Matapato Rangelands · Central Kajiado, Kenya

Where people and wildlife share the same ground.

Ramat Wildlife Society is the community-led body uniting ten conservancies across the Amboseli ecosystem's northern rangelands — rebuilding habitat, reopening migratory routes, and proving coexistence pays.

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0 Community conservancies formed and mapped since 2020
0,000 Acres brought under community conservation
0km² Matapato Rangeland, on the Amboseli ecosystem's edge
0 Registered as a society under Kenya's Societies Act
Wildlife of the Matapato Rangelands, Central Kajiado
Who We Are

A representative body, grown from ten conservancies.

RAMAT Wildlife Society is a representative body for conservancies in Central Kajiado, most of them across the Matapato Rangelands — a 3,200 km² landscape on the northern periphery of the Amboseli National Park ecosystem, bordering Kenya and Tanzania.

Our name comes from the Maasai word “Ramatare,” meaning the holistic management of animals, families, environment and community together. Registered in 2022 under Section 10 of Kenya's Societies Act (Reg. #R4443), we were endorsed as the region's representative body by conservancy chairpersons on 6 July 2023. Our logo carries the Greater Kudu — valued by the Maasai for its grace, and its horn's role in festivities.

Read Our Full Story
Our Mission

Rebuilding habitat through tolerance and coexistence.

To rebuild wildlife habitats by nurturing values of tolerance and coexistence between people and wildlife, through sustainable, community-owned conservation.

Our Vision

Healthy ecosystems, shared by people and wildlife.

Rebuilding healthy ecosystems for both the people and the wildlife of the Matapato Rangelands — one conservancy at a time.

Wildlife and livestock are a gift of nature to our people. We take responsibility to protect them, and to let them co-exist among us as we have for generations.
Our Philosophy
What We Do

Six programs, one rangeland.

Every conservancy under our umbrella draws on the same set of coordinated programs — built around the region's specific pressures and opportunities.

Human–Wildlife Conflict Response

Rapid-response support for households facing predation, crop-raids and livestock loss.

Community Engagement & Education

Wildlife clubs, school partnerships and outreach that build local ownership of conservation.

Rangeland Restoration & Management

Reversing degradation and restoring grazing land for both livestock and wildlife.

Protection of Migratory Routes

Keeping wildlife corridors open between Amboseli and the Kenya–Tanzania border.

Governance & Capacity Development

Training conservancy leaders in strong, accountable, community-led governance.

Livelihoods & Tourism Development

Turning conservation into a viable, dignified livelihood for conservancy members.

190,000 acres

and room for twenty conservancies across the Matapato Rangelands — we're ten in.

Our Story

From frustration to a movement.

We began in a place of frustration — human–wildlife conflict with little conservation attention paid to Central Kajiado. Rather than dwell on the conflict, our founders mobilized their neighbours toward a homegrown solution.

2020

Kikesen River Conservancy

The first conservancy in the region is mobilized and registered, becoming the reference point for Parsilet, Oldoinyo Sambu and Kisapuk — conservancies along a major wildlife migratory route from Tanzania and the Lake Magadi region.

2021

A Second Wave

Lorbetera and Noosikitok Conservancies are born on the peripheries of the Amboseli National Park ecosystem, as the model keeps proving itself to neighbouring communities.

2022

Ramat Wildlife Society Registered

As Mailwa, Emotoroki, Meto and Long'oswa open up to conservancies of their own, RAMAT is registered as a coordinating body to raise resources and strengthen governance region-wide.

2023

Endorsed as the Regional Body

On 6 July 2023, chairpersons of Central Kajiado's conservancies endorse Ramat Wildlife Society as their representative body — change is coming.

Embassy of France became our first supporter, through the introduction of filmmaker Dr. Paula Kahumbu of Wildlife Direct — funding salaries for community scouts at Kikesen, Noosikitok and Lorbetera Conservancies.

Kenya Wildlife Conservancies Association (KWCA) paid scout salaries at Kikesen River Conservancy through the height of COVID‑19, and supported our first governance training for conservancy leaders and the mapping of ten conservancies.

Our Partners

Trusted by conservation's leading institutions.

Kenya Wildlife Service Kenya Wildlife Conservancies Association Embassy of France African Conservation Center Wildlife Direct Conservation Alliance of Kenya Giraffe Conservation Foundation The Wildlife Foundation Wildlife Clubs of Kenya
Get Involved

The rangelands can hold twenty conservancies. We're ten in.

Online giving is coming soon. Until then, the fastest way to help is to reach out directly — as a partner, a funder, or a community ally.