AT A GLANCE
Why go?
Kigio Wildlife Conservancy is a 3,500-acre community-owned sanctuary in Kenya's Great Rift Valley, tucked between Lake Nakuru and Lake Naivasha near Gilgil. Once a colonial cattle ranch, it was transformed in 1997 into a thriving wildlife haven now home to approximately 3,500 animals — including the endangered Rothschild's giraffe, a 200-strong buffalo herd, leopards, and over 250 bird species.↗↗
What makes Kigio special is its combination of intimate, uncrowded safari experiences with a genuine conservation story. Guests can walk, cycle, fish, and game-drive through diverse habitats that sweep from riverine woodland along the Malewa River to open grass plains fringed with euphorbia trees, all while knowing their visit directly funds the local community that owns and manages the land.↗↗
A Community Conservation Success Story
Kigio's story is one of Kenya's most heartening conservation transformations. The land was originally a cattle ranch owned by colonial-era settlers. When the ranch was sold to the local community — from whom the conservancy takes its name — residents made the bold decision to phase out livestock and restore the land to wildlife. With the guidance of conservationist Chris Campbell and support from organisations including the Tusk Trust, the Born Free Foundation, and the European Union's Biodiversity Conservation Programme, the former ranch was fenced and stocked with relocated animals.