National park · Kenya
Naboisho Conservancy
Go only if you are sleeping inside: access runs through a member camp, so book a lodge night (roughly US$400–900 all-in) rather than a day visit, and use the conservancy for off-road cats, night drives and walking — not for the reserve's river crossings.
Map to the park
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Area
200 km²77 sq mi
approximate
Established
2010
Best months
Jul–Sep, Jan–Feb
UNESCO
None
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- Kenya ↗Book a travel-clinic visit several weeks ahead; ask about malaria prevention and check whether a yellow fever vaccination certificate is required for your route, including transits.
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At a glance
- Country
- Kenya
- Area
- 200 km²77 sq mi
- About 200 km² of savanna, acacia woodland and seasonal valleys east of the Maasai Mara National Reserve (check).
- Established
- 2010
- Best months
- Jul–Sep, Jan–Feb
- Permits
- For some areas
- Base
- Nairobi
Naboisho is a community-owned conservancy bordering the eastern edge of the Maasai Mara National Reserve, established in 2010. Unlike the public reserve, it allows off-road driving, night game drives and walking safaris, and caps visitor density through a handful of member camps. It protects critical wildlife corridors for lions, cheetahs and elephants while providing guaranteed income to over 500 Maasai landowning families.
Decide
Why go, which months, and what lives here when
At a glance
Status
- No UNESCO listing; national park since 2010.
Size and age
200 km²77 sq mi · national park since 2010
About 200 km² of savanna, acacia woodland and seasonal valleys east of the Maasai Mara National Reserve (check).
This page covers the park itself. Nearest base: Nairobi.
Why go
- Off-road driving is allowed, so guides can follow lions and cheetahs into thickets instead of queueing on a track.
- Night drives are permitted here and banned inside the national reserve — servals, bat-eared foxes and aardwolves are realistic targets.
- Walking safaris with an armed ranger and a Maasai tracker are a standard activity, not a special request.
- Vehicle numbers are capped and only a handful of camps operate, so sightings stay quiet even in peak season.
When to go
- JanBest
- FebBest
- MarCaution
- AprAvoid
- MayCaution
- JunGo
- JulBest
- AugBest
- SepBest
- OctGo
- NovCaution
- DecGo
- JanDry-season window; short grass (check)
- FebDry-season window; short grass (check)
- MarLong rains build; tracks soften (check)
- AprPeak rains; mud and some camps close (check)
- MayRains easing; green plains (check)
- JunDrying; grass still long (check)
- JulDry; migration in the wider Mara (check)
- AugDry; reserve busy, conservancy quiet (check)
- SepDry; strong predator viewing (check)
- OctShort rains start late in the month (check)
- NovShort rains; afternoon showers (check)
- DecDrying; holiday rates peak (check)
Wildlife and nature calendar
| What | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LionAll year · One of the densest populations in the Mara ecosystem; resident prides hold territory year-round. | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
| CheetahJun–Oct, Dec–Mar · Open plains suit them; best on short grass in the dry months. | yes | yes | yes | no | no | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | no | yes |
| LeopardJun–Mar · Wooded drainage lines and kopjes; most often seen early or late. | yes | yes | yes | no | no | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
| ElephantJun–Mar · Herds move through as a corridor between Mara North and Olare Motorogi. | yes | yes | yes | no | no | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
| Maasai giraffeAll year · High densities; groups often stand in the open on the plains. | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
| Nocturnal species (serval, aardwolf, bat-eared fox)Jun–Mar · Seen on night drives; low visitor pressure helps. | yes | yes | yes | no | no | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
| Wildebeest migrationJul–Oct · The herds move through the wider Mara; river crossings happen in the national reserve, not here. | no | no | no | no | no | no | yes | yes | yes | yes | no | no |
| Resident and migratory birdsNov–Mar · Over 300 species recorded; raptors, secretary birds and rollers year-round. | yes | yes | yes | no | no | no | no | no | no | no | yes | yes |
Arrive & move
Getting in, how the park is divided, and where things are
How to get there
From Nairobi
Light aircraft from Wilson Airport to Ol Seki Airstrip inside the conservancy; camps meet the flight.
check
Open the page →
From Nairobi by road
Via Narok on the A104 and Sekenani road; 4×4 needed, slow and muddy after rain.
5–6 h
From Talek Gate, Maasai Mara National Reserve
Lodge vehicle on conservancy tracks.
30–60 min
From Oloolaimutia Gate
Lodge vehicle; longer in wet conditions.
