Olare Motorogi & Ol Kinyei have highest lion density in Africa
Nic Elliot, a researcher from Oxford University, is the Project Director of the Mara Lion Project and with his fellow zoologist, Arjun Gopalswamy, published a scientific paper (2016) on lion densities in the Mara eco-system, an area generally recognised as having the highest concentration of lions in Africa. Their study focused on the Mara National Reserve, the Mara Triangle and the Mara Conservancies comprising Ol Kinyei, Naboisho, Olare Motorogi, Mara North, Lemek and Ol Chorro conservancies. Since lions have high mortality under one year, in their study they included only those individuals older than one year. Their results show that they estimate lion density to be 16.85 lions per 100km2 which translates to 420 lions across the Mara Reserve and the adjoining Conservancies.
Elliot, Nicholas B., and Arjun M. Gopalaswamy. “Towards accurate and precise estimates of lion density.” Conservation Biology (2016).
The research found that there was a higher lion density in the combined conservancies than in the Mara Reserve itself which Nic Elliot considered quite remarkable given that (in ecological terms) the conservancies are relatively new.
So the conservancies have proved to be important lion areas, critical for their survival. And of all the areas in the Mara eco-system, the two places with the highest lion density were Olare Motorogi Conservancy and Ol Kinyei Conservancy, where our Porini Camps are located. This means that these two conservancies probably have the highest concentration of free-roaming wild lions in the whole of Africa!
Nic Elliot told us that his research findings should help in opening the eyes of potential visitors to the spectacular wildlife of the conservancies and that lions certainly flourish within them.
Find out more about the lions and many other animals that reside in Ol Kinyei Conservancy in this video:
Accommodation in our Mara Conservancies:
Porini Lion Camp is located in unique and stunning setting on the banks of the seasonal Ntiakatiak River within the Olare Motorogi Conservancy. This large area borders the Masai Mara National Reserve and is home to an abundance of animals including the Mara’s renowned Big Cats. There is unsurpassed game-viewing within the conservancy due to its unspoiled natural state and the Porini Lion Camp – with just ten tents – ensures guests have a genuine “away from it all” experience deep in the African bush.
Porini Mara Camp has just 6 guest tents and is located within the award-winning Ol Kinyei Conservancy (Maasai Mara), offering an authentic, high quality, low tourism-density safari experience. Ol Kinyei Conservancy is an exclusive 18700 acre wilderness set aside as a wildlife sanctuary with a wide variety of species including big cats: lions, leopards and cheetahs. The area has open plains, forests, rivers and stunning views.
Porini Cheetah Camp is unfenced and located inside a private conservancy far from the usual safari crowds. It has just six spacious guest tents. The camp offers Wifi Internet in the public areas . The camp is entirely solar-powered and the comfortable tents have fans and charging points for use in the day. Also ensuite bathrooms with hot shower, flush toilet and water on tap. The chef uses fresh ingredients to prepare high quality meals and even home-baked bread. Indian cuisine is available on request.
Tucked away in a secluded forest of Leleshwa (African Wild Sage) and Yellow Bark Acacia, Porini Giraffe Camp offers an intimate and authentic safari experience in the heart of the Mara Ripoi Conservancy. Spanning 13,500 acres of rolling hills, lush riverine woodlands, and open plains, this exclusive conservancy is a haven for wildlife—including big cats, elephants, giraffes, and countless other species—all roaming freely between the Mara Reserve, Siana Conservancy, and Ol Kinyei Conservancy via natural wildlife corridors.
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