30 Years of Biodiversity Stewardship with Gamewatchers Safaris
Discover the Biodiversity Efforts of Gamewatchers: Pioneers in Wildlife and Habitat Conservation
Our dedication to biodiversity is more than a commitment; it’s a mission. For over three decades, we have stood at the forefront of wildlife and habitat conservation, with a focused aim to preserve the rich biodiversity of Kenya’s ecosystems in partnership with communities. Our efforts are built on innovative and sustainable approaches to protect and nurture the natural world.
We run a wide range of conservation activities and award-winning projects that not only promote community development but also enhance biodiversity in the areas where we operate. Our actions in biodiversity conservation cover a broad spectrum, from habitat restoration to pioneering research. By partnering with local communities and leveraging their invaluable knowledge, we foster mutually beneficial relationships that ensure the protection of vital ecosystems. Our goal is to intertwine partnerships with communities with biodiversity conservation, creating a harmonious balance between human needs and environmental stewardship.
Join us in exploring the diverse and impactful actions of Gamewatchers in safeguarding the natural treasures of Kenya and Africa. Embark on a journey with us, one fueled by passion, dedication, and an unwavering commitment to preserving biodiversity for the enrichment of future generations.
Biodiversity and Carbon Credit Programs: A Sustainable Approach by Gamewatchers Safaris
Gamewatchers Safaris is actively engaged in innovative biodiversity and carbon credit programs, aiming to enhance benefits for community landowners while preserving wildlife habitats. With increasing challenges like population growth, climate change, and land use shifts, we see the urgent need to supplement tourism-based income, vital for safeguarding wildlife habitats and improving community livelihoods.
The COVID-19 pandemic’s impact on tourism highlighted the necessity of diversifying income sources for landowners. As Mohanjeet Brar, Managing Director of Gamewatchers Safaris, notes, the pandemic underscored the need for alternative revenue streams to support community well-being and continue conservation efforts.
For over 30 years, we have focused on the value of protecting habitats and biodiversity. Recognizing the role of healthy ecosystems in carbon sequestration, we advocate for a balanced approach that avoids the pitfalls of monoculture or invasive species growth.
In collaboration with EarthAcre and experts like Professor Andrew Davies from the Harvard Davies Lab, we’re pioneering research and applying technology to help landowners benefit from carbon credits and biodiversity assets. These initiatives are designed to channel funds to those preserving natural biodiversity hotspots, contributing to a more resilient and biodiverse world.
Advocating for Land Conservation through Ecotourism Practices
- At Gamewatchers Safaris, we firmly believe in eco-tourism as a sustainable solution to conserving Kenya’s rich biodiversity. Our strategy is to actively engage local communities, offering them more substantial benefits from ecotourism than traditional land uses like farming. This approach has been successful in our conservancies, making wildlife conservation economically viable.
- In areas like the Selenkay Conservancy in Amboseli and various conservancies where we’ve been involved in the Mara ecosystem, we’ve witnessed firsthand the negative impacts of habitat loss, land subdivision, land sales, and human-wildlife conflict. Our efforts are geared towards reversing these trends by creating a positive relationship between local communities and the environment.
- Our successful conservancy projects have provided long-term benefits to communities, protected wildlife, and offered unique wilderness experiences to visitors. The success of our model has inspired others, leading to an increase in the establishment of similar conservancies. At Gamewatchers, we believe this community-based approach to conservation is the future for Kenya and can be replicated in other parts of Africa.
Our Model has positively impacted the lives of over 1,000 Maasai in the areas we operate in
A monthly rental (that increases annually) is paid to the Maasai landowners as a lease for all the land in the conservancies and the company gives priority to family members of the local community for jobs in the camps and conservancies so that over 95% of the staff are drawn from the local people whose parcels of land have been joined together to form the different conservancies. There are over 2,500 Maasai families who are directly benefiting from the conservancies that we are involved in leasing and managing. Their lives have improved with a guaranteed income from the lease and less reliance on livestock as their sole income source while many have members of their families earning a livelihood in the conservancies in which they have a stake.
Fostering Sustainable Futures: The Gamewatchers Safaris Model
Our approach at Gamewatchers Safaris is unique, as it does not rely on donor funding. We have established a symbiotic partnership with local communities, aligning our goals with those of the community for mutual benefit. A key to our success lies in ensuring that the community receives fair benefits from our projects.
We invest time in explaining our goals to the community, detailing how conservation and eco-tourism can positively impact them and future generations. Building these conservancies required extensive discussions and trust-building with local communities.
Direct Economic Impact on Local Communities
Gamewatchers Safaris has significantly impacted, directly channeling over US$1.5 million annually to local communities. We provide increasing monthly rentals to Maasai landowners for their land and prioritize hiring family members from the local community. This approach has led to over 95% of our staff coming from local families, positively impacting over 2,500 Maasai families. These families benefit from a steady income, reduced reliance on livestock farming, and job opportunities within the conservancies.
Combating Unemployment and Providing Monetary Benefits
In regions like Selenkay, where job opportunities were scarce, Gamewatchers Safaris now employs over 140 staff members from local communities. This has significantly improved the average income in these areas. The monetary benefits to communities from our conservancy operations have consistently exceeded 1 million dollars annually over six years. Despite the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, we managed to maintain substantial financial support for these communities.
Commitment to Environmental Conservation
At Gamewatchers Safaris, we are deeply committed to environmental conservation, adhering to strict environmental policies and employing qualified safari guides to educate guests about the local ecology. Our efforts have been recognized with awards and accolades, such as the Gold Eco-Rating by Ecotourism Kenya.
Recognition and Outreach
Our conservancies have been featured in various national and international publications, highlighting our commitment to eco-tourism and community development. Our founder, Jake Grieves-Cook, has for over 40 years been actively involved in discussions about the future of conservation, further emphasizing our role in the industry.
Through our model, we demonstrate the potential of wildlife conservancies on private or community lands as a means to restore and preserve wildlife habitats, benefiting both the environment and local communities.
An awarding winning & exemplary model
Gamewatchers Safaris has been recognized for its commitment to eco-tourism, with its camps featured in the World Tourism Organisation’s Directory of Best Practices in Ecotourism as exemplary examples from Kenya. Additionally, all of our camps have received a Gold Eco-Rating from Ecotourism Kenya, which acknowledges our dedication to environmentally and socially responsible practices in the tourism industry.
Research indicates that wildlife numbers in Kenya are declining, primarily due to habitat loss caused by increasing human and livestock populations. This trend underscores the importance of wildlife conservancies on private and community lands for the restoration of wildlife habitats. Our conservancy projects have been highlighted in a British school textbook as successful examples of ecotourism benefiting local communities and environments.
We believe in transparently communicating our projects and goals to stakeholders both locally and globally. Our efforts and achievements have been featured in prominent publications like The Guardian, The Observer, The Times, The Independent, Mail on Sunday, Condé Nast Traveler, and National Geographic Adventure magazine. Our founder, Jake Grieves-Cook, has also been interviewed about the future of the Mara in Swara magazine, a publication of the East African Wildlife Safari.
What Our Clients Say About Us...
In our commitment to excellence, we not only strive to exceed our clients’ expectations but also value their feedback. We are proud to present our latest clients’ feedback  posted on Trip Advisor.
