Community conservation is transforming wildlife protection across Africa, with some of the most successful efforts happening not in isolated reserves but right where people live, work, and raise their families. This World Wildlife Day (March 3, 2025), we’re excited to share an incredible story unfolding across the savannas of Kenya – one where local communities aren’t just participating in conservation, they’re leading it and revolutionizing how we think about protecting wildlife.
At Saruni Basecamp, we’ve always believed in being ‘custodians of the web of life’. Sounds a bit poetic, doesn’t it? But that’s exactly what conservation is about – understanding that everything is interconnected, from the smallest insect to the mightiest elephant, and yes, including us humans too.
Rethinking Conservation: The Community-Conservancy Model
Remember when conservation meant keeping people and wildlife apart? Well, that’s old thinking. The community-conservancy model we use is flipping that idea on its head. Think about it: who better to protect the land than the people who’ve called it home for generations?
This isn’t just feel-good talk – we’re seeing real results across 1.2 million acres of pristine wilderness in Kenya. Through direct lease agreements, Saruni Basecamp has secured 1 million acres of this land for conservation, with an additional 200,000 acres managed alongside other tourism partners.
We work hand-in-hand with over 6,000 indigenous landowners from the Maasai and Samburu communities who share our vision of conservation. But here’s the key: none of this would work without these partnerships. The success of our conservation efforts is deeply rooted in the wisdom, commitment, and stewardship of these communities who understand the delicate balance between preserving wildlife and sustaining livelihoods.
The Sera Story: Navigating Adversity to Forge a Remarkable Path
Deep in Northern Kenya lies a remarkable conservation success story that began in 2001, when three indigenous communities – the Samburu, Turkana, and Rendille – came together with an ambitious vision. They formed the Sera Conservancy, transforming 339,500 hectares of their ancestral lands (about 840,000 acres) into what would become a groundbreaking wildlife sanctuary. But what makes Sera truly special isn’t just its size or its precious ecosystem – it’s the fact that this conservancy represents Africa’s first community-owned and managed rhino sanctuary.
Think about that for a moment: a community-run sanctuary protecting one of Africa’s most endangered species. It’s a perfect example of what’s possible when communities take the lead in conservation. Sera isn’t just a protected area – it’s a living testament to the power of indigenous stewardship, where more than 1,600 local landowners work together to safeguard their natural heritage while maintaining their traditional way of life.
The story of rhinos in Sera reflects both the challenges and triumphs of wildlife conservation. In the 1970s, approximately 18,000 black rhinos roamed these lands freely. By the 1990s, that number had plummeted to fewer than 400 due to poaching and habitat loss – a crisis that threatened to wipe out these magnificent creatures entirely. But 2015 marked a turning point in this story: Sera welcomed ten black rhinos back to their ancestral lands. The success of this reintroduction has been remarkable. Over the years, twelve calves have been born in the sanctuary, bringing the current population to 23 thriving black rhinos.
The conservation journey didn’t stop there. In early 2024, Sera reached another milestone with the introduction of four white rhinos – Jason, Sarah, Tulivu, and Arot. These new residents have already made themselves at home, with Sarah giving birth to a healthy calf, bringing the white rhino population to five. This expanding rhino family represents more than just numbers; it’s a powerful demonstration of how community-led conservation can reverse decades of wildlife decline and create a safe haven for some of Africa’s most endangered species.
Beyond Rhinos: Our Diverse Wildlife Conservation
While rhinos are an important part of our conservation work, they’re just one piece of a much bigger wildlife story unfolding across our conservancies. These protected lands are home to eight vulnerable species that the International Union for Conservation of Nature keeps a close eye on.
Consider the African wild dogs – these remarkable hunters operate in tight-knit packs and face extinction across much of the continent, but their numbers are growing within our protected areas. You’ll also find the distinctive Grevy’s zebra, immediately recognizable by their narrow stripes and white belly – quite different from the plains zebra most visitors expect. Our conservancies provide crucial habitat for cheetahs sprinting after prey, lion families controlling territories, elephants following migration routes established over generations, leopards moving stealthily through vegetation, and hippos seeking refuge in rivers and ponds. Every one of these species plays a vital role in maintaining the ecological balance of these landscapes.
The Heart of Conservation Success
At the core of our conservation model lies a simple truth: the most effective guardians of these lands are the people who have called them home for generations. Our partnership with indigenous landowners and communities has created a unique approach to wildlife protection that draws on centuries of traditional knowledge and modern conservation practices.
These community members don’t just live alongside wildlife – they actively shape conservation strategies, guide land management decisions, and lead innovative environmental initiatives. Their commitment to protecting their ancestral lands shows in every aspect of our work, from wildlife monitoring to environmental stewardship. One telling example is our waste management program, where we achieve a remarkable 94.65% recycling rate – a testament to how deeply sustainability is woven into daily operations.
Looking to the Future
As we observe World Wildlife Day 2025, our experience at Saruni Basecamp offers a powerful narrative about the future of conservation in Africa. While global wildlife faces significant challenges, our community conservation model demonstrates a path forward that brings real, measurable results.
The success stories we see across our conservancies – from the return of rhinos to Sera, to the protection of vulnerable species, to the thriving partnership with over 6,000 indigenous community members – show what’s possible when conservation is built on trust, respect, and shared purpose. This model proves that environmental protection and community development aren’t competing goals – they’re complementary forces that strengthen each other. When we empower local communities as conservation leaders, we create lasting change that benefits both wildlife and people.
This World Wildlife Day, we invite you to share in our vision of community-led conservation- where wildlife populations rebound, and where local communities prosper as guardians of their natural heritage. Together, we’re building a model of conservation that works for everyone – wildlife and humans alike.
All data referenced in this article has been thoughtfully sourced from our Saruni Basecamp 2024 Mid-year Impact Report, reflecting our ongoing commitment to transparency and our journey of positive change across the landscapes and communities we cherish.
Saruni Basecamp operates within six community-owned wildlife conservancies across Kenya, offering pioneering, ethical safari experiences deeply rooted in community-based conservation. Our business model demonstrates how tourism can directly empower environmental protection rather than simply coexist with it. As The Long Run’s first Group Member, all 13 of our properties now meet rigorous standards across Conservation, Community, Culture, and Commerce.
