Mara Ripoi Conservancy Masai Mara

Mara Ripoi Conservancy Masai Mara, a newly established 13,500-acre wildlife haven, is part of the greater Maasai Mara ecosystem in Kenya. It was founded by leasing land from about 1,600 local Maasai landowners, ensuring the area’s preservation as a protected habitat.

The conservancy plays a critical role in creating a wildlife corridor along the Ripole River, linking Ol Kinyei Conservancy, Naiboisho Conservancy, Olare Motorogi Conservancy, and the Mara Reserve. This corridor allows for the free movement of various wildlife species, enhancing biodiversity and ecological health in the region.

Access to Mara Ripoi Conservancy is exclusive to guests staying at one of the three camps within its boundaries. This ensures a secluded and personalized safari experience while contributing to conservation efforts.

How do I get to Mara Ripoi Conservancy?

By Road: To reach Mara Ripoi Conservancy by road, you can drive from Nairobi, which is approximately 250 kilometers away. The journey usually takes around 5 to 6 hours, depending on the road conditions and traffic.

By Air: There are daily scheduled flights from Wilson Airport in Nairobi to several airstrips near the conservancy. The most commonly used airstrip for access to Mara Ripoi is Ol Seki Airstrip in the Naboisho Conservancy. The flight from Nairobi to these airstrips takes about 45 minutes. Upon arrival, you will be transferred by a short drive to the conservancy.

What Animals and Birds can be viewed in Mara Ripoi Conservancy?

The Mara Ripoi Conservancy has a large abundance of wildlife, especially the Maasai giraffe, and is an important area for wildebeest and the big cats. The conservancy connects to Siana Conservancy and then directly to the Mara Reserve, allowing free movement of wildlife from the Reserve and across a wildlife corridor along the Ripole River to Ol Kinyei Conservancy.

This has made Mara Ripoi a critical protected habitat connecting important and large wildlife areas. Visitors can see the Big Five—lions, leopards, elephants, rhinos, and buffalo—along with other animals such as giraffes, zebras, wildebeests, and various antelope species. The conservancy is also home to over 500 bird species, including the strikingly colorful lilac-breasted roller, the African fish eagle, and various species of vultures and cranes

What Activities can be done in Mara Ripoi Conservancy?

Mara Ripoi offers a range of activities to immerse visitors in the natural beauty and cultural richness of the area. Some of the activities are:

Day and Night Game Drives: Mara Ripoi Conservancy offers thrilling day and night game drives that allow visitors to experience the rich wildlife of the Masai Mara in different settings. During the day, guided game drives provide the opportunity to see a variety of animals including lions, elephants, giraffes, and zebras in their natural habitats.

Night game drives will allow our guests to look for rare and night-active species such as Aardvarks, Pangolins, Porcupines, Leopards (Both day & Night active), White-Tailed Mongoose, Spring Hares, and Civets among others.

Bush Walking Safaris: Bush Walking safaris in Mara Ripoi Conservancy provide an intimate way to explore the African bush. The walks typically last for 2-4 hours in Mara Ripoi Conservancy. Our walks include hiking one of the hills in the conservancy.

Hot Air Balloon Safaris: Hot air balloon safaris over Mara Ripoi Conservancy provide a breathtaking aerial view of Masai Mara’s landscapes and wildlife. These early morning flights offer a serene and majestic experience as the balloon drifts over the savannah, providing unparalleled vantage points to observe the movements of herds, predators stalking their prey, and the diverse topography of the region.

Scenic Helicopter Flights: For a more dynamic aerial experience, scenic helicopter flights are available, offering a thrilling way to see the vast expanses of the Mara Ripoi Conservancy. These flights can cover more ground than hot air balloons and provide the flexibility to hover or quickly reach different areas of interest.

Private Bush Dinners, Bush Breakfasts, and Sundowners: Private bush meals are a highlight of the Mara Ripoi experience, offering a combination of gourmet dining and stunning natural settings. Bush breakfasts and lunches are typically set up in picturesque locations within the conservancy, allowing guests to enjoy a meal amidst the wildlife.

Cultural Experiences: Mara Ripoi Conservancy offers rich cultural experiences that allow visitors to engage with the local Maasai community. These include visits to authentic Maasai villages where guests can learn about traditional Maasai customs, crafts, and daily life.

