”Some of the most important conversations about Africa's conservation future happen far from boardrooms—they happen in the places worth protecting.
In May, something remarkable took shape beneath Samburu’s vast skies. Changemakers from across East Africa came together at Saruni Samburu—not for another industry gathering, but for four days of real connection and shared purpose. The Long Run East Africa Hub Meeting brought together passionate voices from Borana Conservancy, The Safari Collection, Collection in the Wild, Kicheche, Segera, Singita, The Hide, Sirikoi, Lengishu, and Cottars Camp.
What united us? A deep belief that tourism can heal rather than harm the places we love.
Our theme, “People and Nature in Balance,” shaped every moment from May 15-18, 2025, under the guidance of The Long Run’s Executive Director Anne-Kathrin Zschiegner and Membership Coordinators Joy and Lynn.
Panel discussions sparked ideas, but it was the immersive experiences—dawn game drives, village visits, starlit conversations—that truly grounded our thinking. Here, surrounded by Samburu’s timeless landscape, abstract conservation concepts became lived reality. This wasn’t just talk about sustainable tourism; it was proof of how thoughtful travel creates lasting positive change for both communities and the wild spaces they protect.
Conservation Voices from the Ground Up
Our conversations started where real conservation work begins—with the people making it happen on the ground.
Oli Dreike from The Safari Collection opened our conversations with practical insights about partnering with government to create policies that actually support conservation. But it was Llew Dyer from Borana who captured the essence of modern conservation thinking. “Conservation can’t succeed in isolation—neither ecological nor social,” he said, then showed us exactly what that means in practice.
Borana’s bold decision to remove fences with neighbouring rangelands has transformed how wildlife moves across the landscape, following ancient corridors rather than human-drawn boundaries. Their regenerative grazing approach proves that livestock and wildlife can work together to heal degraded lands.
Community Leadership in Conservation
Tom from Kalama Conservancy and Albert from Sera Conservancy—both community-owned areas where Saruni Basecamp operates—demonstrated what conservation looks like when communities lead the effort.
Tom explained how Kalama’s community assemblies ensure tourism revenue supports both wildlife protection and community-chosen initiatives. “When local communities don’t just receive benefits but actively decide how they’re used, conservation becomes a community choice, not an external demand.”
Albert from Sera brought the human dimension into sharp focus. The recent birth of a rhino calf represents far more than a conservation milestone—it’s renewed hope for community members who now see themselves as guardians of a species they thought was lost forever.
Growing with Purpose
During a remarkably open panel on organizational evolution, our CEO Jeremiah Mutisya shared how Saruni Basecamp’s growth through merger represents something deeper than expansion—it’s about creating more meaningful conservation impact. It was refreshingly honest, and it sparked equally candid responses from fellow leaders who’ve wrestled with similar questions.
Charl Grobler from Collection in the Wild showed how thoughtful expansion can strengthen conservation ethics across properties. Maria Piperides from Sirikoi took a different path, establishing a Trust that channels resources directly into community initiatives. “Sometimes the most powerful expansion is inward,” she explained.
Charles Shitubi and Festus Ofisi from Segera shared how they’ve learned to balance lodge operations with foundation work, turning potential competing priorities into complementary conservation forces.
Building Relationships that Last Generations
Cecilia from Safari Collection, Allan from Cottars, and Robert from Singita Rwanda brought crucial perspectives on evolving community relationships. These weren’t theoretical discussions but honest exchanges about working with Indigenous communities as younger generations step into leadership alongside elders.
Young leaders often embrace new conservation technologies while respecting traditional ecological wisdom. Elders provide invaluable continuity and knowledge spanning generations. The art lies in building partnerships that honour both perspectives while adapting to natural shifts in community priorities.
“Successful conservation requires us to evolve alongside the communities we work with,” one panelist observed. This might mean adjusting revenue-sharing models, creating training opportunities for younger community members, or recognizing that traditional governance structures naturally evolve.
These conversations revealed a fundamental truth: sustainable tourism partnerships aren’t just about protecting landscapes today—they’re about nurturing relationships that sustain conservation efforts for generations.
Experiencing Samburu
What made this gathering truly special was how it brought conservation to life in Samburu’s remarkable wilderness. Going beyond just talking about sustainability, we experienced it together—hiking across sun-warmed landscapes, watching wildlife move through ancient corridors at dawn, and seeing firsthand how thoughtful tourism creates positive ripples.
