By Dia Nanda
Nature conservancies in Kenya are a unique feature that use private capital to benefit environment.Situated on the eastern coast of Africa, Kenya is home to over 25,000 different species of wildlife, ranging from birds to reptiles and so much more. A country of almost 54 million people, with some of the most breathtaking natural features in the world, has long been renowned for its endless savannah, most famously, the Maasai Mara. Located on the south of Kenya, the Maasai Mara borders the Serengeti in Tanzania, and is home to the famed East African Lion, as well as leopards, cheetahs, hyenas and so much more.
The Maasai Mara National Reserve is an area of protected land, aimed to help the ongoing conservation effort in Kenya. Poaching is the most serious threat to the Mara which has long plagued large parts of Africa, and has led to the deaths of thousands of animals for meat, ivory and fur. This inhumane practice now carries a hefty fine as well as jail time if poachers are caught, however in remote and far flung parts of the Mara poaching still occurs, albeit much less than it used to. The Greater Mara area under conservation amounts to almost 1,510 km2, with the Mara-Serengeti ecosystem covering 25,000 km2 of land. Bordering the Maasai Mara National Reserve and located within the Greater Mara area are a series of conservancies, which are areas of land leased to tour operators for conservation purposes by the Maasai. The Maasai are the native group of the Mara for which the land is named after, and they gain income from the leasing of land.
Nature Conservancies are the poster child of using private capital for public good. Kenya has developed nature conservancies in the late 70s to provide private capital for developing increasingly degraded land. The success of the experiment is the buy-in from the local community as well as increasing wildlife in the conservancies. Kenya has earned tourist dollars, the local communities have gained income, the local government has received taxes and the wildlife has thrived. No doubt there are downsides. At times the conservancies can feel commercial and limited to very high end tourists. The wildlife is disturbed by the incessant visit by the vehicles and tourists. Having said all of this, poaching is significantly down in Kenya and this is probably one of the bigger benefits from conservancies.
This summer, I had the opportunity to visit the Olare Motorogi Conservancy and experience the nature of the Maasai Mara, a truly unforgettable experience; the beauty and sheer expanse of The Mara is hard to put into words. Every day we were able to experience something new, whether that was watching a pride of lions stalking a leopard which took shelter in the trees, or witness a cheetah hunt (rather unsuccessfully might I add) a herd of gazelle, a visit to the mara offers the chance to view nature in its rawest, most unfiltered form.
One event that is famous in The Mara is the Great Migration. This is the crossing of over 2 million Wilderbeests and Zebras from the Serengeti to The Maasi Mara and back again. This incredible migration occurs from July to October and is one of the most incredible things to witness. Whilst this event usually occurs over the Mara River, we were able to witness a herd of Wilderbeest crossing a sand river seperating Kenya from Tanzania (pictured above), and view just a small part of The Great Migration. This was a unique aspect of staying in a nature conservancy as it allowed us to view the migration.
The Maasai Mara and the nature conservancy is one of the most beautiful places in the world that offers such a unique experience; photos do not do the gorgeous landscape justice, nor capture the nuances of the Mara. Nevertheless, it was an incredible and unforgettable trip, and if given the chance, a journey I would recommend everyone to take. I am in complete awe and admiration for how this land and these animals have been protected and kept safe, allowing for them to thrive in peace for hopefully centuries to come. The added benefit was some satisfaction that my visit did not harm the natural environment and benefited the local community!
An interesting aspect to evaluate is how digital payments are helping the local communities in financial inclusion.