What are the Accommodation options at Mara Ripoi Conservancy?

The conservancy only offers 3 accommodation options.

Porini Giraffe Camp: The Porini Giraffe Camp features eight spacious, eco-friendly tents equipped with private facilities, including showers and toilets. The camp emphasizes minimal environmental impact and provides a personal touch with attentive staff and guides

Mara Siana Camp: It features six double ensuite tents and two family tents, all with modern amenities. The camp prides itself on exclusivity and intimate wildlife encounters, as it is one of the only three small camps in the conservancy

Lalashe Mara Ripoi Camp: Lalashe Mara Ripoi is a small intimate luxury luxury-tented safari Camp with only five very luxurious tented suites in the private Mara Ripoi conservancy, The camp sits on a beautiful valley dotted with acacias and croton bushes that are frequented by dozens of wildlife walking through and in front of our five well-spaced luxury tented suites.

Mara Ripoi Conservancy Masai Mara is a wildlife haven within the Mara-Serengeti ecosystem, known for its large abundance of fauna. It is particularly renowned for its populations of Maasai giraffes, and it serves as a crucial area for wildebeest migrations.

The Conservancy also supports healthy populations of Africa’s iconic big cats, including lions, leopards, and cheetahs. Additionally, you can find plenty of elephants, buffalos, zebras, and other herbivores roaming the vast landscapes.

As for avian life, the Mara Ripoi Conservancy offers birdwatching enthusiasts a chance to spot a variety of bird species, home to over 300 bird species, including Secretary Birds, Kori Bustards, Jaunty crowned plovers, flocks of White Storks, Crowned Cranes, Saddle-Billed Storks, etc. The diverse habitats within the conservancy provide perfect nesting and feeding grounds for these birds.

The Mara Ripoi Conservancy Masai Mara offers a range of activities designed to enhance your safari experience. Those activities are:

Day and Night Game Drives

Mara Ripoi Conservancy offers thrilling day and night game drives that allow visitors to experience the rich wildlife of the Masai Mara in different settings. During the day, guided game drives provide the opportunity to see a variety of animals including lions, elephants, giraffes, and zebras in their natural habitats.

The conservancy’s expert guides share their extensive knowledge of the local ecosystem, ensuring that each drive is both educational and exhilarating. Night game drives will allow our guests to look for rare and night-active species such as Aardvarks, Pangolins, Porcupines, Leopards (Both day & Night active), White-Tailed Mongoose, Spring Hares, and Civets among others.

All our guides will be accompanied on night game drives by some of our night guards who will be helping in spotting, with the help of spotlights fitted with red filters that help in not blinding the animals seen at night.

Walking Safaris

Walking safaris in Mara Ripoi Conservancy provides an intimate way to explore the African bush. The walks typically last for 2-4 hours in Lalashe Ripoi in Mara Ripoi conservancy. Our walks include hiking one of the hills in the conservancy.

All our long nature walks are accompanied by our well-trained guides and armed rangers and we always end it at either a bush breakfast set up or sundowner then drive back to the camp. Unlike game drives, walking safaris allow visitors to appreciate the smaller details of the ecosystem, such as tracks, insects, and plants, which are often overlooked from a vehicle.

Hot Air Balloon Safaris

Hot air balloon safaris over Mara Ripoi Conservancy provide a breathtaking aerial view of Masai Mara’s landscapes and wildlife. These early morning flights offer a serene and majestic experience as the balloon drifts over the savannah, providing unparalleled vantage points to observe the movements of herds, predators stalking their prey, and the diverse topography of the region.

The balloon ride typically lasts about an hour and concludes with a traditional champagne breakfast upon landing, making it a luxurious and memorable addition to any safari itinerary. This activity is particularly popular during the Great Migration when the sight of thousands of wildebeest and zebras moving across the plains is simply awe-inspiring.

Scenic Helicopter Flights

For a more dynamic aerial experience, scenic helicopter flights are available, offering a thrilling way to see the vast expanses of the Mara Ripoi Conservancy. These flights can cover more ground than hot air balloons and provide the flexibility to hover or quickly reach different areas of interest.

