- Ramat Wildlife Society
- Phone: 254 791 197 454
- Email: [email protected]
Kikesen River Conservancy is located in the Matapato Rangelands of Kajiado Central, between hills along the Kenya-Tanzania border. It is 30km north of Namanga Town and 34km west of Bisil Town.
Kikesen River Conservancy is a community wildlife protection area covering 11224.59 Hectares, formed in August 2020 by 100 Maasai landowners. These landowners agreed to conserve wildlife alongside their culture of livestock rearing. The conservancy is named after the Kikesen seasonal river, which starts from Meto Hills at the Kenya-Tanzania border and flows towards Amboseli National Park.
The conservancy is enclosed by hills and features savannah woodlands, natural springs, and rivers, all providing habitats for a diverse range of wildlife including gazelles, giraffes, zebras, leopards, and cheetahs.
Kikesen River Conservancy is home to various wildlife species including gazelles, giraffes, elands, zebras, wildebeests, kudus, leopards, cheetahs, and more. Elephants occasionally migrate through the conservancy, while birds and smaller wildlife intermingling with livestock is a common sight. However, there is an ongoing struggle to protect wildlife from poaching and ensure peaceful coexistence with humans and livestock.
We believe that wildlife and livestock are gifts of nature. We aim to protect wildlife and allow them to co-exist with people and livestock. Our primary objectives include increasing wildlife numbers, eradicating poaching, improving community welfare, and creating harmony between wildlife and people.
The conservancy used to be a pure savanna grassland, but over time, it has transformed into a wooded savanna. Many plants found here are of medicinal value and support both wildlife and livestock.
The Kikesen River, a seasonal river, is one of the key features of the conservancy. It meanders from the Meto Hills to the conservancy, providing habitat for species like dikdiks, elands, and leopards. Several other tributaries feed into this river.
Kikesen River Conservancy is surrounded by hills. To the south, it is enclosed by Kukuo, Lolayioni, Nemampuli, and other hills, while to the north, it is bordered by the Kipapiyioi and Parmung’at ranges, which provide scenic views of Mt Kilimanjaro and Lake Magadi.
The conservancy, though semi-arid, has natural springs and boreholes that provide water for both livestock and wildlife. The Kukuo Singing Wells are a significant feature in the area, providing water for generations. Other sources include Enchorro Naiborr, Ilaasurr Singing Wells, and various earth dams that collect rainwater.
Although the conservancy is home to numerous species, human-wildlife conflict and poaching have reduced the populations of some species like giraffes and lions. Wild dogs, an endangered species, are found in the conservancy, but they often come into conflict with livestock owners. There is an urgent need for a predator management program to reduce these conflicts.
The conservancy is home to iconic species like wild dogs, Maasai giraffes, and leopards. Giraffe populations have dwindled over the years, but efforts are underway to reintroduce more female giraffes to the area. Cheetahs are also present, though their population has decreased due to hunting pressures.