In the past couple of months our Children in the Wilderness Eco-Club program expanded, engaging 270 students in vital conservation efforts and celebrating key environmental days. We helped to provide crucial healthcare through medical outreach clinics and menstrual hygiene awareness campaigns in Laikipia. Conservation milestones included a hugely successful Pangolin Project raffle, raising over $21,000 to protect Kenya’s Giant Pangolins, ongoing support for the Mara Predator Conservation Programme with GPS collaring, and celebrating positive trends for Masai giraffes on World Giraffe Day.
Governors’ Camp Collection’s recent raffle for The Pangolin Project raised over $21,000 from 413 entries across 25 countries in just one week! This overwhelming support significantly surpassed the initial $10,000 goal and will directly contribute to the protection of Kenya’s last Giant Pangolins.
A Giant Pangolin- photo credit Will Burrard-Lucas/ The Pangolin Project
The funds are earmarked to help protect 420 acres within a new conservancy, providing a much-needed sanctuary for these gentle, scale-covered creatures—Kenya’s rarest mammal—who face severe threats from habitat destruction and electric fences.
An electrocuted Giant Pangolin- photo credit The Pangolin Project
We are immensely grateful to everyone who participated and shared our posts. Congratulations go to Quentin Savage, the lucky winner of the 7-night luxury Kenya safari, which includes a privately guided visit with The Pangolin Project team in Nyekweri Forest.
This incredible financial boost was soon followed by heartening news from the field: an intimate camera trap sighting of a mother Giant Pangolin with her newborn pup riding on her back. The footage was captured in a secure section of forest, where electric fences have been removed. It indicates that habitat protection strategies are effective and that the pangolin population is not only surviving but is managing to reproduce.
A Giant Pangolin and her newborn pup- video credit The Pangolin Project
This event, coupled with the fundraiser’s success, underscores the tangible impact of ongoing monitoring, habitat restoration, and community support in pushing conservation boundaries forward, affirming the potential for a thriving future for this incredibly unique and endangered species in the Nyekweri Forest.
Tracking Giant Pangolin- photo credit Will Burrard-Lucas/ The Pangolin Project
The Nyekweri Forest, an eastern fragment of the Congo-Guinea Forest and a dispersal area for the wildlife of the Masai Mara, has tragically lost over 80% of its vital habitat to timber and charcoal production in the past decade. In the face of this devastation, The Pangolin Project, alongside partners like the Kenya Bird of Prey Trust’s Mara Raptor Project and Mara Elephant Project, is tirelessly working to secure this ecosystem.
Habitat loss in the Nyekweri Forest- photo credit Felix Rome
In addition to the support raised via our Luxury 7-night Safari Raffle, Governors’ has also proudly supported the full costs of having a permanent Mara Raptor Project Monitoring Officer based in the Nyekweri Forest for the past six months, and has committed a further KES500,000 towards new tents and gear for the Mara Elephant Project ranger team, who patrol the land, make arrests, destroy illegal charcoal kilns and timber, and remove snares alongside the Kenya Wildlife Service.
You can read more about the urgency needed to protect Nyekweri Forest in our April Blog.
We recently hosted an insightful open discussion on the vital role of GPS collars in safeguarding the Masai Mara’s predators. Niels Mogensen, Senior Programme Scientist at the Mara Predator Conservation Programme (MPCP), shed light on their “Collars for Conservation” initiative. These high-tech tools provide accurate monitoring of predator movements, habitats, and survival, offering crucial insights beyond visual sightings.
Niels Mogensen of MPCP- photo credit Alisa Karstad
This real-time data enables their Lion Ambassadors to proactively work with communities, preventing human-wildlife conflict and protecting both livestock and predators. The information gathered also helps inform effective conservation strategies, including anti-poisoning campaigns and the strategic placement of predator-proof bomas. We’re glad to support MPCP and have sponsored the collaring of two lionesses, Jua and Kito, whose collars continue to provide invaluable data for lion conservation. This technology, coupled with dedicated community teams, has a proven track record of preventing retaliatory killings and guiding targeted conservation actions.
An Open Discussion on Predator Collars- photo credit Alisa Karstad
We invite you to learn more by watching the full webinar recording and consider supporting this vital work.
World Giraffe Day brought encouraging news this year, with the Giraffe Conservation Foundation’s (GCF) “State of Giraffe 2025” report indicating positive trends for giraffe populations across Africa. Northern, Reticulated, and Southern giraffe species are seeing increases, whilst the Masai giraffe population is stabilising—a testament to improved surveys, monitoring, and collaborative conservation efforts.
Masai giraffe in the Masai Mara- photo credit Felix Rome
The Masai Mara Ecosystem is particularly vital, hosting approximately 22% of Kenya’s Masai giraffe population. We are pleased to support these crucial initiatives. Last year, we hosted researcher Adams Kipchumba during his initial survey in the Mara, where he recorded 1,106 individual giraffes. In recognition of World Giraffe Day, we reinforced our commitment with a KES 100,000 donation towards giraffe conservation, contributing to the GCF’s ongoing efforts to maintain and enhance these positive trends.