Helicopter safaris often include flyovers of the conservancy’s rivers, forests, and open plains, providing unique perspectives and photographic opportunities. This activity is perfect for those seeking a comprehensive aerial tour that captures the full scope of the Mara ecosystem’s beauty and diversity.

Private Bush Dinners, Bush Breakfasts, and Sundowners

Private bush meals are a highlight of the Mara Ripoi experience, offering a combination of gourmet dining and stunning natural settings. Bush breakfasts and lunches are typically set up in picturesque locations within the conservancy, allowing guests to enjoy a meal amidst the wildlife.

Sundowners, which involve enjoying drinks at a scenic spot while watching the sunset over the savannah, are a quintessential safari tradition. These experiences are designed to enhance the sense of immersion in the wilderness, providing moments of relaxation and reflection amid the day’s adventures.

The meals are prepared by skilled chefs and often feature local ingredients, adding a culinary delight to the overall safari experience.

Cultural Experiences

Mara Ripoi Conservancy offers rich cultural experiences that allow visitors to engage with the local Maasai community. These include visits to authentic Maasai villages where guests can learn about traditional Maasai customs, crafts, and daily life.

Interactions with the Maasai people provide insights into their unique way of life and their harmonious relationship with the environment. Cultural experiences often include traditional dances, storytelling, and demonstrations of Maasai craftsmanship, such as beadwork and spear-making.

These activities not only enhance the cultural understanding of visitors but also support the local community by promoting sustainable tourism and preserving Maasai heritage.

Mara Ripoi Conservancy Masai Mara is home to only three small safari camps that have exclusive use of the conservancy for game drives and other activities. They are:

Porini Giraffe Camp: A small and intimate eco-friendly tented camp located in a forested area of Camphor bush (African Wild Sage or called Leleshwa in Kenya) and Yellow Bark Acacia along the Ripole River in the Mara Ripoi Conservancy.

The camp has 8 guest tents and offers a personal and authentic experience for a safari in the Masai Mara, providing a great alternative to the large mass-market tourist lodges. The camp has a dining tent and a separate comfortable lounge all located along the Ripole River.

Mara Siana Camp: A small upscale camp with eight tents – six double en-suite tents and two family tents, each with a private deck, a double vanity bathroom, and solar power. The camp offers privacy, peace, and exclusive access to the wildlife-rich conservancy.

The camp also offers free Wi-Fi, laundry service, room service & 24-hour security. The camp also offers game drives, bush walks, village visits, night drives, cultural walks, balloon safaris (at an extra cost), spear and arrow throwing, walking safaris (at an extra cost), and visits to local schools

Lalashe Mara Ripoi: A small intimate luxury tented camp with only five very luxurious tented suites, each with a private plunge pool, outdoor shower, and stunning views of the valley and the wildlife.

The camp offers personalized service, a fully stocked bar, a pool table, a satellite TV lounge, and in-room spa service. The camp also has a dedicated silver-level safari guide and a 4×4 open-sided game viewer for each booking.

Nearby attractions to Mara Ripoi Conservancy Masai Mara include:

Masai Mara National Reserve: is an extensive grassland reserve in Kenya, renowned for its spectacular wildlife and natural beauty. It’s home to the iconic Big Five and is a critical stage for the annual Great Migration, where millions of wildebeest and zebras traverse its plains.

Visitors can stay at the AndBeyond Kichwa Tembo Tented Camp, which offers an elevated view of the surrounding wilderness, or at Mara Sun Lodge, known for its exceptional service and proximity to prime game viewing areas.

Olkinyei Conservancy: is part of the Greater Mara ecosystem and is celebrated for its pristine landscapes and diverse wildlife populations. This conservancy provides a more secluded safari experience, with accommodations like Porini Mara Camp and Porini Cheetah Camp, which are designed to have minimal environmental impact while offering intimate encounters with nature.

Siana Conservancy: The conservancy borders the southeastern edge of the Masai Mara and features a varied ecosystem with savannahs and woodlands, rich in wildlife. It’s an excellent spot for those looking to explore the Masai Mara away from the crowds.

Accommodation options include Spirit of the Masai Mara, which boasts luxury suites with sweeping views of the reserve, and Olkeri Mara Safari Camp, which combines comfort with the thrill of adventure.

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