Masai Mara Game Reserve Local Customs

Although Siana Springs Camp is enclosed by an electric fence to keep large predators out, smaller game roam freely inside the compound, such as this bushbuck. They are quite habituated and appear almost tame, but they are not!

Other wild animals found in the grounds include vervet monkeys, bushbabies, mongoose, tree hyrax and lots of birds.

In keeping with the new ‘green movement’ of Kenyan tourism and a focus on conservation, Siana endeavours to uphold the highest standards of social and environmental responsibility in one of Africa’s most progressive ecological partnerships. The camp enjoys very close ties with its Maasai landlords, who share in the venture and make up more than 60% of its workforce. The vision for the continent is twinned with the economic future of the Maasai’ people’s nomadic existence. The local Nkoilale Primary School was built with support from Siana, which continues to fund the school’s development. The camp is also supporting an initiative to develop a local conservation area, which will protect the area’s rich game and limit degradation by livestock grazing. The camp itself is run on strict eco-principles with water heating fuelled by waste charcoal dust, biodegradable waste composted and all waste water recycled through the camp’s extensive wetland system

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Seen as a tourist rap by soem i rather enjoyed the visit regardless of if its 100% representative of village life today.

The women of the village build the houses, it takes them a couple of weeks or so. The houses are expected to last around five years, after which time the family will move on to new pastures.

You'd often see hyenas lying down in pudles in the middle of the tracks. They do this to cool down from the heat of the midday sun. Of course, when they get up they have a dirty bottom!