45–90 min
Zones and sectors
| Zone | What is there | Access |
|---|---|---|
| Enesikiria Valley | Wooded drainage line with acacias; lions and leopards use it. | Guided game drives only. |
| Open plains | Short-grass flats where cheetah hunt and giraffe gather. | Guided drives; off-road permitted. |
| Rocky kopjes | Granite outcrops with elevated views; predators rest and scan from them. | Guided drives; no climbing on foot. |
| Seasonal waterholes | Dry-season water that pulls herds and the cats that follow them. | Guided drives; good for a full morning parked in one spot. |
Sketch map
- 1Ol Seki Airstrip · Ranger station≈1.545, 35.305Approximate; flights from Wilson Airport in Nairobi.Map ↗
- 2Enesikiria Valley · Trail≈1.560, 35.340Approximate; wooded drainage line used by lions and leopards.Map ↗
- 3Talek Gate, Maasai Mara National Reserve · Gate≈1.510, 35.260Approximate; 30–60 min by lodge vehicle.Map ↗
- 4Oloolaimutia Gate, Maasai Mara National Reserve · Gate≈1.420, 35.210Approximate; 45–90 min by lodge vehicle.Map ↗
- 5Aitong · Town≈1.470, 35.420Approximate; nearest small settlement with basic shops.Map ↗
- 6Talek · Town≈1.500, 35.250Approximate; small Maasai market and simple eateries.Map ↗
See & do
Caves, trails and wildlife, with how hard each is and whether it needs booking
Top experiences
Practical
Fees, permits, rules, where to sleep and what can go wrong
Entry fees and permits
| Item | Range | Per | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Conservancy fee, non-resident adult | US$100–130 | person per night | 2026 estimate; usually bundled into the camp rate — confirm the current figure with your lodge (check). |
| Conservancy fee, resident adult | US$30–60 | person per night | 2026 estimate; resident and citizen rates differ (check). |
| Maasai Mara National Reserve day entry, non-resident adult | US$100–200 | person per day | 2026 estimate; separate from the conservancy fee and rising — check before booking a reserve day trip. |
| Member camp night, full board | US$400–900 | person per night | 2026 estimate; usually includes meals, game drives and the conservancy fee (check). |
| Hot-air balloon flight | US$450–550 | person | 2026 estimate; launches from Mara sites outside the conservancy (check). |
Ranges, not quotes: fees change without notice. Check with the park or your operator · checked Sep 2026.
Conservancy access permit or guide
Night drive and walking safari permit or guide
Maasai Mara National Reserve day trip permit or guide
Park rules
- Stay in a member camp
- Access to the conservancy is only through a camp that pays the conservancy fee; there is no public gate ticket.
- No independent driving
- Self-drive game viewing is not permitted; you go out with a camp guide in a lodge vehicle.
- Walking
- On foot only on a guided walking safari with an armed ranger; no walking out of camp on your own.
- Night driving
- Allowed only in a guided vehicle with a spotlight; do not ask a driver to leave the tracks after dark on their own.
- Community land
- You are on leased Maasai land. Ask before photographing people or homesteads, and agree any payment first.
- Drones
- Not allowed without permission from the conservancy and the relevant Kenyan authorities (check).check
- Wildlife products
- Ivory, skins and horns are illegal in Kenya; do not buy or carry them.
Where to stay
In the park
Member tented camps (Naboisho, Encounter Mara, Kicheche Valley, Ol Seki Hemingways, Eagle View and others)
Small full-board camps inside the conservancy; staying in one is what gives you access. Rates usually include meals, day and night drives, walks and the conservancy fee.
Near the park
Camps just outside the boundary
Some properties sit outside and drive in with a guide; confirm in writing that conservancy access and the fee are included.
Safety
Wildlife in and around camp medium
Malaria medium
Sun and altitude low
Wet-season tracks medium
Balloon flights low
Accessibility
- Game drives are in open 4×4 vehicles with high steps; ask your camp about a vehicle with easier access and a step stool.
- Walking safaris and fly-camping need reasonable mobility over uneven, grass-covered ground.
- Camps are tented and on dirt paths; some have boardwalks and level access to the main areas — confirm before booking.
Visiting lightly
- The conservancy leases land from more than 500 Maasai families for a guaranteed monthly payment; your fee is the mechanism, so pay it through a member camp.
- Keep to the vehicle limit: do not ask a guide to join a sighting that already has several vehicles.
- Use the camp's filtered water and refill a bottle instead of buying plastic.
- Buy beadwork and crafts from camp shops or women's groups rather than roadside resellers.
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to enter Naboisho Conservancy?
There is no public gate ticket. The conservancy fee is paid through a member camp and is usually bundled into the nightly rate — a 2026 estimate of US$100–130 per non-resident adult per night, with lower resident rates (check). Camp nights run roughly US$400–900 per person all-in (check), and a Maasai Mara National Reserve day trip adds a separate reserve entry fee.
What are the best hikes in Naboisho Conservancy?
There are no marked public trails and no documented routes. Walking is only on guided walking safaris with an armed ranger and a Maasai tracker, usually 2–4 hours early in the morning, focusing on tracks, birds and plants. Some camps add a fly-camping night, walking out and sleeping in a lightweight bush camp.
When is the best time to visit Naboisho Conservancy?
The dry windows are roughly January–February and July–October, with short grass and the easiest cat viewing; April is the wettest month and November brings short rains (check). The conservancy stays quiet even in peak season because vehicle numbers are capped.
Can I visit Naboisho as a day trip without staying?
Access is limited to guests of member camps, and independent driving is not permitted. If you are staying in the national reserve or another conservancy, ask your lodge whether a guided transfer is possible — you would still pay the Naboisho conservancy fee.
Can I drive myself around Naboisho Conservancy?
No. All game viewing is with a camp guide in a lodge vehicle. The upside is that off-road driving is allowed, so guides can follow lions and cheetahs off the tracks, and night drives are permitted here but not inside the Maasai Mara National Reserve.
Do I need a 4×4 to reach Naboisho by road?
Yes, and it is a long day: 5–6 hours from Nairobi via Narok, slower and muddier in the rains. Most visitors fly from Wilson Airport to Ol Seki Airstrip and let the camp collect them; confirm the flight time with your camp (check).
Will I see the wildebeest migration in Naboisho?
The herds move through the wider Mara roughly July–October, and you may see them on the plains here. The river crossings that people picture happen in the Maasai Mara National Reserve, which is a separate day trip with its own entry fee.
Deep dive
Every source; fees and rules change, so check before you go