Location

Oltepesi Conservancy is located 21 km from Bissil town. It is also found in the southern part of Matapato Rangelands.

Route to Oltepesi Conservancy

To reach Oltepesi Conservancy, start from Bissil town and head south along the main road. Follow the road for approximately 21 kilometers, passing through scenic landscapes and local communities. The conservancy is accessible via a murram road that connects to the main centres of Maparasha and Bissil.

Introduction

Oltepesi Conservancy is a community-owned conservancy that covers an area of approximately 2911.27 acres. It was started by 56 landowners who agreed to use their parcels of land to promote conservation and ensure that their livestock get pasture in all seasons, both wet and dry. This is made possible by having a well-established land use management policy that is respected and followed by all members.

The conservancy has vast land covered by certain Acacia tree species, which derives the name of the conservancy (Oltepesi). Being a savannah grassland, it attracts wildlife such as giraffes, gazelles, and zebras, among other grazers. Different bird species are also attracted to this particular conservancy.

Oltepesi Conservancy is a flat area with no hills, making it a safe haven for small and medium-sized wildlife such as impalas, elands, zebras, wildebeests, and kudus.

Our Objectives

• Curb human-wildlife conflicts and support the affected locals by wildlife.
• Protect endangered species.
• Support the livelihoods of the community by introducing projects that will lead to employment.

Conservancy Philosophy

The locals in Oltepesi Conservancy believe that wildlife does not adversely affect livestock rearing. Wildlife and livestock can coexist without impacting each other. This understanding will drive the success of conservancy plans.

Physical Features

Vegetation

The conservancy is a mixture of savannah grassland and savannah woodland, dominated by Acacia tree species among others.

Seasonal Rivers

The conservancy has one major seasonal river, the Olkejuado River, which cuts across from north to south.

Water Sources

Most water consumed by humans comes from boreholes, along with several small earth dams that provide water for both livestock and wildlife. During the dry seasons, livestock and wildlife quench their thirst at the boreholes, which has led to human-wildlife conflict. However, the conservancy works to provide fuel for the boreholes to pump enough water for wildlife, community, and livestock.

Road and Network Coverage

The conservancy does not have a developed road network, but it is connected to the main centres of Maparasha and Bissil by murram roads. The conservancy has a good network coverage, making it reachable from all areas at any time.

Institutions in the Conservancy

Learning Institutions

The conservancy has a number of feeder schools that transition learners to the main primary schools in nearby centres.

Health Centres

The conservancy does not have any health centre. Residents depend on health centres from nearby conservancies of Osewan and Olchorro Oibor.

Climate

The conservancy is in a semi-arid area, with short rains falling between September and December and long rains between March and June. It receives annual rainfall of between 500 and 800 mm.

Scenic Features

The main attraction of the conservancy is its wildlife, which includes many species, but notably monkeys, elephants, snakes, and various birds. These animals are present in large numbers.