The South Zone of the Great Masai Mara Ecosystem

This area is located South-East compared to the Masai Mara National Reserve and it is one of the most remote parts of the Great Masai Mara Ecosystem, and right here lies the Ol Derikesi Conservancy.

This reserve is located along the South-Eastern border of the Masai Mara National Reserve and the Loita Hills and was formed when the Ol Derikesi Ranch took control of this remote area of 100 sq km.

Since its establishment, areas in the reserve have been identified, where it has been prohibited to Maasai to lead the cattle and where they are forbidden to build fences to repair the cattle during the night and this is both to preserve the environment and not to create obstacles to the movement of wild animals.

Here you can easily watch the big cats such as lions, cheetahs and leopards; elephants are common as well; and with a bit of luck, here you can even spot wild dogs and rhinos.

Since this area has become a reserve, the population of wild animals has increased thanks to the attention that has been paid to the habitat conservation and protection, not to mention the benefits for the communities living here.

The reserve indeed donates part of the revenues from tourism to support community projects, in particular for health and education; as well, always to help improving the living conditions of the premises, the reserve hires staff from the Masai villages present in the area.

This is one of the Masai Mara Ecosystem areas with the lowest offer of accommodation and this provides visitors with a contact with nature without the crowding that is often found in the Masai Mara National Reserve; the structures are all unique and luxurious.