ENONKISHU CONSERVANCY
[ Maa for place of healthy cattle]
REGENERATIVE GRAZING
Enonkishu Conservancy is committed to sustainable rangeland management that allows space and resources for all people, cattle, and wildlife. To achieve this it seeks a balance between conservation of the ecosystem and appropriate enterprise for the resident Maasai communities. Enonkishu is adopting a unique approach to conserving land by creating a viable livestock enterprise through a Holistic Management (HM) Approach. Through HM, Enonkishu intends to improve productivity of the livestock in the region,
improve livelihoods and maintain heritage.
VISION
Community led conservation, looking after the heritage, people and the natural resources of an increasingly fragile ecosystem on the edge of the Mara Serengeti Ecosystem.
OBJECTIVES
PLANET
PROFIT
PEOPLE
Local leadership and engagement, maintaining Maasai heritage and traditional values of pastoralists
Enabling partnerships and improving livelihoods
Regenerative grazing protecting livestock, wildlife and their habitats
OUR APPROACH
Enonkishu is a locally led initiative employing a triple bottom line approach; People (Social-Community), Profit (Economics-Business), Planet (Land, Water, Wildlife) with Holistic Management (HM) as the basis of the initiative. All components are interlinked and have an adaptive management style of thinking that uses a learning by doing culture within the conservancy.
Enonkishu Conservancy, on the northern boundary of the Mara-Serengeti Ecosystem has developed a strategy for a culturally relevant context to apply to conservation. Right on the edge of human settlement and arable farmland, the conservancy is used as a demonstration site for sustainable rangeland management.
Over the last five years, cattle have been utilized as a tool to rehabilitate degraded grassland and progress has been monitored. The resilient ecosystem of Enonkishu has responded well to the implementation of mobile bomas, additional artificial water points, efforts to control erosion and a stringent grazing plan designed to maximize available forage for wildlife and livestock.
With increased abundance of predators, human-wildlife conflict has become a challenge that is being addressed by implementing mitigation strategies. The livestock have been upgraded by introducing Boran bulls into the herd with a vision of diversifying the conservancy’s revenue ensuring a sustainable model in which Maasai members realize the benefits of conservation in a tangible way.
Encouraging multiple revenue streams and utilizing cattle as a business venture demonstrates relevant conservation benefits where humans, wildlife, and livestock can coexist.
TRAINING, LIVESTOCK, TOURISM & ECOLOGICAL MONITORING
TRAINING
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At Enonkishu we have a core team of certified practitioners and trainers in place, teaching Sustainable Rangeland Management, Social Cohesion, Governance and Leadership as well as profitable livestock husbandry practices to other conservation organisations, group ranches and communities. As well as other topics of relevant interest in the area.
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The Mara Training Centre is the facility where we can carry out the above trainings which is established on Enonkishu Conservancy, a 6,000 acre community owned demonstration site of "Regenerative Grazing".
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We are introducing, influencing, leading and encouraging Sustainable Rangeland Management into the other conservancies and group ranches across Kenya.
LIVESTOCK
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We run a program : "Herds for Growth" where our community are improving the breeding, husbandry and grazing of their livestock.
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We enable access to markets where quality and consistency is rewarded and income is planned.
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Enonkishu has introduced predator-proof mobile boma's which significantly reduces the number of livestock attacks as well as in turn retaliatory killings of lions. These bomas are also mobile and are moved along with the livestock as a part of their graxing plan across the conservancy.
TOURISM
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We work on improving the biodiversity and encouraging a balance between livestock, wild animals and maintaining natural beauty.
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Communities work together to acknowledge the value of wildlife and to profit from wildlife within Enonkishu through increased revenue through conservation fees.
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We are working to improve the wildlife security and stop poaching in Enonkishu conservancy.
ECOLOGICAL MONITORING
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Wildlife monitoring is carried out on a quarterly basis and this includes vehicle transects, foot patrols, waterhole and hilltop surveys and a camera trap grid.
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Fourteen vegetation transects are monitored quarterly and scored according to nineteen parameters. Livestock is counted monthly and attended to daily. Adhering to an adaptable but stringent grazing plan has improved vegetation, livestock, and wildlife abundance in Enonkishu.
OUR PARTNERS
TESTIMONIALS
The Mara is a jewel that needs to be protected...
- Sir Richard Branson, meeting Tarquin Wood discussing the future of the Mara and the role Enonkishu can play...
We have never seen the grass like this on our land. We are happy as the cattle are looking healthier than they have in a long time, and we have seen the return of many species of wildlife, we hope this brings more tourists too!
-Moses Nampasso, Landowner
DIRECTIONS
GETTING HERE
By Car:
From Narok take the tarmac road towards Sotik for about 55km. You will go passed 2 big turn offs to the Maasai Mara. At about 53-54km you will see a green fuel levy sign on your left. You want to take the next dirt road on the left, at the “Mulot” junction. There will be signs to the Fairmont Mara Safari Club, follow this.
Once you are on the dirt road, reset your trip mileage to 00km and follow the following directions.
At 1.8km there is a fork but keep left
At 12km keep right (there is a private road to the left fork)
At 20km keep left (there is a fork to the right)
At 24.5km turn right (there should be a fenced manyatta on your left)
At 27.5km turn right
At 27.8km turn left into the Naretoi gate.
Scheduled Flights: There are twice daily flights into Ngerende with Air Kenya or Safarilink. Ngerende is a 15 minute drive from the house.
By Private Plane: There is a private airstrip on the property, please call before arriving. The coordinates are: S01 04.231'E035 14.127'