kenya
Clockwise from left : A Maasai man dressed for a cultural event at his village near Aitong ; zebras drinking at Maasai Mara National Reserve ; a herd of wildebeest and Burchell ’ s zebras at Sand River , close to the border of the Serengeti National Park and Maasai Mara National Reserve
wildlife . Conservancies provide a winwin situation . Wildlife benefits through habitat restoration and more rangers on the ground , while the community secures much-needed income from employment and lease fees paid by upmarket camps on their land . And visitors staying in the camps , limited to a small number on each conservancy , enjoy a richer , more varied and exclusive safari experience that directly gives back to local people .
Today , Kenya ’ s conservancies collectively cover more of the country ’ s wild habitats than all of its national parks put together , often protecting some of Africa ’ s rarest species , including rhinoceroses , wild dogs and the little-known hirola antelope , of which only around 400 survive .
WHERE IN KENYA IS BEST FOR WILDLIFE ?
Home to the Big Five , antelopes and big cats aplenty , the world-famous Maasai Mara National Reserve in Kenya ’ s southwest is the go-to place for most visitors . This is especially so from July , when some two million wildebeest and zebras come thundering across from Tanzania ’ s vast Serengeti plains in search of greener pastures . The action-packed Mara River crossings are a compelling if gruesome sight : braying beasts lured by the smell of rain risk crossing waters brimming with crocodiles . Should they survive , they ’ ll find predators waiting for them on the opposite banks . spring 2025 • 35