Fewest game drive vehicles
USD350 - USD1300 Per Person Sharing
Vast number of big cats in the Masai Mara
Jul - Sep
Jun - Sep
Location
Located in Kenya’s southwest, the Olare Motorogi Conservancy lies in the northern part of the Maasai Mara National Reserve.
Size
The Olare Motorogi Conservancy is 55 square miles in size.
History
The Olare Motorogi Conservancy originally consisted of just the Olare Orok Conservancy. It was legally declared a conservancy in 2006 when around 270 members of the local Maasai community, tourism and conservation entities formed a partnership. The Motorogi land was later acquired and the name changed to the Olare Motorogi Conservancy.
Entrance Fees & Permits
Entrance fee to the Olare Motorogi Conservancy is USD80 per adult per 24-hour period and USD45 per child under 12 years old.
Hours of Operation
The gates to the Olare Motorogi Conservancy are open between 6am and 6pm, these times applying to guests staying in the Olare Motorogi Conservancy.
By Road
The drive from Nairobi to the Olare Motorogi Conservancy is 167 miles along the B3 and C12 main roads, the driving time taking approximately six hours. Entrance into the conservancy is mostly through the Sekenani Gate (main gate) of the Masai Mara National Reserve.
By Air
The flying time from Nairobi’s Wilson Airport is approximately one hour, with planes landing on the Olare Orok Airstrip.
Weather & Climate
The cool, dry winter season is the most ideal time to visit the Olare Motorogi Conservancy. Visiting between June and September will see mild days with temperatures around the 75 F mark. The short rains fall in November with the longer rainfall present at the end of March and all of April.
Avoiding Crowds
Avoiding the key safari months of July, August and September will ensure that the plains of the Olare Motorogi Conservancy have less vehicles traversing the land and fewer guests in the lodges and camps in the Olare Motorogi Conservancy.
Value for Money
Accommodation and Safari packages offered in the conservancies of the Masai Mara offer a value for money safari with a wide range of accommodation options to choose from, suitable for all safari budgets. Staying in one of the conservancies versus staying in the main Masai Mara National Reserve also offers flexibility regarding certain activities. Guests can embark on a walking safari or even a night drive, therefore enhancing their safari experience.
Popular Wildlife Sightings in the Olare Motorogi Conservancy
Known for its large population of big cats, sightings of lion, leopard and cheetah are often spotted in the Olare Motorogi Conservancy. The conservancy also sees a great number of wildebeest, zebra and giraffe, with the opportunity to see herds of elephant roaming the plains and hills of the conservancy.
The Terrain
The Olare Motorogi Conservancy comprises valleys, hills, open plains with riverines and acacia woodlands completing the diverse landscape of this prized safari destination. The Ntia Ketiak River and Olre Orok valley form part of the picture, with the Ntiakitiak Gorge a scenic sight for visitors to enjoy.
Game Drives
Open 4×4 vehicles or enclosed 4×4 game drive vehicles with a pop-up roof are used to conduct game drives within the Olare Motorogi Conservancy. Early morning and late afternoon drives are popular with the option offered to guests to spend the day with a picnic lunch to be enjoyed in a scenic spot on the conservancy.
Guided Walking Safaris
Bush walks are possible on the Olare Motorogi Conservancy where qualified guides set out to share the wonders of the bush and its inhabitants with you. Spot plains game grazing in front of you and keep a lookout for elusive leopards and wandering elephants in the distance.
Accommodation options in the Olare Motorogi Conservancy range from humble three-star camps to luxury, high-end safari lodges, all set near the wildlife-rich valleys and ravines of the conservancy. Options exist for all types of budgets.
Olare Motorogi Conservancy Lodging – Distance from park entrance
Lodge or Hotel
Distance to park entrance (in miles)
Mara Plains Camp
27 miles from Oloololo Gate in a southeasterly direction
Mahali Mzuri
29 miles from Oloololo Gate in an easterly direction
Kicheche Bush Camp
15 miles from Oloololo Gate in an easterly direction
Ntiakitiak Gorge
Enjoy the beauty of the waterfall wonder at the Ntiakitiak gorge, a landmark within the Olare Motorogi Conservancy that compliments the beauty of the surrounding valleys and hills.
Visit a Maasai Village
Enjoy some time exploring a Maasai Village as you experience local tradition and learn about the day-to-day life of the Masaai tribes in the area.
When is the best time to visit Olare Motorogi Conservancy?
Visitors should consider embarking on a safari in the Olare Motorogi Conservancy during the drier, winter months of June, July and August. The climate is mild, grass low and game viewing at its best. For guests looking for a quieter experience, they should consider visiting in Kenya’s late fall or early late spring to avoid crowds. Bird lovers will enjoy the conservancy in January and February just after the short rains.
How much does a safari in Olare Motorogi Conservancy cost?
Safari options range in pricing from USD300 per person sharing per night for a comfortable lead-in camp experience to a luxury safari experience at approximately USD1300 per person per night.
How to get to Olare Motorogi Conservancy?
Traveling by road from Nairobi, the drive along the B3 and C12 can take up to around six hours. Guests flying into the Olare Orok airstrip will enjoy a one hour flight from Nairobi’s Wilson Airport.
What makes an Olare Motorogi Conservancy safari so special?
The Olare Motorogi Conservancy is known for its vast number of big cats. With fewer lodges and camps compared to larger conservancies and the main section of the Masai Mara, there are less safari vehicles traversing the landscape, offering a more intimate safari experience.
What animals can I see in the Olare Motorogi Conservancy?
A variety of plains game call the Olare Motorogi Conservancy, home, with great sightings of zebra, giraffe and wildebeest on the plains and in valleys of the conservancy. Visitors can expect to see lion, leopard and cheetah when out on a game drive as the conservancy is known to have a wonderful number of big cats.
When is Olare Motorogi Conservancy open?
Access to the Olare Motorogi Conservancy is subject to the opening times of the main gates of the Masai Mara National Reserve which are 6am to 6pm daily.
Do you need to book in advance to visit the Olare Motorogi Conservancy?
Guests staying at any of the lodges or camps in the Olare Motorogi Conservancy will want to pre-book their Kenya safari package. There are limited accommodation options and during peak season especially, availability could be scarce.
What’s the best way to see Olare Motorogi Conservancy?
Enjoying a morning, afternoon or a night game drive is the best way to experience the wildlife and terrain of the Olare Motorogi Conservancy. Bush walks are also available to guests, offering an opportunity to view animals on foot, observing their surroundings and getting to know more about the flora and fauna around them.
What hotels, lodges, and camps are near Olare Motorogi Conservancy?
Some wonderful options to consider in and bordering the Olare Motorogi Conservancy include: Mhali Mazuri, Mara Plains Camp and the Kicheche Bush Camp. All offering an intimate safari experience within one of Kenya’s key safari destinations, the Masai Mara.
What restaurants are near Olare Motorogi Conservancy?
There are no stand-alone restaurants near the Olare Motorogi Conservancy. Guests will enjoy their meals while on safari, at the lodge or camp they are booked into.
What attractions are near Olare Motorogi Conservancy?
The Olare Motorogi Conservancy has a varied terrain and scenic landscape, the biggest attraction being the Ntiakitiak Gorge, a beautiful waterfall within the conservancy. Surrounding the conservancy, guests have the option to do a hot air balloon ride and visit cultural villages in other regions of the Masai Mara.