The Olderkesi Conservancy

Location: Maasai Mara Game Reserve, Narok County, Kenya

Area: 19,000 acre

Overview

Deep in the south-eastern Mara region, right at the border with Tanzania and world-renowned Serengeti, lies the Olderkesi Conservancy. This is the most exclusive conservancy in the Maasai Mara, home to only one safari camp Cottar’s 1920s Safari Camp.

The Conservancy was established in 2016, by the Olderkesi Group Ranch, and belongs to 6,500 landowners who rent it out to the Cottar’s Wildlife Conservation Trust, and was set aside 24,700 acres (10, 000 hectares) of land to implement conservation measures and wildlife protection and agree to limit settlements, farming, and grazing to certain zones only.

The local Maasai agreed to keep smaller herds and protect the land from overgrazing, allowing local wildlife to flourish in unfenced lands in exchange for less intense use of the lands Maasai receive benefits from eco-tourism generated by the lease of the safari operator Cottars. This partnership between Cottars’ Wildlife Conservancy Trust and the Olderkesi Wildlife Community Trust is in managing the Conservancy by ensuring wildlife in the area is protected from poaching and the land is no longer fragmented for farming.

The Maasai landowners keep an important corridor open for the Great Migration across the Mara ecosystem.  This Migration brings thousands to Maasai Mara in the months July-November each year.   The Maasai community also benefits from investments in a number of community social amenities that focus on economic and educational opportunities.

The Uniqueness of this Park

• • An important corridor for the Great Migration across the Mara.

• • This is the most exclusive conservancy in the Maasai Mara.

• • Home to only one safari camp Cottar’s 1920s Safari Camp.’

• • The award-winning Cottar’s 1920s Camp is situated in the 7608-acre private Olderkesi Conservancy.

Accommodation Options

Safari operator ‘Cottar’s Safaris’ is the only occupant of the Olderkesi Conservancy. The Cottar family has over 100 years of experience welcoming visitors within the Mara- Serengeti ecosystem. Guests visiting Cottar’s 1920s Safari Camp pay fees that go towards conservation efforts and towards the Maasai community. The conservancy employs 29 wildlife rangers, six guards, and four chefs at the lodge.

The award-winning Cottar’s 1920s Camp is situated in the 7608-acre private Olderkesi Conservancy bordering the famous ‘seventh’ natural wonder of the world. The camp has nine tents in total (two unique honeymoon tents, four double tents, and three family tents), all with en suite bathrooms.

Activities at the Destination

One-hour learning with female conservation rangers, Pangolin Talk, Conservancy Talk, Medicinal Plant Walk and Talk, Mara Predator Project Experience, Carbon footprint, recycle and upcycle talk and experience, Forging with Letilet and foraged dining experience, vulture Rehabilitation, and rapture talk/experience, Wild Dog Talk, Transect/Identification of wildlife early morning walk, Talk on the culture and Community of the Maasai people, Elephant Collaring, E-Bikes, 4C Center visit, History of safari Talk, Stargazing, Reforestation see dispersal activity, Maasai Warrior School, Game Walks or run with a Maasai Warrior, Game drive, Visit local School, Professional photography experience, Bush Bath, Visit the local Maasai Village.