When it comes to safari vacations, at Gamewatchers Safaris  we have stood for something deeper than adventure for decades: promoting a vision of travel that preserves our natural wilderness, uplifts local communities and safeguards Kenya’s remarkable biodiversity for generations to come. 

Today, that vision has been honoured on the world stage. We are proud to announce that our Selenkay Conservancy has been named the World’s Leading Conservation Programme 2025 at the 2nd Annual World Sustainable Travel & Hospitality Awards: a milestone that celebrates not only our commitment to conservation but also the power of community partnership.

A Landmark Achievement in Sustainable Safari Travel

This global recognition is a tribute to our decades of dedication, collaboration and belief in one simple but transformative idea: that wildlife conservation and community empowerment are not opposing forces but partners in progress. Our Selenkay Conservancy, which is part of the Amboseli ecosystem, has become a living example of how safari tourism can protect nature whilst improving lives.

During the awards ceremony at Terra, Expo City Dubai, our Managing Director, Dr. Mohanjeet Brar, accepted the honour on behalf of the Gamewatchers Safaris and Porini Camps teams. In his heartfelt message, he dedicated the award to the Eselenkei Maasai community, our guides, rangers and all who work tirelessly to protect Kenya’s wild spaces. This accolade belongs as much to them as it does to us: a shared victory for conservation in Kenya.

The Roots of a Groundbreaking Conservation Model

Selenkay’s success story began in 1997, when we established the first community-owned conservancy in Kenya. It was a revolutionary idea at the time: lease a large tract of Maasai community land to create a wildlife conservation area outside of a national park, using income from low-impact, eco-friendly safari tourism to pay the land lease and operating costs.

This concept meant local landowners received regular income while the land itself was set aside for wildlife; making it a win-win for both the local people, our guests and the planet. Years later, this same approach would inspire a national movement, forming the foundation for a conservancy model that now protects more than 12% of Kenya’s land.

Through our Community Conservancy Concept, we’ve shown that safari vacations can be powerful vehicles for change and powerful tools for preserving critical habitats, supporting livelihoods and ensuring that Kenya’s wilderness continues to thrive for generations to come.

What Makes Selenkay Conservancy Exceptional

Nestled in the semi-arid plains of the Amboseli ecosystem, Selenkay is proof that conservation flourishes when communities lead the way. Some of the many ways its pioneering conservation efforts are that it is: 

Empowering Maasai Landowners

By leasing land for wildlife conservation, Selenkay ensures that hundreds of Maasai families benefit directly. They receive a reliable income and enjoy employment opportunities in tourism, guiding and conservation, all while retaining ownership of their ancestral land. It’s empowerment rooted in respect and mutual benefit.

Restoring Wildlife Corridors

Once threatened by overgrazing, Selenkay’s landscape is now teeming with life. Through rotational grazing systems, careful land management and habitat restoration, the conservancy has revived crucial wildlife corridors. 

Animals such as lions, elephants, giraffes and antelopes now roam freely through areas that were once degraded; becoming a living testament to what community-driven conservation can achieve.

Sustainable Tourism in Action

At the Porini Amboseli Camp in the conservancy, sustainability guides every aspect of our operations. From solar-powered energy and eco-friendly water systems to strict zero-plastic policies and locally sourced materials, every detail reflects a commitment to tread lightly on the land. Our guests experience the wilderness authentically; without compromising the ecosystem they’ve come to admire.

Investing in Communities

Beyond tourism, Selenkay’s success has transformed lives through education, healthcare and clean water projects. School facilities have been upgraded, bursaries have been provided and community clinics are supported. Every safari visitor contributes to these initiatives, ensuring that the benefits of conservation reach deep into local communities.

More Than an Award: A Shared Vision for the Future

Winning the World’s Leading Conservation Programme 2025 is about more than recognition; it’s a validation of a journey that began nearly three decades ago. It celebrates every guest who chose a Gamewatchers safari, every ranger who patrols at dawn, every Maasai elder who believed in setting land aside for wildlife and every partner who shares our mission.

We believe that safari vacations should be more than an escape: they should be a way to reconnect with nature and contribute to its preservation. Our work at the Selenkay Conservancy shows that when travellers choose responsible tourism, they can help to shape a better future for both wildlife and people alike.

We thank you, as our guests and supporters, for being part of this journey: for choosing safari vacations that matter, for standing with us in protecting wildlife and for helping us make history with the Selenkay Conservancy, which is now officially the World’s Leading Conservation Programme 2025.