Il Ngwesi
| Conservancy Facts |
| Location |
Il Ngwesi Group Ranch, Mukogodo Division, Laikipia District |
| Postal address |
PO Box 263, 1042 Timau, Kenya |
| Ethnicity |
Laikipiak Maasai |
| Population |
6,000 people |
| Land ownership |
Group Ranch |
| Core conservation area |
8,675 ha |
| Main livelihood |
Livestock keeping & tourism |
| Key wildlife species |
Black and white rhino, African wild dog, Grevy’s zebra, African elephant |
| Year of registration |
1995 |
| Current donors |
Kansas City Zoo, Markoff, Reid Park Zoo, Tourism Trust Fund, White Oak Conservation Center |
| Staff employed from the community |
32 |
| Annual operating budget |
US$ 50,000 |
Background of Il Ngwesi
Il Ngwesi (meaning People of Wildlife) was one of the first community-led conservation initiatives to be established in northern Kenya. Although there was wildlife in the area, and camel trek safaris were operated through the region, there was little economic activity and the area remained largely undeveloped. In 1995, the Il Ngwesi Lodge was established with the assistance of the Lewa Wildlife Conservancy. The lodge is run by Il Ngwesi Company Ltd. and has generated other conservation-based enterprises such as the cultural boma (or village), camel safaris and camp sites. Each of these initiatives generates substantial income which supports projects that are prioritised by the community at their Annual General Meeting. Thus far, the income has paid for the construction of cattle dips, water projects, schools, education scholarships and health services.
The overall aims of Il Ngwesi Group Ranch are to promote conservation and to generate socio-economic opportunities for the Group Ranch members. These aims have been achieved through a reduction in the over-dependence on livestock (thus reducing environmental degradation in the area) and through the promotion of conservation-friendly tourism. Il Ngwesi is now viewed as a model for community-led conservation in Africa.
Endangered Species Conservation
Il Ngwesi was historically home to numerous black rhinos, but the rhino population was severely depleted during the 1970s poaching epidemic. Il Ngwesi’s current land use system makes the re-introduction of black rhinos a real possibility. The first milestone in the establishment of a rhino sanctuary took place in 2002, when the orphaned black rhino Omni was relocated from Lewa to Il Ngwesi. Such an increase in the potential carrying capacity for black rhino in the area makes a direct contribution to the Kenya Wildlife Service’s national goal of improving the conservation of this species in Kenya.
Il Ngwesi also provides critical security support to the “no-man’s land” directly north of Lewa Wildlife Conservancy. This security has significant implications for the survival of the endangered Grevy’s zebra, which migrate between Lewa and the government-run National Reserves of Samburu, Buffalo Springs and Shaba.
The Future of Il Ngwesi
Over the next five years, Il Ngwesi aims to purchase land for human settlement elsewhere, allowing the current area to be devoted to wildlife management and to investment in the tourism industry. Certain wildlife species will be translocated from areas such as Lewa Wildlife Conservancy to boost existing wildlife populations in Il Ngwesi. Increasing the black rhino conservation potential of Il Ngwesi is also a major focus of the future and collaborative efforts are underway with Lewa Wildlife Conservancy, Lekurruki Group Ranch and Borana Ranch to establish one large conservation area between the four properties. |
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