Adams Kipchumba of GCF- photo credit Dan Palmer
Giraffes across Africa still face significant threats, and organisations like the GCF, the only NGO exclusively dedicated to giraffe conservation in the wild, are vital in understanding their distribution, abundance, and the challenges they face. We eagerly anticipate continuing our support for GCF’s second, more in-depth study in the Mara, which will involve intensive data collection and the tagging of Masai giraffes. Please join us in raising awareness and consider donating to the GCF to help secure a brighter future for these iconic animals.
Our Eco-Club program has expanded to include nine local schools, with each club comprising thirty members led by dedicated Eco-Mentors who utilise engaging lesson plans focused on environmental conservation. All members recently received their new Eco-Club t-shirts and stationery supplies, which they were delighted with.
Luoniek Secondary School Eco-Club- Laikipia
TAFA Community Center Eco-Club- Naivasha
Kisaruni Boys Secondary School Eco-Club- Masai Mara
World Endangered Species Day, observed on May 16th, was marked by our eco-clubs through an art competition. Kenya is a nation celebrated for its unparalleled biodiversity and the students were tasked with researching and illustrating ten endangered species native to the country, highlighting the diverse threats they face, including habitat loss, climate change, poaching, and pollution.
The species explored ranged from the Critically Endangered Pancake Tortoise and Hirola antelope; to various Vulnerable and Endangered birds like the Southern Ground Hornbill and African Grey Parrot. Unique mammals such as the Tana River Mangabey and Golden-rumped Elephant Shrew; and fascinating reptiles including the African Rock Python and Rhinoceros Viper were all researched and drawn by the students.
Suguta Mugie Eco-Club drawing for Endangered Species Day
Such activities provide a way for us to help educate the next generation about the urgent need to conserve the rich diversity of life on Earth. Whilst Kenya is fortunate to still harbour an incredible array of biodiversity; many species are at critical tipping points of survival due to pressing threats.
Luoniek Eco-Club drawing for Endangered Species Day
Margaret Kenyatta students were particularly creative and painted their favourite endangered species on old bottles
The quality of work produced by the eco-clubs, particularly by the winning Suguta Mugie Primary School, demonstrates a growing awareness and passion among young people to protect these creatures, instilling hope for the future of conservation.
This was another significant day in our Eco-club calendar. The clubs once again actively participated in various initiatives to mark its importance. Students from the Laikipia schools and children from the TAFA Community Center organised impactful clean-up events within their respective schools and communities.
Suguta Mugie Eco-Club learn about waste collection and recycling
The clean-up event carried out by the Suguta Mugie Eco-Club received a special inspection from Tala, the resident orphaned giraffe during their break; meanwhile, the Mara schools contributed to vital reforestation efforts by scattering seedballs and planting fruit trees.
Irbaan Eco-Club students planted fruit trees
Margaret Kenyatta Eco-club scattered seedballs
These collective efforts highlighted their commitment to environmental stewardship and the collective action needed to protect our planet.
We remain committed to partnering with Mugie Conservancy on their medical outreach program. Each month, we sponsor two medical outreach clinics, facilitating the provision of essential healthcare services to remote rural communities. These clinics offer health check-ups, treatment for common ailments, nutritional guidance, and vital maternal and child health consultations.
A medical outreach clinic- photo credit Alisa Karstad
Additionally, the Governors’ Mugie House team actively supports these efforts by volunteering their time to assist with patient data collection and optimising patient flow for the Mugie clinical officer. We express our gratitude to The Moyo Foundation and Mugie Conservancy for their unwavering dedication to expanding healthcare access to even the most remote corners of the communities surrounding Mugie.
In May, Governors’ once again partnered with the Mugie conservancy by supporting a two-day menstrual hygiene awareness campaign in the surrounding area. This event reached students at Suguta Mugie Primary School and Longewan Secondary School, aiming to break the stigma around menstruation, promote eco-friendly practices, and combat period poverty through the distribution of hygiene materials.
100 Longewan Secondary School girls receive reusable sanitary pads
One hundred reusable sanitary pad kits were donated to schoolgirls at Longewan Secondary School. These kits, purchased from PadMad, a grassroots social enterprise, not only benefit the recipients but also support the women who make them in low-income areas of Nairobi. Information was provided to both girls and boys, with an encouraging increase in male students stepping up as champions for the girls.
Longewan Secondary School boys champion the initiative
Governors’ Camp Collection remains committed to positively impacting communities, educating future generations, and protecting Kenya’s diverse wildlife. Your stay with us directly contributes to these efforts.
By Alisa Karstad, Impact Manager for Governors’ Camp Collection. If you would like to learn more about any of our Impact efforts, you can reach out to us via email at info@governorscamp.com
If you’d like to support our work, you can use our secure online payment platform, which is linked below.
DONATE NOW
