GUIDE ON OL LENTILLE CONSERVANCY IN NORTHERN LAIKIPIA

At 24,000 acres, Ol Lentille Conservancy is considered small in comparison to the other conservancies within Laikipia. The modest size, though, does not lessen the conservancy’s critical role in protecting the natural habitats of Laikipia. Ol Lentille wilderness holds within its boundaries an important share of the greater Ewaso Nyiro River and Laikipia ecosystems.

The local communities benefit from the conservancy as all fixed assets and revenue belong to the local peoples. As active contributors to the wildlife management plans, local communities have self-identified rotational grazing areas, livestock quotas and separate areas for villages and other settlements. This approach ensures buy-in from the communities, and also instills a sense of pride in the success of wildlife protection.



The conservancy is co-managed by local peoples who worked closely with the African Wildlife Foundation to define effective wildlife management strategies. As a result of this collaborative relationship, livestock grazing areas have been limited, allowing the bush to remain in a natural condition that supports wildlife.

With additional support from Regenesis Limited (a Kenyan organization) and the Ol Lentille Trust (a UK non-profit organization), the people of the conservancy have successfully created safari conservation programs that have attracted Kenya’s prized wild animals to move in and reside freely, including many endangered species. The wildlife that exists include plains game from zebras, giraffes, kudus, buffalo, elephants to stalking predators like leopards, hyena, wild dogs and more (read more on when is the best time to go to Laikipia with AfricanMecca).

The soil has recovered from erosion, and the flora that was once overgrazed has returned in its renewed state. The success of Ol Lentille Conservancy has attracted other local communities to join, including Naramut and Narupa Conservancies, Tiemamut Ranch and several other local communities have expressed interest as well. The conservation efforts have been so successful that lands in jeopardy of being under-grazed are being expanded for cattle grazing.