We are pleased to share an update on the progress we’ve made in our ongoing commitment to conservation and community upliftment. This month was a testament to the power of collective action, driven by the support of our partners and generous donors. From expanding educational opportunities to protecting wildlife and ensuring access to vital healthcare, September was a month of significant impact, laying further groundwork for a sustainable future for both people and planet.
We believe that education is the cornerstone of a thriving community. This month, our efforts to empower the next generation saw a great deal of progress:
Each month, we cover the salaries for seven teachers across our partner schools. The demand for quality schooling in these regions is very high, and, unfortunately, many schools face a shortage of qualified teaching staff. By supporting the teachers, we ensure that hundreds of students are receiving the learning they deserve.
Students at Luoniek Secondary School – photo credit Dan Palmer
Rael is the maths teacher at Luoniek Secondary School whose salary we have covered since she joined the school in September 2023 – photo credit Dan Palmer
Currently, there’s a pressing need for a combined biology and chemistry teacher at Luoniek Secondary School, situated near Mugie. The science classroom also urgently requires a secure lab store, a secure gas chamber, and a water tank. If you are interested in directly supporting these crucial needs, please get in touch with us at impact@governorscamp.com for more information.
The science classroom at Luoniek Secondary School – photo credit Dan Palmer
Luoniek Secondary School – photo credit Dan Palmer
This month marked an inspiring milestone for our Bursary Program as it expanded from 5 students to 21 students; all of whom are now well-settled and thriving in their respective schools.
We extend our sincerest gratitude to The Wilderness Trust and each donor whose invaluable support has provided these 21 deserving students with the life-changing opportunity to pursue their secondary education and build a strong foundation for their futures.
Luoniek Secondary School bursary student Solomon with his father Ezra – photo credit Dan Palmer
The impact of this program cannot be overstated. While primary education is broadly accessible in Kenya, secondary schooling often requires financial support that many families cannot afford. Contributions are instrumental in bridging this gap.
While we celebrate this progress, the need for continued support remains significant. It costs a total of USD 900 for a day pupil and USD 1500 for a boarder for the final three full years of schooling. These amounts cover tuition, uniforms, stationery and boarding fees (if applicable). Donations of any size are gratefully received. We can pool resources from multiple donors to ensure that new candidates accepted into the program receive full funding for these final three years of secondary education.
Pictured here are the six Luoniek Secondary School bursary students and their parents/guardians – photo credit Dan Palmer
We welcome you to join us in this vital initiative. Donations to the Bursary Fund can be made easily and securely via our online payment platform.
Our commitment extends to the well-being of the people surrounding our operations. Access to healthcare is a fundamental human right, and we are dedicated to ensuring it reaches even the most remote areas.
We provide regular funding to the Mugie CBO to support their medical outreaches. These outreaches bring essential healthcare services to people living in the rural areas surrounding Mugie Conservancy. So far, our contributions have covered the costs of approximately 42 outreach clinics, ensuring that both medication is available to patients and fuel costs are covered for the outreach vehicles.
An elderly lady receives care from the Mugie clinic during a medical outreach clinic in her village – photo credit Dan Palmer.
Beyond the financial contributions, our Governors’ Mugie House staff actively participate in the outreaches, assisting with patient data collection and helping to streamline patient flow.
A patient receives care from the Mugie clinic during a medical outreach – photo credit Dan Palmer.
These clinics play a crucial role in providing health check-ups, treatment for minor illnesses, nutritional counselling, and essential maternal and child health consultations. We extend our thanks to the teams involved for their tireless dedication to ensuring healthcare access for even the most remote communities in the Mugie area.
Conservation is at the heart of everything we do. September saw further advancements in our efforts to protect Kenya’s biodiversity:
For the first six months of this year, we funded Jackson’s salary as the Mara Raptor Project’s Monitoring Officer in Nyekweri Forest.
Jackson, the Mara Raptor Project Monitoring Officer in Nyekweri Forest – photo credit Felix Rome
Jackson was tasked with collecting vital data on the raptor species inhabiting the forest. By documenting nest locations and species presence, he provided crucial insights into their abundance and density. His findings proved instrumental, directly informing land lease negotiations spearheaded by the Pangolin Project and ensuring that the most critical habitats were protected.
A kite soars over the Nyekweri Forest – photo credit Felix Rome
In addition to the support of the Mara Raptor Project, we have also provided substantial funding towards the purchase of new tents for the Mara Elephant Project’s “Golf” ranger team in recent months.
A charcoal kiln in the Nyekweri Forest – photo credit Felix Rome
A felled hardwood tree in the Nyekweri Forest – photo credit Felix Rome
This team works hand-in-hand with the Kenya Wildlife Service, patrolling the land, making arrests, destroying illegal charcoal kilns, confiscating timber, and removing dangerous snares. Our support will significantly enhance their capacity to remain operational and highly effective in this critically important area.
We are thrilled to announce that The Pangolin Project achieved a significant milestone this month: over 5,000 hectares (12,500 acres) of the Nyekweri Ecosystem are now officially protected!
Sunset over the Nyekweri Forest – photo credit The Pangolin Project
This incredible accomplishment was made possible by the commitment of 176 landowners who agreed to lease their land for conservation. A huge thank you once again to everyone who played a part in making this possible through our fundraiser raffle in June. Your support went a long way in creating this haven for Giant Pangolins and countless other species.
Landowners living in the Nyekweri Forest – photo credit The Pangolin Project
Tracking Giant Pangolins in the Nyekweri Forest – photo credit The Pangolin Project
You can sign up to be part of The Pangolin Project community and enjoy exclusive Burrow Cam Club wildlife footage and inspiring stories from the field. Recently, they posted a remarkable sighting of two Giant Pangolins interacting – watch it here!
A Giant Pangolin in the Nyekweri Forest – photo credit The Pangolin Project/ Will Burrard-Lucas
We are excited to share another vital update, this time from our partners at the Giraffe Conservation Foundation. In a landmark breakthrough for these iconic African animals, the IUCN has now formally recognised four genetically distinct species of giraffe. This is a pivotal moment that will transform conservation strategies, enabling more targeted and effective protection across Africa.
The latest ‘State of Giraffe 2025‘ report brings further encouraging developments, revealing that three of the four species are showing positive population growth – a direct result of dedicated, science-based conservation efforts. Here in Kenya, we are delighted to learn that the Masai giraffe population is reported as stable, a strong sign of resilience and a testament to the success of local and national conservation initiatives.
Masai giraffe populations are reported as ‘Stable’ – photo credit Felix Rome.
Guests staying with us have a unique opportunity to see three of these four African species across our properties: the Endangered Reticulated giraffe in Laikipia, the Masai giraffe in the Masai Mara, and both the Masai and the Endangered Northern giraffe on excursions in The Great Rift Valley.
A Northern Giraffe in Lake Nakuru National Park – photo credit Felix Rome
A Reticulated Giraffe on Mugie Conservancy – photo credit Felix Rome
Despite this progress, work in the field of giraffe conservation is far from over. Significant threats remain, and the reality is that for every three elephants on the continent, only one giraffe remains in the wild. This hopeful news must catalyse continued, collective action to protect them from a silent extinction.
We encourage you to follow and support the incredible work of @giraffe_conservation.
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.
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.
