BORANA CONSERVANCY
Managing the interaction between humans and wildlife is one of the core objectives of Borana Conservancy. As a result, Borana not only invests heavily in the direct protection of wildlife with rangers on the ground but also in building local livelihoods.
From our inception, Borana Lodge has shared the benefits of tourism with our neighbours and contributed to initiating a positive change in the perception of wildlife by increasing its potential value. To do this Borana has supported the development of various community tourism enterprises, as well as a Mobile Health Clinic and the Borana Education Support Programme.
Importantly our rangers are now seen as a resource that our wider community has a true sense of ownership of, providing security and reducing conflict between farmers and wildlife.
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LOCAL EMPLOYMENT
At Borana Lodge, we prioritize the building of local livelihoods through access to healthcare, education and meaningful employment opportunities. We believe in fostering a sense of ownership and pride among our team members, the majority of whom are from nearby communities. By providing training, professional development, and fair wages, we ensure that our team members have the tools and resources they need to thrive both professionally and personally. This commitment to local employment not only strengthens the bond between Borana and our community but also creates a ripple effect, as our staff members become ambassadors for sustainable practices and conservation in their own neighbourhoods.
Borana Conservancy is a shining example of community-driven conservation. The conservancy is dedicated to preserving the delicate ecosystem, protecting wildlife, and uplifting local communities. Through initiatives such as anti-poaching efforts, wildlife monitoring, and sustainable land management practices, Borana Conservancy ensures the long-term sustainability of the region. By involving local communities in decision-making processes and offering benefits such as employment and education opportunities, the conservancy fosters a harmonious relationship between people and wildlife, ultimately creating a brighter future for both.
Total of 39 staff at Borana Lodge. 23 men, 16 women.
Local employment
WILDLIFE SECURITY & MONITORING
Borana Conservancy is proud to report zero poaching incidents since 2014. This is in huge part due to Borana’s community-focused conservation efforts, along with the dedicated team of over 130 male and female rangers.
Such a high ranger density is crucial to anti-poaching efforts and the effective biological management and monitoring of rhino. This conservation success story could not have been achieved without support from key conservation partners: Save The Rhino International, For Rangers, The Kenya Wildlife Service and Lewa Wildlife Conservancy.
Borana Conservancy’s anti-poaching team is proud to report a 100% local employment rate, encouraging local communities to see the value in rhino conservation, one of Borana Conservancy’s key principles.
EDUCATION PROGRAMME
The Borana Education Support Programme (BESP) works closely with our local communities, inspiring the lives and futures of children. The focus of the education programme remains on the communities in the immediate surroundings, with investments focused on facilities, teaching tools and the schools’ conservation efforts. Since 2009, over 400 scholarships have been awarded to students from our neighbouring communities and the salaries of over 100 teachers sustained.
Mazingira Yetu
The Borana Education Support Programme (BESP) works closely with our local communities, inspiring the lives and futures of children. The focus of the education programme remains on the communities in the immediate surroundings, with investments focused on facilities, teaching tools and the schools’ conservation efforts. Since 2009, over 400 scholarships have been awarded to students from our neighbouring communities and the salaries of over 100 teachers sustained.
The Mazingira Yetu Centre also plays a vital role in community outreach, working closely with nearby schools and community groups to promote environmental awareness and inspire future stewards of the land. It serves as a catalyst for positive change, fostering a deep appreciation for nature and empowering individuals of all ages to take action in preserving the beauty and biodiversity of Borana Conservancy and beyond.
MOBILE CLINIC
Since 2005, in partnership with the Ministry Of Health, the Borana Mobile Clinic has been providing basic health care, health lectures, HIV Aids awareness, antenatal advice, child immunisation programmes and family planning to Borana’s neighbouring communities.
The majority of our neighbourhoods do not have adequate access to basic health care, with some people having to travel extremely long distances to access any form of simple medical care or sanitation.
The Borana Mobile Clinic team consists of two nurses and a driver, together they visit ten communities on a two-week rotation, treating on average over 700 patients per month and travelling over 1000 miles.
The nurses also provide support and counselling to students at the schools which are part of the Borana Education Support Programme, as well as health education to members of each community, focusing on hygiene and nutrition.
Over the past decade, the clinic has carried out over 220,000 consultations and we encourage our guests to meet our nurses and spend time with the clinic, to truly understand remote healthcare.
LIVESTOCK TO MARKET PROGRAMME
This Borana Livestock to Market Programme was launched in 2016, as a social enterprise that is supported by The Kenyan Market Trust and Borana Ranch Limited. To date, this project has benefited over 545 community members.
The Livestock to Market committee comprises two elders from each of the six neighbourhoods who organise and select the cattle from their communities to participate in the scheme. The cattle are brought to Borana where they are vetted to ensure their health and that they meet the criteria for the project. The maximum number of cattle one individual is able to bring to the scheme is 20, thereby ensuring a fair distribution of participation amongst livestock owners in the project.
The cattle are weighed upon arrival at Borana and given an identification number and entry value based upon KES 130/- (approximately $1 USD) per kg live weight. Six to eight months later, after grazing on Borana and under Borana management, the animal is sold to market and the owner is paid the original entry value of the animal plus 80% of the weight gain value. Borana retains 20% of the weight gain value to cover grazing, veterinary and dipping costs.
The nurses also provide support and counselling to students at the schools which are part of the Borana Education Support Programme, as well as health education to members of each community, focusing on hygiene and nutrition.
This project encourages good animal husbandry, teaches good grazing practices and provides a sustainable income to local pastoralist communities even in times of drought.This project encourages good animal husbandry, teaches good grazing practices and provides a sustainable income to local pastoralist communities even in times of drought.
WATER SAFETY
Borana Conservancy provides safe, potable water to seven neighbourhoods around the conservancy. Borana has installed a solar borehole at Sanga Primary School which now provides clean water to over 150 students, to a school which was previously the only school in the landscape without piped water.
We also provide fresh water at each of our gatehouses for collection from community members.
GET INVOLVED
There are a number of ways to contribute financially to Borana Conservancy. You can choose to support a venture which suits you best. From school supplies to rangers uniforms or sponsoring and naming a rhino, we have a wide range of initiatives which the conservancy team would be delighted to talk you through.
Click here to contact Borana Conservancy
Mammals
Borana shares a joint conservation management policy with its neighbours that is dedicated to protecting a quarter of a million acres of Africa’s natural environment.
During a successful afternoon exploring Borana, you might see over 20 different kinds of mammals. Around 3000 elephants roam freely through the conservancy and wider landscape, we have over a dozen matriarch cows with radio collars in the Laikipia area so that we can monitor their movements. This research is of great importance to us in order to reduce the instances of human-wildlife conflict.
We provide all of our guests with a comprehensive birds, mammals, reptiles & amphibians list for all guests when staying at Borana Lodge.
Birds
Borana Conservancy is home to a variety of different environments which combine to create a haven for a huge diversity of bird life. Our list of birds was started in 1980 and has been compiled by many ornithologists since. We have now accounted for close to 400 different species of birds.
We provide all of our guests with a comprehensive birds, mammals, reptiles & amphibians list for all guests when staying at Borana Lodge.