion diurnal habitats.
We hope to pull Olare Orok Conservancy through this drought with grass cover to counteract the heavy rain and inevitable erosion that will affect overgrazed, less protected areas.
A pleasant surprise yesterday was to encounter a cheetah mother and her three cubs born in the Maasai Mara National Reserve but driven by the cattle that have invaded the reserve into Olare Orok Conservancy. The cubs are about 2.5 months old and made a kill within 24 hrs of entering the protection of the conservancy. We welcome these new additions and will have to monitor their movements so that she does not run into trouble with our high population of resident lions.
Click here to read more: trust.oocmara.com/content.php?value=1
Read an interview with Richard Branson published in Conde Nast Travel Magazine and written by Graham Boynton.
Click here to read more: concierge.com/cntraveler/articles/501211
Kicheche Mara Camp currently rated No.1 on Trip Advisor
Click here to read more: oocmara.com/content.php?value=3
Great Plains Conservation were nominated for Tourism for Tomorrow's 'Community Benefit Award 2009'.
The Tourism for Tomorrow Awards are aimed at recognising best practice in sustainable tourism within the Travel and Tourism industry worldwide.
The Community Benefit Award is for a tourism business or initiative that has effectively demonstrated direct benefits to local people, including capacity building, the transfer of industry skills, and support for community development.
Click here to read more: oocmara.com/content.php?value=3
An interesting article on International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) findings from their research in the Masai Mara.
Click here to read more: newsvote.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/8008700.stm
Koiyaki Guiding School is holding its Graduation Day on Saturday 23rd May. It is also hosting a workshop on Sunday 24th May. The workshop will be a day of discussing key factors in local Masai communities.
Click here to read more: www.koiyaki.com
Gamewatchers Safaris who operate the Porini Lion Camp in the Olare Orok Conservancy, have won the Responsible Tourism Award for "Best for Conservation of Endangered Species outside Protected Areas" at the World Travel Market in London, November 2008.
The Responsible Tourism Awards are sponsored by Virgin Holidays and is a prestigious award for responsibletravel.com, who founded and organise the Awards, and UK media partners - The Daily Telegraph, Geographical Magazine and BBC World News, together with World Travel Market, who host the award ceremony.
The citation for Gamewatchers Safaris and Porini Camps stated: "The winner was recognized for demonstrating that a high revenue, low impact tourism development approach can benefit the local Maasai through developing conservancies and tourism in partnership with safari companies to create employment and community income and to conserve their land for wildlife."
"Competition was tough again this year and the judges debated long and hard the Responsible Tourism achievement of the companies, organisations and individuals who had been nominated. The Responsible Tourism Movement now includes large businesses as well as the smaller specialist businesses in the UK and in destinations on five continents who did so much to establish the approach." Dr. Harold Goodwin, Professor of Responsible Tourism Management at Leeds Metropolitan University, Chairman of the Judges.
Click here to read more: oocmara.com/content.php?value=3
We are delighted to announce the arrival of a new Tourism Partner at Olare Orok Conservancy. Mara Plains Camp will be offering a Luxury Tented Camp experience within the conservancy.
Click here to read more: oocmara.com/content.php?value=3
At dusk on the 20th of January 2009, a young female lion killed a cow just outside the Olare Orok Conservancy (OOC), as the cattle were returning to the boma. It is thought that the same lion had killed another cow the previous week.
Two young men then proceeded to follow the lion, eventually killing it with spears, although sustaining relatively serious injuries. In this case, the conservancy committee is to address the issue in a meeting, as well as cover the hospital bill incurred by the incident.
In such cases, where a particular problem animal is identified, the Conservancy rangers should be informed, who can then address the situation. This is far better than men from the community risking their lives to address the issue when there are others who are not only paid, but trained and equipped to do so.
Click here to read more: oocmara.com/content.php?value=1
Newly found Local Celebrity Jackson Looseyia who starred in the BBC's Big Cat Live is an active supporter of Olare Orok Conservancy.
Click here to read more: jacksonlooseyia.blogspot.com