As we look back on the last few months, it really is incredible to witness the tangible differences our combined efforts are making across the three regions in Kenya where we operate. Every guest who chooses to stay with us helps pave the way for sustainable tourism in Kenya.
On safari in the Masai Mara- photo credit Felix Rome
We appreciate that choosing the right safari operator for your holiday can be difficult. Still, once you choose to travel with us, you can rest assured that your presence will bring lasting, measurable benefits to both the extraordinary wildlife and the local communities that call these landscapes home.
We firmly believe that education is the foundation of long-term environmental protection. As the famous quote by Baba Dioum goes, “In the end, we will conserve only what we love; we will love only what we understand; and we will understand only what we are taught.”
Enkereri Eco-club- photo credit Felix Rome
We are actively working to inspire the future conservation leaders of Kenya through our unique Children in the Wilderness programme. This pan- African initiative is thriving here in Kenya with more than 270 members enrolled across nine active Eco-clubs.
To provide the highest standard of environmental education, seventeen of our dedicated Eco-Mentors received comprehensive refresher training in the Masai Mara in April.
Eco-Mentor Training in the Masai Mara in April- photo credit Felix Rome
To ensure hundreds of children have the energy and focus they need to learn, we began to fund a school lunch programme at two rural schools in Laikipia.
Suguta Mugie school lunch programme- photo credit Felix Rome
In the Great Rift Valley, our long-running commitment to the TAFA Community Centre has provided funding for its daily porridge programme for the past 3.5 years. We also support their centre with sports equipment, and support their coaches and mentors with monthly stipends.
TAFA uji programme- photo credit Felix Rome
TAFA uji programme- photo credit Sam Whitton
True conservation cannot succeed without considering the well-being and economic independence of the communities living alongside wildlife. Rapid population growth and a lack of resources often couple to accelerate human-wildlife conflict, which is why we actively support various healthcare initiatives in our regions.
An ICHP Nurse in the Masai Mara- photo credit Felix Rome
Through our partnership with The Maa Trust, we help fund the Integrated Community Healthcare Programme (ICHP), which deploys ‘backpack nurses’ across twenty-four remote villages to deliver essential family planning, antenatal care, and child health services directly and safely to people’s homes.
An ICHP health clinic in the Masai Mara- photo credit Felix Rome
This initiative also facilitates important community dialogues addressing systemic challenges such as early marriage, Female-Genital Mutilation, and teenage pregnancy.
Similarly, we regularly provide funding to the Mugie CBO to run medical outreach clinics, delivering general consultations, minor surgeries, and immunisations to hundreds of residents living in the rural areas surrounding Mugie Conservancy.
A medical outreach clinic in Laikipia- photo credit Felix Rome
Economically, we are pushing for the creation of sustainable alternative livelihoods to ensure that the direct benefits of conservation tourism are not limited to the relatively few people employed directly in tourism.
Eburru Forest honey- photo credit Felix Rome
Each month, we support nearby cooperatives by purchasing hundreds of kilos of honey from the Ogiek, Samburu, Pokot, and Masai communities. By paying higher-than-average rates (between KES 1,200 and KES 2,400 per kilo), we are demonstrating our support for alternative livelihood creation and injecting much-needed income directly into local households.
Maa Honey- photo credit Felix Rome
We recently visited the Maa Honey community apiaries to learn the story behind this project.
Next time you enjoy a spoonful of honey over your breakfast in one of our properties, know that it represents the hard work of beekeeper from one of our neighbouring communities.
Protecting Kenya’s diverse ecosystems and unique species remains at the very heart of our operations. One of our core areas of focus under this pillar is raptor conservation. Unfortunately, birds of prey do not tend receive the same attention or funding as other ‘flagship’ species, and their numbers are declining at alarming rates, with many species now listed as Critically Endangered.
A Rüppell’s vulture’s scalloped feather pattern- photo credit Sam Whitton
Recognising their plight, we stepped in to support our partners at the Kenya Bird of Prey Trust’s Naivasha Raptor Centre. Since we began our partnership almost four years ago, we have covered the costs of over 17.3 tons of fresh, high-quality beef to feed the centre’s resident vultures, including the eight Rüppell’s, four White-Backed, and two Lappet-faced vultures.
Shiv Kapila, Director of the Naivasha Raptor Centre- photo credit Sam Whitton
In addition, we also support the provision of two fresh rabbits each day for the rescued large eagles at the Soysambu Raptor Centre, though their current need is double this. You can learn more about their raptor rehabilitation work firsthand by visiting either centre during a stay with us at Loldia House.
Simon Thomsett, Director of the Soysambu Raptor Centre- photo credit Sam Whitton
To boost our support for the protection of landscape wide conservation efforts, we recently hosted the Protect Loita Forest fundraiser in support of the Mara Elephant Project.
Masai elders in the Loita Forest- photo credit Felix Rome
From 321 entries, we raised $15,295 to expand the Linda Msitu forest protection initiative and support ranger teams deployed in the field.
MEP Ranger working to protect the Loita Forest – photo credit Felix Rome
Congratulations to Ennalls Beryl, who won the seven-night safari prize across Loldia House and Governors’ Camp, including regional flights with Governors’ Aviation , hot air balloon flights with Governors’ Balloon Safaris as well as a half-day in the field with the Mara Elephant Project’s long-term monitoring team. We are so grateful for the global support that made a positive impact on this important forest.
We remain committed to making a positive impact on 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 [email protected]. 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.
