The Sarara Community-led Conservation Story
A COMMUNITY UNITED FOR CONSERVATION
The story of Sarara has become a flagship model for conservation on community land across Africa, and continues to act as a model that improves livelihoods through the restoration and preservation of the environment.
Showing what is possible when a community stands united for conservation – and highlighting the power of a grassroot movement that’s become a blueprint in the region as well as worldwide – Namunyak’s story of wildlife restoration is one of overcoming hardships to protect a rare and remote natural legacy.
A few decades ago, the Mathews Mountain Range was renowned for its wealth of elephants and rhino, before numbers started dwindling dramatically. And increasing international demand for ivory and rhino horn and external poaching posed a tremendous threat country-wide, and without protection, the populations of many species plummeted within 20 years. This included 15,000 elephants that used to roam the area freely, dropping to only around 400.
As a knock-on effect, the area’s ecosystem suffered significant damage. With no keystone species to bulk browse the vegetation, rolling grasslands soon turned into woodlands. The lack of grass left the area devoid of wildlife – and also made the land less productive for the indigenous Samburu and their livestock.
A critical juncture was reached by the 90s, with many species at the brink. Fortunately, the community conservation movement was gaining significant momentum at the same time – with a growing awareness of conservation’s immense potential to improve livelihoods as well as the land.
Namunyak Community Conservancy was established in 1995 by the local Samburu community – and founded on the vision and insights of their Elders, who travelled far and wide to learn more about community-driven conservation that would safeguard both their natural legacy and people for generations to come. Committed to the future of Namunyak’s community, wildlife, and biodiversity, they made sure their plans benefitted the region as a whole.
WATCH
Sarara – Place of Peace
Labour of Love
In a landscape so remote and exposed to nature’s ebbs and flows, it was everything but easy to break ground in those early days. Everything had to be done from the ground up – including building the area’s first roads and creating infrastructure from scratch. Added to that, all of this was done at a time when El Niño was wreaking havoc throughout East Africa – inflicting serious damage while disrupting distribution and construction work.
Despite many unforeseen challenges, Namunyak Community Conservancy turned into a reality –thanks to an unwavering passion and commitment to bring it to life. With the community assuming responsibility for its regeneration, the land became visibly healthier and the area more stable – and soon, the ecosystem started changing again. It was a watershed moment…
Elephants started returning to the now secure and protected Sarara Valley, browsing the bush back and opening up waterholes and grasslands too. As a result, a diversity of wildlife followed, and the community in turn started benefitting from healthier pastures and water sources for their livestock, as well as steady tourism revenue through Sarara’s guests.
Today, this remote wilderness is sought out by those who long to be immersed in a rare natural legacy – and this cherished landscape is once again thriving and whole.
Highlights
Over time, the conservancy became a beacon of light in community conservation on the continent – and around the globe.
-
It’s a sanctuary for Kenya’s second-largest elephant population, one of Kenya’s largest populations of the endangered Reticulated giraffe, the endangered Grévy’s Zebra, hyena, kudu, lion, mantled guereza (Colobus) monkeys, leopard, and more. It’s also home to a wide array of endemic and migratory birds – including Egyptian Vultures and several birds of prey.
-
Namunyak receives many requests from neighbouring conservancies for support, and is used as a key learning point. It’s become a hub for communities from all over who come here to learn. This includes delegations from Tanzania, Uganda, South Sudan, Rwanda and Ethiopia.
-
The Sarara Foundation pioneered a nomadic Montessori Education system – which is fully accredited by the Association Montessori Internationale; a highly impactful mobile health clinic; a dedicated Eco Ranger unit doing invaluable work in rangeland restoration; and the burgeoning Milk to Market program – which provides more than 1,200 Samburu women with gainful employment for the very first time.
-
Reteti Elephant Sanctuary, which was established in response to urgent calls from the Samburu community. Promoting the preservation of natural resources to create stability, employment, and revenue, Reteti is designed to rescue and release orphaned and abandoned elephant calves, while creating much-needed benefits for the people who share this landscape with Kenya’s wild elephant herds. It’s the story of a community standing united for wildlife, and of a community’s voice being heard.
“It’s an inspiring testimony to the Samburu community’s conservation efforts that Namunyak Conservancy has overseen the return of a free-ranging population of almost 6,000 elephants to the Mathews Range – and also protects one of the largest herds of Reticulated giraffes in Africa.”
Partnerships
Decades ago, instability was still par for the course in Northern Kenya, mainly due to the country’s centralised government. With little resources available in remote areas, there wasn’t much control over poaching – or the utilisation of the region’s precious wildlife.
As the first community conservancy to be formed in Samburu County, Namunyak was the first step to bring responsible management to the area – and protect both its biodiversity as well as the community living alongside its natural legacy. In doing so, wildlife started returning to these areas, with various species once again being able to flourish and thrive.
Through mutual respect and trust, a partnership developed organically between the Samburu and Piers and Hilary Bastard – third-generation Kenyans who had often visited the area in the 80s and 90s, and were dedicated to wildlife conservation and community capacity building here.
