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Restoring Habitats in Kenya's Greater Maasai Mara

© Andrew Morgan
Rebuild ecosystems and reconnect wildlife corridors with international scientists and a Maasai community

Kenya’s Enarau Wildlife Conservancy contains a landscape at a tipping point. Stretching across more than 3,000 acres on the northern edge of the Greater Maasai Mara, this vast refuge should support sweeping grasslands, wetlands and the wildlife that depends on them—elephants, giraffes, zebras, antelopes and the predators that follow. But decades of farming and overgrazing have stripped the soil, fragmented habitat and driven animals away. Left alone, recovery would take decades. At Enarau, that timeline is being compressed. Work alongside scientists and Maasai landowners to restore native habitat and test how degraded ecosystems respond. Collect field data, support vegetation recovery and contribute to rebuilding a critical wildlife corridor—one that could shape conservation across East Africa.

Research at a Glance

Your Role in Research
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The Research Focus

Restore degraded savanna ecosystems in the Maasai Mara while tracking how vegetation, soil and wildlife respond, building a clearer understanding of how biodiversity returns over time.

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What You'll Do

Collect field data through wildlife surveys, vegetation measurements and camera trapping, while supporting hands-on restoration work including planting and nursery activities.

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Why It Matters

Decades of land use have degraded the Maasai Mara, reducing wildlife and disrupting migration. This project helps rewild the habitat and support species return across East Africa.

Meet Your Lead Scientist

Your Research Team
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Dr. Antonio Uzal

Associate Professor of Conservation Biology, Nottingham Trent University
Wildlife Ecology, Kenya

Dr. Antonio Uzal studies how human activity shapes wildlife populations, drawing on decades of field and research experience with large mammals and ecosystem dynamics. His work supports evidence-based conservation, from habitat restoration to reducing human-wildlife conflict.

Experience the Maasai Mara as a Living Laboratory

Stay at Enarau Conservancy, where scientists and Maasai landowners are actively rebuilding habitat and studying how a savanna ecosystem recovers.

Witness Iconic African Wildlife

See elephants, giraffe, zebra, and antelope across the Maasai Mara’s famed open plains—where massive herds and relentless predator action play out in full view.

Support Community-Led Conservation

Join Maasai landowners and scientific researchers using Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) to restore land, support wildlife and sustain livelihoods.

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  1. Live Inside a Landscape in Recovery 
    Stay at Enarau Conservancy, established in 2022, where change is visible across the landscape and daily fieldwork unfolds just beyond your door.

  2. Experience the Maasai Mara Beyond a Traditional Safari 
    Enjoy all the benefits of observing the Maasai Mara’s abundant wildlife with added ecological insight that brings the restoration story of the landscape to life.

  3. Understand What’s Driving Change in the Mara 
    Explore how grazing, climate pressure and land use shape the Maasai Mara, and learn why restoring balance across this system is complex and urgent.

  4. Visit a Native Seed Nursery  
    Discover how native plants are grown using Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) to guide restoration and support long-term ecosystem recovery.

  5. Understand the People and Ideas Behind the Work 
    Spend time with Maasai community members to see how land use, culture and conservation intersect where ecological recovery and human well-being are closely linked.

  6. Learn From an Expert Field Guide 
    Your Field Guide is with you throughout the entire trip and ensures each day runs smoothly, coordinating logistics and providing personalized support throughout the trip.

  7. Travel With an Intentionally Small Group 
    A limited group size ensures meaningful time in the field, direct access to scientists and an active role in daily conservation work.

  8. Explore with Purpose 
    Take part in fieldwork that supports ongoing conservation, contributing to the recovery of wildlife and habitat across one of Africa’s most important ecosystems.

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Hours
Mountain Time

  • 8 am to 5 pm, Monday - Friday

  • 8 am to 3 pm on Saturday

  • Closed on Sunday

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Please note that on this Make It Private departure we have a minimum group size of ${minGroupSize}.