Parks or Conservancies? Which Is Best? Great national parks in East Africa, like the Masai Mara and the Serengeti, are well known. But you might not know as much about conservancies, which are protected places spread out across Kenya and Tanzania.

There are also places like these where the land and wildlife are carefully protected from the effects of modern life and growth. One big difference between these places is that parks are owned and cared for by the national parks service, while conservancies are owned and run by the native people who live there. Most of the time, the Maasai.

Both businesses help animals stay healthy in their natural habitats while also giving safari-goers chances to explore and get close to the animals.

What’s the difference then?

A lot of people work together to run the national parks, so they have strict rules that guides and their guests must follow. Parks are only allowed to be open from sunrise to sunset because of rules. Were you hoping to go on a night game drive? Most national parks don’t let people do that.

Also, you can’t drive off-road in the parks; you have to stay on the designated roads, which are usually pretty big.

Most of the time, the parks don’t put limits on how many people can come or how many cars can be near an animal sighting. There may be times when this causes too many safari-goers to gather in one place.

On the other hand, parks are often placed in a way that lets people see events that they can’t see from conservancies. In the Masa Mara Reserve, for example, from July to October, the only time to see the show is when thousands of wildebeests cross the Mara River. This can make up for most of the park’s other flaws.

Why Should You Go to a Conservancy?

The conservation idea has been a great way to protect the land, the wildlife, and the native people’s ways of life. In a brilliant move, they have teamed up with different hospitality businesses to create protected areas where the land has been fixed up, drawing lots of wildlife and setting up small lodges and camps with limited visitor spaces.

This limits the number of people who can go on safari, making the experience quieter and maybe even more private. In a reserve, there won’t be many other cars, and there are unique things to do like night game drives, bush walks, and breakfast and dinners in the bush.

But these smaller conservancy places don’t have all the activities, views, and experiences that bigger ones do. So give your camping trip some thought.

You might be able to see all the animals you want to see and have the safari experience you picture if you spend time in both the national parks and the conservancies. We are always about giving you options.

Just tell us about your dreams, and we’ll help you make this wonderful choice.

The National Parks and Game Reserves of Kenya

Masai Mara National Park
Lake Nakuru National Park
Hell’s Gate National Park
Lake Bogoria national reserve
Shimba Hills National Reserve
Samburu National Park
Arabuko Sokoke Forest Reserve
Mount Kenya National Park

Mara North Wilderness Area
Conservancy of Ol Kinyei
Conservancy of the Mara Triangle
Mara Siana Nature Park
Conservancy of Lemek
Ol Pejeta Conservation Area
Lemek Conservancy,
Lewa Conservancy.