Conservancy

A conservancy is a privately or community-owned wildlife reserve, typically in East or Southern Africa, where local landowners (often Maasai, Samburu, or commercial ranchers) partner with safari operators to protect ecosystems while generating tourism income. The model started in Kenya in the 1990s (Lewa, 1995). For travelers, conservancies are a major upgrade over national parks: you can do walking safaris, night drives, off-road tracking, and there are far fewer vehicles per sighting. Famous conservancies include Mara North, Lewa, Ol Pejeta, Borana (Kenya), and Sabi Sands (South Africa). Expect a per-night conservation fee added to your bill, which directly funds the landowners.