Safari to Mara Ol Kinyei

for combination with other areas

Mara Ol Kinyei is a small private conservancy which lies immediately to the northeast of the main Maasai Mara reserve in southwest Kenya.

At around 72 square kilometres, this is the oldest of several conservancies which form a critically important conservation area to the north of the main Maasai Mara National Reserve.

The area is exclusively used by just one safari operator, which is very unusual (if not unique) in the Maasai Mara region.

The landscape contains a pleasant mix of open grassy plains and undulating valleys filled with light acacia woodland.

Although this is almost certainly too far north for the main migration herds, we would anticipate that the Loita migration should pass through in May-Jun and Nov-Dec.

Although there’s a good range of resident wildlife in the greater area, being a relatively small conservancy means that animals with larger ranges (such as lions and elephants) tend to come and go, so wildlife viewing can be a little hit and miss. Having said that, we understand that it may now be possible to traverse into the much larger Mara Naboisho area next door, which would greatly alleviate this issue.

Being a private conservancy means that vehicle traffic is strictly limited. Only guests of the handful of small camps here are permitted to explore this area. Vehicle clusters of any type are virtually impossible. It also means that camp operators are free to offer off-road driving, walking safari, bush meals and some limited night vehicle safari, which helps to produce a much more rounded experience.

There are also significant opportunities for cultural interaction with the local Maasai people, who are shareholders in the conservancy and therefore tend to be very welcoming. It has always seemed to us that the safari operator in this area has an unusually intimate and positive relationship with the local Maasai, meaning that the cultural interaction can be exceptionally relaxed and enjoyable.

The Maasai Mara tends to feature in almost all safari trips to Kenya. As well as being the best known reserve, it is also the most productive for wildlife.

The usual stay duration is 4-8 nights split between two camps, less frequently 3-4 nights in just one camp.

Seasonality

The best time of year to visit is generally considered to be the Jul-Oct dry season, when the weather should be reliably good and the wildlife concentrated around the permanent water sources.

The Nov-Jun green season may be much less dependable for weather, but remains really strong for wildlife viewing.

Visitor traffic is less of an issue in this private area, but you can expect the camps to be fully booked during the Jul-Oct and Dec-Jan high seasons. So there can be slight advantages to visiting during quieter periods.

Getting around

You’re most likely to arrive into the Maasai Mara area via the regular light aircraft services that operate from Nairobi, which means that you will travel around the area with a guide and vehicle from the camp in which you are staying.

If you’re staying in more than one camp in the greater Maasai Mara then inter-camp transfers are usually operated by the departing camp and generally pass through wildlife areas for most if not all of their routes.

It’s also possible to travel down from Nairobi to the Maasai Mara by road, which is quite a long and tiresome journey, but not without interest. The trouble is that the better lodges in the Mara will offer you no discount for having your own guide and vehicle along, so you end up paying for both, which works out more expensive than flying down.

Where to stay

The Mara Ol Kinyei area contains just four camps, all under the same ownership. Two of these properties are reserved for overland safaris, leaving us the following options.

Porini Mara Camp is the original property on this conservancy, a simple but pleasant camp, set in an unusually shady spot along a seasonal stream.

Porini Cheetah Camp is a more recent addition and has a more relaxed and more spacious feel.

a handful of good mid-priced camps