The Mara Predator Conservation Programme (MPCP) is an organisation dedicated to the conservation of lions, cheetahs, wild dogs and other flagship predators of Kenya’s Greater Mara Ecosystem. Established under the umbrella of the MPCP Kenya Wildlife Trust, it combines scientific research with community-driven solutions to ensure these species not only survive, but thrive. By monitoring population numbers and their space-use, conducting predator conservation research in Kenya, and engaging with local communities directly, the programme is building a more sustainable future for people and wildlife.
Community engagement work is a huge focus for the Mara Predator Conservation Programme
Governors’ Camp Collection is a proud supporter of this critical work. It is through their award-winning camps that guests are directly contributing to predator conservation through sustainable tourism.
Governors’ Camp has sponsored the collaring of two lionesses in the Mara
Find out more about Governors’ conservation efforts here.
The Maasai Mara is one of the most renowned safari destinations globally, where the Big Five and numerous other iconic species are found. But its predators face mounting threats: habitat loss, retaliatory killing for livestock depredation, and poison baiting of livestock carcasses. Without dedicated efforts, big cat conservation in the Mara faces a perilous future.
Lions, for example, are a keystone species. They ensure balance in the ecosystem by controlling the herbivore populations, which in turn shapes vegetation cover and influences the wider landscape. Cheetahs and leopards have equally important roles to play, maintaining prey populations and increasing biodiversity. Removing these predators would send shock waves throughout the ecosystem, destabilising one of the most productive wildlife landscapes on Earth.
Chongo, a well-known male lion in Kenya’s Masai Mara
Discover more about Governors’ integrated conservation approach.
MPCP runs a variety of projects that merge new technology with solid community involvement. Some of the most notable are:
It is likely that the greatest single research tool for predators has been the use of GPS collars for wildlife. The Mara lion collaring project has provided scientists with real-time monitoring of lion movement, plotting patterns of dispersal and describing the key corridors connecting the Mara to the adjacent rangelands. Similar projects underpin Mara cheetah conservation by providing data on space use and on the survival of cubs.
Collaring a lioness from the Topi Pride
This GPS collaring of wildlife provides an insight into the impact that human settlements and cattle have on predator dynamics, creating the evidence required to develop coexistence strategies.
One of the largest risks to predators is human conflict. The program works closely with Lion Ambassadors – local leaders who have been trained to mitigate human-wildlife conflict in the Mara. From encouraging communities to construct predator-proof bomas to leading anti-poisoning efforts, these ambassadors ensure peaceful coexistence between people and predators.
Predator deterrent lights and a predator-proof boma
MPCP’s historical predator sighting database is now the most comprehensive in Africa. This dataset provides lion dispersal studies in the Mara with the information it requires to show how lions move between ranges and why connectivity across landscapes is important. These studies track cheetahs as well, reporting on the threats faced by this species due to increased human activity.
MPCP uses proven scientific techniques to collect data
The establishment of predator hubs provides a central space for monitoring, education, and collaboration. In this space, scientists, rangers, and community members gather to share information and refine conservation tactics. It is a model of the convergence of science and local engagement.
The Tony Lapham Predator Hub, Masai Mara
These efforts collectively safeguard predators living in the Greater Mara Ecosystem, enabling them to thrive alongside local communities.
Governors’ Camp Collection has promoted conservation within Kenya for five decades. Through financial aid, logistics support, and guest contact, the camps directly add to MPCP efforts. These include sponsoring lion collaring events, ranger gear, and hosting researchers who share their research with guests in camp.
Guests enjoy a presentation by the Mara Predator Conservation Programme
The centerpiece of this partnership is the belief that tourism can and should play a major role in conservation. When guests choose to stay at Governors’ Camp or Il Moran, they are not simply treating themselves to a first-class safari adventure but are helping sustain endeavors like the Mara Predator Conservation Programme.
Governors’ commitment is not limited to the conservation of predators. Waste reduction and solar energy, reforestation activities, community education, and health outreaches are all vital to the overall mission of conserving the areas in which they operate. This is a top-down strategy that ensures wildlife conservation is supplemented by the empowerment of people who live in these ecosystems.
A Governors’ stay is about having a chance to become part of a bigger story. With advance notice, Governors’ are able to arrange for MPCP researchers to present to guests staying in camp. This provides a perfect opportunity to learn firsthand about the important work that they conduct. While a donation to MPCP is requested, visitors are also encouraged to:
Every little act adds up to long-term transformation, linking each safari experience to real-world conservation differences.
It is a story of determination and collaboration in the conservation of predators in the Mara. Synergy of solid science, community-driven initiatives, and support from partners like Governors’ Camp Collection confirms that the future of such creatures is not yet gone.
Governors’ Camp is proud to support the great work of MPCP
Every lion monitored, every cheetah protected, and every conflict mitigated brings us closer, with people and predators living in harmony. In funding efforts like MPCP, we are not only helping Kenya’s predators but preserving the integrity of one of the planet’s most precious ecosystems.
A collared lioness from The Marsh Pride of Lions
Governors’ guests are all part of this heritage. Their presence directly fuels conservation, ensuring that when future generations arrive in the Mara, predators will remain an integral part of the landscape.
