Our History
See the timeline that shaped us, from a 1960s game ranch to a leading Kenyan conservation trust.
Our Story
A Promise Older Than Our Name
Long before Mount Kenya Wildlife Conservancy had a name, this land was already a place of second chances for wildlife in need. That promise has never changed.
The Wild Deserves a Future, So Do We
What We Believe
Animals arrive at our gates for reasons that are almost always human: lost habitat, snares, conflict with people, the illegal wildlife trade. Our answer is the same each time. Heal what can be healed. Strengthen what can be strengthened. And wherever it is possible, return the animal to the wild it belongs to.
A note on our dates: you will see two important years in our story. 1969, when the ranch that would become our home first opened its gates to orphaned wildlife, and 2004, when that work was formally registered as Mount Kenya Wildlife Conservancy, a Kenyan conservation trust. One is our roots. The other is our mandate. Both matter, and both appear throughout this site.
What We Do
Our Pillars
Mountain Bongo Programme
Breeding and rewilding the critically endangered Mountain Bongo, reversing a decline that had left fewer than 80 in the wild.
Rescue and Rehabilitation
Round the clock veterinary care gives injured, orphaned and displaced wildlife a genuine second chance.
Conservation Education
By reaching young people directly through schools and organizations, and with partners in our communities, we can inspire them to be the future stewards of the planet and to protect it.
Research
We collaborate with PhD researchers, university students, and conservation partners to advance wildlife conservation and evidence-based management. Our research initiatives include mountain bongo population monitoring using AI-powered camera systems, student-led research and special projects, impact measurement, and data collection that supports informed decision-making across the Conservancy’s programmes.
Care for Free-Ranging Wildlife
Around 1,200 animals across roughly 30 species roam freely across the Conservancy, supporting both our education programme and the wider species gene pool.
Habitat Restoration
Planting indigenous trees with neighbouring communities to restore the Mountain Bongo's montane forest home. In 2025, this cleared over 700 acres of invasive species and, with the I&M Foundation, launched a project to plant 10,000 trees across 15 acres.
We do not measure success in headlines. We measure it in heartbeats returned to the wild.
No One Saves a Species Alone
Our Approach
We work hand in hand with the Kenya Wildlife Service, the Kenya Forest Service, fellow conservancies and, most importantly, the communities who live alongside the wild. When local people share in the future of the mountain, the mountain has a future. That belief shapes every programme we run, from ranger training to the classroom.
More About Us
Our Team
Meet the rangers, vets, educators and researchers behind the work.
Our Partners
The institutions and supporters who make our work possible.