This is the forward of the book "Maasai Mara Safari Guide", the first professional field guide to the Maasai Mara written by a Chinese Conservation Expert Simba Qiang Zhuo, an explorer and expert member of the IUCN’s World Commission on Protected Areas (WCPA), this is the first comprehensive, illustrated Chinese-language guidebook detailing the geography, wildlife distribution, field observation techniques, and community-based conservation practices in the Maasai Mara.
Simba has lived and worked in the Maasai Mara of northern Maasai Mara for over 15 years. He has studied multiple lion prides, conducted daily patrols, and documented predator behavior and ecological change. All content is based on long-term field research and firsthand data.
The forewords are written by:
Simon Nkoitoi, Chief Warden of Olkinyei Conservancy and a key leader in community conservation;
Jackson Ole Looseyia, host of BBC’s Big Cat Diary and founder of the Mara Repoi Conservancy.
They describe this book as “a bridge between cultures, a compass for explorers, and a torch igniting the passion for protection.”
With a practical and scientific approach, the guide covers:
The geography, climate, vegetation, and ecosystem structure of the Maasai Mara;
Distribution and behavioral patterns of lions, leopards, cheetahs, and other predators;
Over 100 GPS-tagged locations and navigation advice;
Ideal timings and routes for wildlife observation by season and migration period;
Emergency field tips for vehicle recovery, animal encounters, and insect bites.
As the first Chinese conservationist to live deeply embedded in the African wilderness, Simba’s journey has inspired thousands of Chinese and overseas communities to care about Africa’s wildlife. He initiated impactful efforts like the Mara Wildlife Academy and the Savannah Games, showcasing the growing role of Chinese participation in global conservation.
This guide is an essential companion for travelers to East Africa and a valuable resource for schools, museums, and environmental educators. It also stands as a meaningful addition to ecological literature collections.
Transcript逐字稿
Machine transcription with names checked by hand. Small errors may remain; the audio is the record.机器转写，人名地名已人工校对，可能仍有少量误差，以音频为准。
0:00When it comes to observing wildlife in Africa, the most familiar places for most people are likely the Maasai Mara and the Serengeti. These regions showcase the typical African savannah landscape and climate, and they served as the backdrop for the animated film The Lion King. Numerous wildlife documentaries produced by BBC National Geographic and Discovery Channel were filmed here. These These areas host the largest wildlife migration on earth, are the places with the highest visibility of mammals globally, are the best locations in Africa to observe large cats, lions, leopards, cheetahs, servals, etc. and are ideal for observing various migratory and resident bird species.
0:48My connection with the Musai Mara began in 1981 when I watched the animated series Kimba white lion. It tells the story of a white lion cub named Leo, who, after enduring many hardships, eventually becomes the king of the lions on the African savannah. I was only eight years old at the time, and from then on, I frequently dreamed of turning into a lion, running freely across the African plains. In 2004, I had the opportunity to visit Africa for the first time. The first country I visited was Kenya, and the first place I saw wild lions was in the Maasai Mara.
1:31I remember staying at the fig tree camp, not far from the talic gate. The talic river forms a U-shaped peninsula here, with the camp situated in the middle. Less than 300 meters from the camp, near a thicket to the south, I saw an entire pride of lions, sixteen individuals, including one male, six females, and cubs with an acacia tree nearby. What amazed me was how this scene was almost identical to the one I often dreamed about. It was in the Maasai Mara that I found my mission. I decided to devote myself to wildlife conservation, hoping to ensure the continued survival of lions and other wildlife.
2:16From 2010 to 2012, I spent a considerable amount of time in the Maasai Mara National Reserve, mainly observing lion prides and studying the reserves management model. In July and August of 2012 and 2013, a production team from CCTV came to the Maasai Mara to broadcast the great migration of East African wildlife live, inviting me to serve as a wildlife conservation consultant and on-site commentator. This was the first time that the largest wildlife migration on earth was documented through live broadcasting. I remember that in 2012 our accommodation was in a private estate five kilometers north of the Talek Gate. In 2013 we stayed at the Mara Leisure Camp along the Talek River. We established a new camp on the southern bank of the Talek River and almost daily tracked the wildebeest and zebra herds migrating near the Mara River and look out hill opposite the Mara Serena Safari Lodge. In 2013 I began residing in a private conservancy in the northern Maasai Mara, the Okinye Wildlife Conservancy, which allowed me to spend more time exploring community conservation models and provided opportunities to learn about other nearby private conservancies such as the Nabuishu Conservancy, Olare Orok Conservancy and Mara North Conservancy.
3:46In 2015, I established my first wildlife conservation camp in the Ol Kinyei Conservancy, located in a forested area in the upper reaches of the Talek River. In August of the same year, I officially joined the Maasai Ol Kinyei tribe and was given the Maasai name, Olo Shorua, by an elder of the Kupai family. In July 2023, together with Simon Masago, I founded the Wildlife Conservation Academy in Oswani, which has deepened my understanding of the Northeastern Maasai Mara, including the Olare Conservancy and Mara Ripoi Conservancy. The Maasai Mara is not only my favorite place, but also the home of my soul.
4:30Only here can I feel true freedom, fulfilling my childhood dream of living wildly alongside lions. Every dawn and dusk and every encounter with wildlife here fills me with a profound sense of the wonder and beauty of life. In this place I can shed all worldly concerns and return to the most primitive and pure state of life. As a wildlife conservationist, I have always hoped to write a book about the Maasai Mara to help tourists from around the world better understand the relationship between the geographical environment of the Maasai Mara and the distribution of its wildlife.
5:14This would not only aid in finding the wildlife they wish to see, but also encourage them to join us in our efforts to protect this rare wildlife paradise on earth.