From securing eco-tourism certifications to feeding rescued birds of prey and supporting local schoolchildren during the holiday break, this month has been impactful. Below is an overview of how we closed out the year, made possible by the continued support of our partners, guests, and donors.
We are pleased to report that Governors’ Mugie House has achieved Gold Level Certification following a recent audit by Ecotourism Kenya. This distinction validates the daily operational choices we make to manage our environment and empower our neighbours.
Endangered Grevy’s Zebras graze on Mugie Conservancy – photo credit Felix Rome
An Endangered Reticulated Giraffe on Mugie Conservancy – photo credit Felix Rome
The audit specifically noted our active role in safeguarding Laikipia’s biodiversity, citing our logistical support for the Grevy’s Zebra and Reticulated giraffe censuses, as well as our assistance to the Mugie Conservancy’s K-9 Bloodhound unit and lion tracking teams.
Drought-resilient succulents have been planted throughout Governors’ Mugie House gardens as they require less water – photo credit Felix Rome
The certification also recognised the efficiency of our operations, which run primarily on solar energy, and the successful elimination of single-use plastics.
Loldia House has retained its Gold Ecorating Certification. This underscores our responsibility to the delicate Lake Naivasha ecosystem, particularly our support of raptor conservation and indigenous tree-planting efforts.
Loldia House on the shores of Lake Naivasha – photo credit Felix Rome
A hippo in Lake Naivasha – photo credit Felix Rome
An African Fish Eagle soars over Lake Naivasha – photo credit Felix Rome
We remain committed to maintaining these high standards.
Although formal schooling paused for the December holidays, our engagement with local youth remained active, shifting focus from the classroom to community well-being and sport.
Spreading Christmas Cheer at the TAFA Community Centre, the focus was on ensuring families felt supported during the festive period.
Christmas food support at the TAFA Community Centre – photo credit Spencer James
We maintained our daily Uji Program, providing a cup of porridge for 150–200 children, and supplied additional Christmas food packages to ensure those most in need received some extra holiday meals.
On the pitch, the energy was palpable. We covered the full costs of the TAFA End of Year Football Tournament (18th–20th December). It was a vibrant few days, with the community gathering on the sidelines to cheer on the teams, fostering a genuine sense of unity and celebration.
The TAFA Community Centre End of Year Football Tournament – photo credit Spencer James
Our support also extended to The Levitika’s Sports Centre, a football youth project in Kibera (an informal settlement in Nairobi), for the first time, where we provided essential equipment to keep the players active.
Levitika’s Sports Centre donations – photo credit Coach Dennis
Meanwhile, to ensure continuity when schools reopen, we maintained full salary support for eleven education staff members, including school teachers, coaches, mentors, and a night guard.
We provide a monthly stipend to the three dedicated TAFA Community Centre Mentors – photo credit Sam Whitton
This year, in the Masai Mara, we donated over half a million Kenya Shillings to The Maa Trust for their Mara Rianda door-to-door and backpack nurse activities. This initiative is vital, bridging the gap for those in remote areas who cannot easily travel to a clinic.
A medical outreach clinic from Mugie Conservancy- photo credit Dan Palmer
Similarly, this year in Laikipia, we provided funding to the Mugie CBO to facilitate twenty-two medical outreach clinics, ensuring essential healthcare remains accessible to the communities bordering the conservancy.
A medical outreach clinic from Mugie Conservancy – photo credit Dan Palmer
Behind the scenes, we have been preparing for the upcoming academic year. We currently have 22 students confirmed to return to school through our dedicated Bursary Fund.
St. Andrew’s Secondary School Bursary Fund students – photo credit Sam Whitton
We are seeking additional funding to support more bursaries for deserving students. USD $900 covers a day student, while USD $1,500 secures a boarder for their entire three-year secondary education. It is a tangible way to remove the financial barriers standing between a young person and their future. Donations of any size are welcome, as we can pool resources from multiple donors.
Susan Edung is seeking support for a secondary school bursary in Naivasha – photo credit Sam Whitton
The impact of these bursaries reaches far beyond the individual students. We are committed to strengthening the local economy by sourcing school essentials directly from community members. Uniforms and stationery are purchased from small businesses such as Hannah Gatirithi’s shop, while handmade shoes are supplied by John Njihia’s cobbler business.
Mrs Hannah Gatirithi sews all of the uniforms that we purchase for the bursary students in Naivasha – photo credit Sam Whitton
John Njihia is a skilled cobbler based in Kasarani Village, Naivasha – photo credit Sam Whitton
This approach ensures that every donation supports not just a child’s education, but also the livelihoods of their extended families and neighbours.
Conservation remains fundamental to our operations. December saw specific, measurable strides in protecting Kenya’s fauna.
Our support for the conservation of Kenya’s birds of prey remained a top priority. This year, our KES 1.2M in donations supported both the Kenya Bird of Prey Trust’s Naivasha Raptor Centre and the Soysambu Raptor Centre, providing over 6 tonnes of high-quality meat to feed the birds in their care.
A rescued Augur Buzzard living at the Naivasha Raptor Centre – photo credit Jessica Savage
This food sustains 60–70 rescued birds across two centres, including Critically endangered Rüppell’s and White-Backed Vultures, Crowned Eagles and Augur Buzzards.
Additionally, we finalised our annual support of over KES700,000 for the Mara Predator Conservation Programme (MPCP), funding livestock herder training sessions that are essential for promoting human-wildlife coexistence.
A livestock Herders Training Session – photo credit Felix Rome
As we step into the new year, we have exciting projects on the horizon, including a reconnaissance trip to the Loita Forest to collaborate with the Mara Elephant Project (MEP) on forest protection and the creation of an indigenous Tree Nursery Project at Enkereri Primary School in the Masai Mara.
Tree-planting by a CITW Eco-club student in the Masai Mara – photo credit Alisa Karstad
Thank you for being part of our journey in 2025.
Governors’ Camp Collection remains committed to positively impacting communities, educating future generations, and conserving Kenya’s diverse wildlife. Your stay with us directly contributes to these efforts.
If you would like to learn more about any of our Impact efforts, you can reach out to us via email at impact@governorscamp.com. If you’d like to support our work, you can do so via our secure online payment platform:
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By Alisa Karstad, Impact Manager for Governors’ Camp Collection.