Each sighting reinforced why community-led conservation matters—these aren’t just animals moving through protected areas, but integral parts of ecosystems that local communities have stewarded for centuries.
When stars emerged each evening, our conversations naturally wove together modern science with traditional Samburu knowledge of celestial patterns and seasonal rhythms. Village visits demonstrated this partnership in action—showing how tourism revenue directly supports community-chosen initiatives while preserving cultural practices that have sustained this landscape for generations.
A journey to our newest property, Basecamp Samburu, showcased how thoughtful tourism infrastructure can minimize environmental footprint while maximizing positive community impact. The behind-the-scenes tour of Saruni Samburu’s operations revealed practical sustainability solutions that members could adapt to their own contexts. This is what effective conservation looks like in practice: sustainable tourism that delivers real benefits for both the people who call this place home and the extraordinary wilderness they protect. Not just good intentions, but measurable positive impact.
The Alchemy of Collaboration
“As the dust settles on our gathering at Saruni Samburu, I find myself carrying forward not just memories, but a renewed sense of purpose,” reflects our CEO Jeremiah Mutisya.
What struck him most was “the remarkable alchemy that happens when passionate stewards come together. Ideas flowed freely, unbound by competition, united instead by our shared commitment to proving that tourism can be the most powerful catalyst for conservation when done with intention and heart.”
Three essential truths emerged from our time together, as Jeremiah shared:
“First, sustainable tourism isn’t just a passing trend or marketing angle—it’s the only viable path forward. The travellers who choose our properties are increasingly seeking authentic connections with places that are being genuinely protected, not just packaged.
Second, meaningful community engagement forms the backbone of lasting conservation. When local voices lead and benefit from conservation initiatives, transformation happens at a scale no outside effort could achieve alone.
Finally, our greatest strength lies in our willingness to learn from one another. The challenges we face—from climate adaptation to resource management—are too complex for isolated solutions. It’s our collective wisdom, transparently shared, that lights the way forward.”
Building a Future that Lasts
Our Chief Operations Officer, Miriam Obegi, distilled the experience into actionable insights that go beyond the meeting itself:
“What does it take to build a future that lasts? In East Africa, we’re not just asking that question—we’re living it, together,” she observed. “At the recent Long Run East Africa Hub meeting, one thing became abundantly clear: sustainability isn’t a checklist. It’s a mindset. A movement. A relationship.”
Her four key takeaways offer a roadmap for the journey ahead:
- Engagement is not an event. It’s a commitment.
Communities evolve—cultures shift, landscapes change, priorities grow. Continuous engagement means staying present, listening deeply, and co-creating solutions. “Enduring partnerships aren’t built in a moment,” Miriam noted. “They’re built over time, through trust and shared vision.” - Sustainability is a journey—and we’re all somewhere along the path.
Every organization arrived with different experiences and resources, yet shared the understanding that there’s always more to learn and more to do. “Sustainability isn’t a final goal,” she emphasized. “It’s an ongoing process of reflection, iteration, and action. It requires humility. It demands courage. And above all, it asks us to stay curious.” - Collaboration is not a strategy. It’s a source of power.
The generosity of knowledge-sharing—including vulnerabilities and challenges—accelerated everyone’s growth. “When people open up about what’s working—and what’s not—everyone benefits,” Miriam reflected. “This hub showed us that connection breeds innovation, and that true impact is collective.” - There is always another step.
Perhaps most importantly, the gathering reinforced that sustainability work has no finish line—only new horizons of possibility.
The Power of One Community, Many Voices
As golden light bathed the Samburu landscape during our final sundowner, the real value of these four days became clear—it wasn’t just the knowledge we’d exchanged, but the relationships we’d strengthened across East Africa’s conservation community.
Climate change, resource pressure, and development demands require responses that span landscapes and unite communities. These connections we’ve built represent our greatest hope for creating impact at the scale these challenges demand.
For those of us privileged to serve as stewards of East Africa’s extraordinary biodiversity, this gathering reinforced that our greatest strength lies not in working alone, but in sharing both challenges and solutions across properties and conservancies.
As our CEO concluded, “The path ahead isn’t always clear, but after these days of connection and insight, I’m more convinced than ever—this is a journey best travelled together, for the long run.”
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.
