Sera Wildlife Conservancy is a role model for community conservation. Established in 2001, our 840,000-acre landscape in Kenya’s Samburu County is entirely owned and managed by the Samburu communities who call it home. Our mission is to protect endangered species while supporting sustainable development – ensuring that conservation delivers tangible, lasting benefits for both people and nature.Since 2015, we’ve been home to the first and only community-owned black rhino sanctuary in East Africa. From an initial reintroduction of 10 black rhinos, our population has now grown to 26, with zero poaching incidents to date. In 2024, we welcomed four white rhinos to the sanctuary and celebrated the birth of the first white rhino calf that same year.

Sera is a shared commitment. We’ve created over 100 permanent jobs for local people and trained 50 community scouts to KWS standards. Fourteen women’s groups have been empowered through BeadWorks (in partnership with MashinaniWorks), and over 90 women and young people have received training in vocational and livestock production skills. More than 2,000 education bursaries have been awarded, and we continue to invest in local infrastructure, including classrooms, boreholes, and school fencing.Our efforts also extend to the land itself: 80 hectares of degraded rangeland have been rehabilitated, and $1.3 million raised through carbon credits has been reinvested into community projects and conservancy operations. Quarterly peace dialogues and rangeland meetings help manage resources and resolve conflict, strengthening community cohesion and sustainable land use.

Sera is also home to growing populations of elephants, reticulated giraffes, Grevy’s zebras, Beisa oryx, and predators like lions and leopards. Permanent springs offer a vital source of water for both people and wildlife during the dry season. Sacred cultural landmarks, including ancient rock art and the resonant rock gong of Kisima Hamsini are powerful reminders of our long connection to this land.By investing in education, livelihoods, rangeland management, and climate resilience, we’re shaping a future where conservation and community are inseparable parts of the same story.