The Conservancy was set up through the goodwill of tribal landowners to expand wildlife ranges and migration routes. The whole gambit of African wildlife is here and it now has the largest concentration of giraffe and eland in the local eco-system. Giraffe are known locally as “cool tall guys” and Masai Giraffe differ from other sub-species by their distinctive jig-saw puzzle splotched pattern. Lion and cheetah move in and out of the territory but are often sighted since the Olerai plains are perfect hunting grounds. The reserve provides an elephant corridor and with lush marshland grasses the elephant are using it as a feeding ground as well as a dispersal area.
Proclaiming areas for the protection of wildlife must also consider local communities and their traditional ways of life. With cattle and goats forming the major livelihood and sustenance of the local Maasai around this Conservancy, the Conservancy Manager Mr Mandela introduced Time Zoning for grazing during certain low season months of the year Based on a 7 year study showing that wildlife is most active in the early hours of the day up to about 9am and the evening after 4pm, he allowed grazing of livestock on the open plains from 9am to 3.30pm. The local wildlife has habituated well to this circadian rhythm time zoning, although it’s not unusual to see a mixed group of wild and domesticated animals grazing in close proximity.