The Olare Orok Conservancy is an area of fantastic wildlife habitat in Kenya. It is special in many ways, but its goals are paramount to its eco-ethos.


The Objective

To give Maasai landowners sustainable financial remuneration from tourism and conservation.


The Practicalities

Maasai Landowners lease their land within the Olare Orok Conservancy to the Tourism Partners; within that contract they agree not to live in the area and only graze their cattle within that area under a zoning managed agreement in times of drought.
In return for this the Tourism Partners pay a sustainable rent for the land and bed night fees to give the landowners a viable income to relieve poverty in the area.


The Consequences

A growth in wildlife; in terms of numbers and diversity
Financial and economic growth from conservation for the local Maasai
Grass within the core area to be used on a rotational zoned basis as a dry weather food bank for the land owners.


The Olare Orok Conservancy (OOC) forms part of a vital buffer zone between the formally protected Masai Mara National Reserve (MMNR) and the wildlife dispersal areas surrounding it.

Prior to the establishment of OOC, the human population of the area was significant, particularly in the western region. Wildlife presence, population and diversity have greatly increased since the establishment of OOC with significant increases in general game populations, as well as those of the big cats. The OOC borders the MMNR to the south and is an area of outstanding beauty and ecological importance. It encompasses the lower river valleys of the Olare Orok and Ntiakitiak rivers, together with the associated riverine woodland.

The OOC also features the impressive Ntiakitiak Gorge and a beautiful escarpment of some 12 kms in length. Below the escarpment are extensive areas of acacia gerardii woodland, an important habitat for a number of wildlife species.

OOC now manages a further 11,250 acres adjoining its northern boundary for the Motoroki landowners which has now become an integral part of the wildlife dispersal area of Olare Orok Conservancy.
Virgin intend to develop an Eco Camp here to become part of their Virgin Select group. Environmental permissions are awaited prior to development of this project. If approved this will be a huge boost for the Motoroki Masai Community safeguarding the underwriting of their rent income for this extension of land for conservation to the conservancy.

Once the integrity of the existing area covered by OOC is guaranteed, it is hoped that the project can be expanded further to the west towards Ol Chorro Naiborr. The area, which is a strategic buffer zone for the Masai Mara National Reserve and the wildlife migration corridors, will be secured from incompatible land usage, such as wheat farming, charcoal production and subsistence agriculture, which together have displaced wildlife habitats at an alarming rate in the Narok district.

Olare Orok Conservancy generates significant income for the landowners, whilst supporting an increase in wildlife habitat beyond the Masai Mara National Reserve. As it is in its initial stages, the conservancy is currently in need of donor-funding; however it will develop into a sustainable and self-sufficient operation.