After decades of hard and pioneering work to establish what’s become a beacon for conservancies far and wide, this journey keeps being embodied through a range of impactful projects and initiatives – and as a unique locally-owned tourism venture, it steadily continues to grow.
As co-founders of Reteti Elephant Sanctuary in 2016, Jeremy and Katie have been pivotal in developing this groundbreaking conservation initiative. The Sarara Foundation (TSF) was established in the same year, and enabled the opening of the first nomadic Montessori School, a life-changing mobile clinic, and more.
Driven by a shared belief in a future that will allow both wildlife and people to prosper, the story continues – with Sarara’s groundbreaking partnerships at the heart of its innovative programs.
In 1997, the couple joined hands with the Samburu to introduce locally-owned tourism and revenue incentives. Opening in the same year, Sarara Camp paved the way for a unique and intimate guest experience that allows one to truly connect with Namunyak’s magic – and the space and peace that abounds.
Following in his father’s footsteps, Piers’ youngest son Jeremy and his wife Katie took over the responsibility in 2010. At the time, there was a strong call within Namunyak to grow Sarara’s offering beyond a 12-bed camp – and to set a course for a more self-reliant community.
It was the start of a chapter that saw great strides being made – including exponential growth in the shape of two more ecolodges (Sarara Treehouses in 2016 and Reteti House in 2021) and laying the foundations of Namunyak’s Journey of Self-Reliance.
“We believe conservation is as much about people as it is about wildlife. In a world where climate change is placing ever more pressure on Indigenous People and communities who rely on healthy landscapes to thrive, our core goals have never been more important. To protect and grow biodiversity, Sarara supports locally-led, grassroots programs to improve livelihoods and build a flourishing community.”
The Family
KATIE ROWE
Katie was born in Sri Lanka, before moving to Kenya at a very young age. Her journey has included training as a chef at Prue Leith’s renowned Cookery School in London, which accounts for her passionate input in the fresh and flavourful fare served at all of Sarara’s camps!
It extends to her passion for the community and making a meaningful difference – and her impact is especially profound in programs that benefit women and their continuous growth. From the groundbreaking Milk to Market initiative (through which Samburu women sell goat milk to Reteti Elephant Sanctuary as a nutritious alternative for the calves), to her hand in The Sarara Foundation’s Eco Ranger and Beading Mama programs – Katie’s involvement has been and remains pivotal.
Over the years, her lifelong love for animals has seen her raise everything from orphaned kudus, giraffes, warthogs, and impalas at the camps – and ultimately, it opened the door for what eventually became a fully-fledged haven for orphaned elephants. Being a co-founder of Reteti Elephant Sanctuary has been a highlight in her life, and also illustrates Katie’s deep commitment to the Samburu community, its women, and the wildlife of this much-loved land.
The overall guest experience at Sarara lies close to her heart and her warmth, enthusiasm, and dedication to camps that are intimate and authentic truly shines through. “Sarara is about family – and we are all family here. When guests come to stay, they feel part of this incredible landscape as well as its people, and that they too belong here.”
“There are very few countries in the world where the community and wildlife are living so close to each other and coexisting. If every human being on the planet came to visit places like this, they’d be much more inclined to fight to protect them.”
JEREMY BASTARD
Jeremy, a fourth generation Kenyan, holds a deep enthusiasm and passion for Africa and the natural world. He has been guiding walking, mobile luxury camping, photographic and fishing safaris all over East Africa for more than ten years. He is currently involved in several wildlife and community conservation initiatives in the surrounding northern frontier area. He has a BSc. in Environmental and Geographical Science and Social Anthropology from the University of Cape Town and holds a Kenya Professional Guides Association membership and guiding qualification.
Having grown up in the Kenyan bush and in the safari business he has an insightful and in-depth knowledge of its diverse environments. In his spare time Jeremy is a keen fly fisherman, photographer, watercolour artist and outdoorsman. He is also a certified kite-surfing and windsurfing instructor.
Jeremy spent his childhood among Kenya’s wildlife between the Maasai Mara and Samburu regions. Growing up alongside Indigenous Communities, he built lifelong friendships within them and developed a deep understanding of Kenya’s natural spaces as well as its cultural custodians.
After graduating from the University of Cape Town with a degree in Environmental Science and Social Anthropology, he returned to Kenya working as a private guide and conservation consultant. In time, it led to him taking up the responsibility of Sarara – alongside Katie.
As CEO of Sarara, Jeremy can lean into his passion for building communities, and developing one-of-a-kind cultural and wilderness experiences; and as co-founder of Reteti Elephant Sanctuary, he has helped to create global awareness for community-based conservation.
Jeremy and Katie were married in May 2015 at Sarara. In a beautiful parallel, their daughter, Saba, was born on the day Reteti Elephant Sanctuary opened. Her two little brothers, Lokwe and Lorien, have joined them since and the family lives at Sarara.