Mount Kenya Wildlife Conservancy

Mount Kenya Wildlife Conservancy : When TV personality Don Hunt and movie actor William Holden founded the Mount Kenya Wildlife Conservancy in the 1960s, it quickly caught the attention of Jomo Kenyatta, the president of Kenya at the time.

The Mount Kenya Wildlife Conservancy is home to the Animal Orphanage. Less than a hundred Mountain bongos remain in the world, and the orphanage is home to them. The injured, abandoned, mistreated, or terrified wild animals also reside in the orphanage, where they receive care with the intention of returning them to their rightful place in the wild.

Established in 2004, the Mount Kenya Wildlife Conservancy assists in generating revenue for the game ranch’s wildlife initiatives. Their mission is to support global efforts to protect the biodiversity and distinctive environment of Mount Kenya. This conservancy offers a second opportunity to wild animals that are damaged, neglected, abused, or fearful. With the intention of releasing these animals back into the wild, where they belong, the orphanage offers them professional treatment along with a place to live. Renowned for its bongo breeding programme and its efforts to save the endangered white zebra.

It also features an education programme that hosts more than 10,000 future conservationists and an animal orphanage for injured, abandoned, or mistreated wild animals. Guests have the option to adopt an animal or become friends of the conservancy. Currently, 28 species call the conservancy home, with breeding herds of mountain bongo and white zebra among the rarest. It’s important asking the guides about the histories of each species because it’s surprisingly large. The orphanage is home to rescued leopards and cheetahs, as well as some of the remaining pygmy hippos in Kenya (gifted to the country’s first president, Jomo Kenyatta). Be ready for the ostriches, llamas, and bongos to start roaming freely as soon as you walk in.

Because of its effectiveness, efforts are currently underway to release a portion of the captive-bred antelope into the forests of Mount Kenya in order to increase its existing population of about 70. This location is great for kids and anyone who wants to have a baby monkey climb on top of them.

Mugie conservancy

The 200 square km Mugie Conservancy is a private Kenya wildlife reserve located at the westernmost point of the Laikipia plateau. It’s teeming with large, heavy animals: the 89 square kilometres of the Mugie Sanctuary, home to elephants, Grevy’s zebras, big cats, and endangered Jackson’s hartebeests, is over half of the ranch. You are still welcome to enter the park as a day visitor even if you are not staying overnight.

Although Mugie is 46,000 acres, 22,000 of those acres have been reserved for Mugie Sanctuary. About 70 different kinds of mammals, including lions, cheetahs, leopards, buffalo, elephants, elands, and hyenas, can be found in the Mugie sanctuary.

The Hahn family, who have dedicated themselves for more than 40 years to protecting Africa’s wildlife and people, founded Mugie. Claus Mortensen has been in charge of Mugie for the past thirty-two years. He was raised in Kenya. Jackson’s Hartebeests and highly endangered Grevy’s zebras have been maintained and multiplied in Mugie. The sanctuary has increased the numbers of lion, oryx, elephant, giraffe, cape buffalo, eland, and over two hundred rare bird species by protecting the fragile ecology.

Mugie Conservancy is a leading conservation organisation that maintains the sensitive and productive eco-systems that support a wide variety of species while simultaneously functioning as a low-impact cattle ranch. Mugie is in favour of research on cheetahs and wild dogs through the Cheetah and Wild Dog The initiative includes research on lions using Lion Landscapes’ collaring and monitoring methods. Innovative community grazing initiatives and initiatives aimed at empowering communities through microfinance support have stimulated local community participation and commitment to Mugie’s conservation objectives.

Sadly, poaching caused the ranch to relocate the 25 rhinos that remained in 2012 to different locations across the nation, meaning that there are now no rhinos at all.

Things to do in Mugie  Conservancy

Game drive safaris

Mutamaiyu offers both day and night drives in a variety of 4×4 safari vehicles. The manager of Mugie, Claus Mortensen, often leads the game drives so that visitors can discover more about the background of the Laikipia Predator Project, the Rhino Sanctuary, and the ranch. In addition, knowledgeable guides are available to assist with animal and bird identification and provide information on local flora and animals. A bush breakfast in the morning or a sundowner cocktail in the evening typically cap off a game drive.

Nature walks

Not being restricted to safari vehicles is one of the advantages of visiting a private conservancy such as Mugie. Walking is a very fulfilling way to interact with nature. It allows you to read the stories left by animal footprints, discover how acacia trees defend themselves, peek inside a termite colony, or see an elephant eating.

Visit the school

A trip to Mugie Primary School is gratifying for both parties involved. A lot of our guests have expressed their admiration for the excellent calibre of work, especially Susannah Mortensen’s singing and art area. You are very welcome to take advantage of the tiny presents (pens, notebooks, and pencils) that many visitors have kindly brought with them. Candy is not advised!

Visit the culture Centre

A unique opportunity to learn about the way of life of this particular tribe is to visit a Pokot hamlet. During a visit, you might get to see their “rondavels,” which are round thatched homes, learn about their culture and way of life, and maybe see a tribal dance performed while dressed in traditional garb.

Painting and sketching

A unique addition to your kenya safari will be a day spent painting your experiences of Africa under Susannah Mortensen’s tutelage, regardless of your level of artistic ability. Susannah, Claus’s wife, was raised on a nearby ranch and attended the Slade School of Art and Chelsea School of Art at London University. She paints landscapes, people, animals, and flowers with great skill using watercolours. Susannah has regular exhibitions in the UK and Nairobi.

Visit the Ranch

Kenya tours visitors who are interested in farming are welcome to look around or lend a hand with the animals. In order to serve visitors and staff with fresh veggies, Mugie has also established a 12-hectare irrigation project and planted a sizable number of native trees. Bloodhounds have also been brought back to Mugie, mostly to help with security, along with the rhinos. Trained to detect human scents, these working dogs are an invaluable tool in the fight against poaching. Friendly dogs, bloodhounds are proud to show off their tracking prowess.

Mugie Conservancy is also known for housing the centre area of study of the Laikipia Predator Project, which aims to preserve Africa’s largest and most majestic predatory hunters. Laikipia is home to numerous tribes, the most notable of which are the Pokot, Turkana, Samburu, and Il Dorobo, whose members have managed to preserve their traditional ways of life; Mugie employs members of all these tribes. Laikipia District is internationally recognised for its abundant wildlife, and Mugie supports and collaborates with the Laikipia Wildlife Forum (LWF) on a range of community projects, security, and conservation efforts for the region as a whole.