Naboisho Conservancy Safari Holidays
Naboisho Conservancy
Holidays
The Maasai Mara's largest private conservancy — 50,000 acres of community-owned wilderness with the highest lion density in the ecosystem, a genuine commitment to Maasai community benefit and some of the most affordable luxury safari camps in the Mara
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Flight Time
8–9h to Nairobi (NBO), then 45min domestic flight to Naboisho airstrip
Best Time
July to October (Great Migration & peak lion activity); January to February (dry season, excellent predator sightings); June for value
Country
Kenya
Suppliers
our travel partners ·
Naboisho Conservancy Holiday Guide
Naboisho is the best choice for travellers who want the full private conservancy experience — off-road driving, night drives, walking safaris, exclusive access — at a slightly lower price point than OMC, combined with the most transparent and impactful community benefit model in the Mara ecosystem. The conservancy's size (the largest in the Mara) means there is always new ground to explore, and the lion density is unmatched anywhere in the ecosystem.
Getting there: Fly from Nairobi's Wilson Airport to the Naboisho airstrip (45 minutes, from approximately £150 one way). Most camps include airstrip transfers. The airstrip is inside the conservancy — you are in the wildlife area from the moment you land.
Value: Naboisho camps are generally 20-30% less expensive than comparable properties in OMC, making it the best value of the premium Mara conservancies. The wildlife experience is outstanding — the lower price reflects the slightly lower leopard density compared to OMC, not any compromise in quality.
Combining with other destinations: Naboisho pairs naturally with Amboseli (elephants and Kilimanjaro), Samburu (rare northern species) or Diani Beach (Indian Ocean beach). A 3-night Naboisho / 3-night Diani Beach combination is one of the most popular Kenya itineraries.
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Popular Areas in Naboisho Conservancy
Average Temperatures
Jan
26°C
Feb
27°C
Mar
25°C
Apr
22°C
May
21°C
Jun
20°C
Jul
20°C
Aug
21°C
Sep
23°C
Oct
24°C
Nov
23°C
Dec
24°C
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Call 01282 960 460Top 8 Things To Do in Naboisho Conservancy
The lion prides, elephant herds, community-owned wilderness and authentic Maasai experiences that make Naboisho the most rewarding and responsible conservancy in the Mara.
Lions — The Highest Density in the Mara Ecosystem
Naboisho Conservancy has the highest lion density in the entire Maasai Mara ecosystem — a remarkable distinction in a region already famous for its lions. Multiple resident prides call the conservancy home, and the combination of off-road driving and strict vehicle limits means lion sightings here are among the finest in Africa. The conservancy's guides know the individual animals in each pride intimately — their family structures, territories, hunting ranges and the current status of cubs. Lion cubs are present in the conservancy for much of the year, and watching a pride interact — cubs playing, adults grooming, the whole family resting together in the shade of an acacia — is one of the most endearing wildlife experiences in Africa. During the Great Migration, lion kills of wildebeest are frequent and can be observed at close range without the vehicle crowds of the national reserve.
Elephant Herds — Giants of the Mara
Naboisho is one of the best places in the Maasai Mara ecosystem to see large elephant herds — family groups of 20-40 animals that move through the conservancy's open plains and riverine forest year-round. The conservancy's size (50,000 acres) and its position on the eastern boundary of the reserve means elephants have large areas of undisturbed habitat to roam. Elephant encounters in Naboisho are often at very close range — the animals are habituated to vehicles and can be observed feeding, drinking, dust-bathing and interacting with calves without any sign of disturbance. The conservancy's guides have an extraordinary knowledge of elephant behaviour and family dynamics, and can identify individual animals by their ear shapes and tusk profiles.
Off-Road Drives in 50,000 Acres of Wilderness
Naboisho's size — the largest of the Mara conservancies at 50,000 acres — means there is always somewhere new to explore. The conservancy's strict vehicle limits (each camp has exclusive zones and the total number of vehicles is tightly controlled) ensure that even during the peak Migration season, sightings are shared between very few vehicles. The ability to drive off-road means your guide can follow predators through the bush, explore remote areas of the conservancy that are never visited by the reserve's vehicles, and position the vehicle for the best possible sighting. The eastern boundary of the conservancy borders the Mara North Conservancy, and animals move freely between the two areas — a single game drive can cover terrain that spans both conservancies.
Community Conservation — 500 Maasai Landowners
Naboisho's community model is the most transparent and well-documented in the Maasai Mara ecosystem. The conservancy is owned by 500 Maasai landowners who lease their land to the conservancy in exchange for a monthly income — a direct payment that replaces the income they would otherwise earn from livestock grazing. The conservancy fees paid by guests (approximately $100-120pp per day) flow directly to the landowners, funding school fees, healthcare, livestock improvements and community infrastructure. The model has been independently evaluated and is widely cited as a best-practice example of community-based conservation. Visiting Naboisho is a direct investment in the Maasai community and in the long-term future of the Mara ecosystem.
Cheetah & Leopard — The Spotted Cats of Naboisho
Naboisho's open plains and riverine forest provide excellent habitat for both cheetah and leopard — the two most elusive of the Mara's big cats. Cheetahs favour the open grasslands of the conservancy's eastern plains, where the short grass gives them the visibility they need to hunt. Leopards are found in the riverine forest along the Ntiakatiak and Olare Orok rivers, where fig trees and dense vegetation provide cover and elevated perches for resting with kills. The conservancy's guides track both species daily and have an intimate knowledge of individual animals' territories and habits. Sightings of both species in a single day are not uncommon in Naboisho — a combination that is genuinely rare in most of Africa.
Maasai Cultural Experiences
Naboisho's community ownership model creates an authenticity to the cultural experiences on offer that is difficult to replicate in more commercially managed areas. Visits to Maasai villages (manyattas) within and around the conservancy are arranged through the camps and involve meeting the families who own the land you are staying on — a genuine connection between guest and community rather than a staged performance. Maasai guides and rangers share their knowledge of the bush, their cultural traditions and their perspective on the relationship between the Maasai and the wildlife they have coexisted with for centuries. Beadwork and crafts sold at the camps are made by Maasai women's cooperatives and the income goes directly to the makers. The conservancy also supports a Maasai school and healthcare clinic funded by conservancy fees.
The Great Migration in Naboisho
From July to October, the Great Wildebeest Migration passes through Naboisho as the vast herds move north from the Serengeti. The conservancy's eastern plains fill with hundreds of thousands of wildebeest and zebra, and predator activity reaches its annual peak. Naboisho's position on the eastern side of the ecosystem means the migration herds often arrive here before pushing west towards the Mara River crossing points — guests in Naboisho can witness the herds building up before the famous river crossings, and then follow them to the river for the crossings themselves (a short drive into the national reserve or the Mara Triangle). The combination of migration herds, resident predators and off-road driving capability makes Naboisho one of the best places in the ecosystem to experience the Migration.
Night Drives & Bush Walks
Night game drives in Naboisho reveal a completely different cast of characters to the daytime savannah — leopards emerge from their daytime hiding places to hunt; lions patrol the darkness; aardvarks, genets, civets, porcupines and bush babies appear in the spotlight. The nocturnal soundscape of the Mara — lions roaring, hyenas whooping, nightjars calling, the distant bark of zebra — is extraordinary and deeply atmospheric. Morning walking safaris with Maasai guides bring the bush to life at ground level: tracking lion footprints from the previous night's hunt, identifying the dung of different species, approaching a herd of elephants on foot. The combination of night drives and walking safaris with the standard morning and evening game drives gives a complete picture of the conservancy's wildlife across all hours of the day.
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