Conservation in East Africa is a pioneering community-based initiative that aims to integrate the conservation of wildlife and habitat with the development needs of local communities. This approach recognises that conservation can only be sustainable if local people see benefits from wildlife and are involved in its management.
Some of the most successful conservation initiatives are when community-owned and managed conservancies provide a source of income for local people through eco-tourism and also act as important wildlife corridors. This introduces a more sustainable source of income for all and protects the environment.
Anti-poaching has become a major focus across all wildlife areas as the world’s demand for animal products increases as populations grow. All areas have dedicated anti-poaching teams who put their lives at risk protecting the wildlife.
Most, if not all, properties are intertwined with conservation efforts and projects in conjunction with local communities, many of which can be visited as a tourist. A visit will give you a more rounded understanding of wildlife and land management, as your local guide is a font of knowledge with first-hand experience of how important these initiatives are for everyone’s survival.
Is there anything cuter than a baby elephant flopping his little trunk around trying to understand what this thing is attached to his head? At the Reteti Elephant Sanctuary in Namunyak Wildlife Conservancy in northern Kenya you will witness this first hand and learn about why this little elephant was rescued. Elephant calves are found abandoned in the local area due to poaching, drought or people and wildlife conflict and are rescued by this community-run organisation. Calves are provided with round-the-clock care and community members from the surrounding areas are employed as “elephant keepers”. As the elephants grow up, they are socialised and finally introduced back into the wild.
Rhinos are under grave threat of extinction in Africa and huge strides have been taken to try to protect these animals. At Borana conservancy in the Laikipia region of Kenya, you can walk with an armed scout and observe these animals. Borana has been focused on protecting rhino for many years now and has an extremely active anti-poaching patrol keeping these prehistoric-looking animals safe. Once you have done a walk in the day, you can opt to join an anti-poaching patrol in the evening for a real understanding of what these unsung heroes do every night in the fight against poaching.
At Lewa Wildlife Conservancy, you can spend some time at the anti-poaching canine unite observing these dogs and marvelling at their skills. Many anti-poaching patrols are now accompanied by highly trained canines. These dogs are masters at following scents and alerting their handlers to potential threats.
A tiny stampede happens every day at the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust and Elephant Orphanage in Nairobi. You’ve arrived at 11am sharp to visit the orphanage and observe the youngsters arriving for their milk feed followed by a general social in the dust or maybe a mud bath! The elephant keepers will introduce you to each character in the herd and give you a little history on them and the threats facing elephants today. While best known for the elephant orphanage centre in Nairobi, the trust has expanded to do a wide range of other conservation work across Kenya. Your entrance fee helps to fund this inspiring project.
Gorilla conservation at Singita Kwitonda in Rwanda is a multi-faceted and collaborative effort between the Rwandan government, conservation organisations, and local communities. The lodge is located in a critical buffer zone between Volcanoes National Park and communities, making it perfectly situated to sustainably protect the gorillas and at the same time uplift the surrounding areas through employment projects, skills development and ongoing training in conservation work. One third of the world’s population of gorillas is located in this national park and Singita is focusing on increasing their numbers. Your stay at this lodge contributes to all the projects they run in the area, helping to empower local communities and protect gorillas.
