Nelson Ole Reiyia
Cofounder of Nashulai
“This is the land of my boyhood. The land of my people. And the land of my children. It’s a critical place in the whole Mara Serengeti ecosystem. And it was about to be lost forever. Our community rose up to save this place and become its stewards for the generations to come. Do you think we don’t know how to do that? This is the land where the bones of our ancestors are buried.”
Nareyio Reiyia
“In our language “Nashulai” is a special word. It means a place of harmony where community and wildlife live in balance and mutual benefit. Where the spirit of the people and the spirt of nature and wildlife come together into a common song.
It is a very special place.”
Joseph Kasaine Ole Kosikir
Chief Warden of Nashulai
“We are part of a rebirth. The ecosystem is regenerating before our eyes. There’s been an incredible return of wildlife to Nashulai. Elephants, lions, wildebeest... animals vote with their feet.”
Margaret Koshal Reiyia
Nashulai Director of Family, Gender and Education
“I was lucky to have a father who believed in education and the capacity and dignity of the girl child and all women. This has been my life’s work. Children need education and equality to thrive. It is a guiding principle for Nashulai. And the way our community has rallied on behalf of our beloved children is nothing short of amazing.”
Olbatri Ole Reiyia
Nashulai Elders Council Member
"This used to be land owned by the whole community where we would practice nomadic pastoralism… My dream is for Nashulai Maasai Conservancy to last forever. So we can support and educate our children. Enable our families to come out of poverty. Protect the wildlife that shares this land, and preserve our stories. To return the land to the way it was when I was growing up as a young warrior"
Kirotiana Enole Tingisha
Deceased Jul. 12, 2019 renamed ‘Ngoto Olosho’ Mother of the Community
“I am an old woman and blind now. I have been alive on this land for so long, maybe 100 years. Sometimes I thought everything was being lost forever. But now my dream is coming true that our beautiful home, which we now call Nashulai, can be saved. Our Maasai children and children from the entire world will be able to see the land as Enkai made it.”
Mary Karia
Nashulai Community Member
“The future of Nashulai rests with the people of Nashulai.”
Emmanuel Ole Soit (Chui)
“I used to be a notorious poacher. But I changed. Because of Nashulai I now work as a ranger in the conservancy to protect the animals. I can afford to feed and educate my children. That changes everything.”
Lepore
Nashulai Ranger
“Nashulai may be small in comparison to other conservancies in the Maasai Mara. But our importance is very large. Why? Because we are the passage way for so many of the migrating animals in the Mara Serengeti system. Because elephants have a birthing ground here. And because our model is the way of the future.”
“Our culture gives us the courage we need. Our children give us the inspiration we need.”
Musuuri Ole Kirokorr
Nashulai Ranger
“After getting the conservancy our lives have changed, children are getting bursaries, men are getting money for their land and we are employed and have a salary. When I wake up in the morning I am happy. I am happy when I am looking after the wild animals.”
Olomunyak, Ric Young
Cofounder of Nashulai
“This is a chapter in the fundamental narrative of our time. How do we rediscover a sustainable relationship between people and place? Nashulai is the opposite of the tragedy of the commons. Our story is about the recovery of the commons. Nashulai is a regeneration story.”
Nelson Ole Reiyia
"Nashulai is a unique place in this moment. It is the only conservancy in the Maasi Mara that integrates people and wildlife together in the same ecosystem. Because that is how it used to be. This is how we used to live together with wildlife. We used to live in the same space. So we had to come together and ensure the land was protected. Saving it for the people, saving it for wildlife. If we didn't have Nashulai, then we'll have fences, and that will prevent the great wildlife migration from taking place. That will deny elephants their ancient migratory routes and their birthing places. And this would affect the whole of Maasai Mara, a very important ecosystem, a World Heritage Site. 70% of wildlife of the Massai Mara is not in the main park. It's actually outside in the community lands. If you don't get a community to come together to preserve the land then this will box in all the wildlife and it doesn't have enough habitat. So the communities hold the key."
Young Maasai Warrior, Nashulai
“Jambo!”
