#TreePlantingKenya

[annakagenya]

Celebrating Kenya’s Conservation Heroes

By Anna Kagenya, Two Star Safaris Ltd, Kenya

When we speak about safaris, the conversation often starts with wildlife. The big cats, the elephants, the drama of the hunt, the poetry of the sunrise. And yes, the animals are incredible—no doubt about it. But behind every photo you see of a lion resting under an acacia tree… there’s a story. A quiet, often unseen story. One about the people who make it possible for that lion to still be there at all.

I’ve come to believe that if we truly want to celebrate Kenya’s wilderness, we must first celebrate the people working to protect it. The conservation heroes. The rangers, scientists, community elders, youth leaders, trackers, anti-poaching teams, and even the schoolteachers weaving wildlife education into classrooms in rural Kenya.

These are the ones who walk miles before sunrise. Who risk their lives. Who make impossible choices between feeding their families and protecting the forests, and somehow still choose to do the right thing.

So today, I want to tell you a little about them. Not all of them—there are too many to name—but a few glimpses that I hope stay with you.

The Ranger Who Stays

There's a man I once met at a conservancy near Laikipia. I’ll leave his name out—not for drama, but out of respect. He had been a ranger for 18 years. Said he could read footprints like most of us read text. Could tell how recently a lion passed by from the shape of the sand. Could tell if a poacher had entered just by the quietness in the air.

He hadn’t taken a real holiday in over six years. His salary? Modest. His reason? Simple.

"If I go, who protects them?"

It was as if it hadn’t even occurred to him that the responsibility wasn’t entirely his. That kind of dedication—unpaid overtime, unnoticed bravery—it’s easy to forget in the age of social media and glossy brochures.

But he’s one of many.

The Women Leading Change

Conservation in Kenya isn’t just about men in uniforms with binoculars anymore. And thank goodness for that.

Women—many from marginalized or pastoralist communities—are stepping into leadership roles in conservancies and advocacy groups across the country. I’ve met Samburu women running eco-lodges, Masai mothers organizing reforestation efforts, and young female scientists tracking elephants via GPS collars.

Their stories rarely make international headlines, but they’re revolutionizing the future of conservation here.

One example: a group of women in Taita Taveta formed a wildlife watch team after elephants repeatedly destroyed their farms. Instead of calling for the animals to be removed, they began working with rangers to create natural barriers, raise awareness, and even offer guided village visits to tourists. Now, they earn income because of the elephants—not in spite of them.

It’s hard not to be moved by that kind of resilience.

The Youth Planting Seeds

Sometimes, the heroes are just kids with a seedling.

There’s a program we support through Two Star Safaris Ltd where students in Narok County plant indigenous trees as part of their curriculum. It’s simple. One child, one tree. But the sense of ownership it creates? You can feel it.

They name their trees. Visit them on weekends. Water them even during school holidays. They talk about climate change like it’s personal—because for them, it is.

And maybe they won’t all grow up to be conservationists. But maybe they’ll all grow up knowing that their land matters. And that’s something.

Of course, these individual efforts exist within a larger movement. Kenya has long been recognized for its conservation leadership in Africa. Our community conservancy model is studied internationally. Our protected lands are vast, varied, and constantly evolving. But it’s not perfect. Challenges remain. Land pressure, political interests, climate shocks—it’s a lot to navigate.

And yet, every time I see someone lace up their boots at 4 a.m. or spend another night tracking rhino movements under a moonlit sky… I’m reminded: progress doesn’t always come in grand gestures. Sometimes it’s just the decision to keep showing up.

At Two Star Safaris Ltd, based here in Kenya, we try—quietly but consistently—to support those who show up. Whether it’s hiring guides from local communities, funding ranger equipment, or simply sharing their stories with our guests. It's never enough. But it's something.

Which brings me to one more thing we’re proud of. This year, we’ve been nominated for the 2025 Go Global Awards, hosted by the International Trade Council, to be held in London on November 18–19. It’s not just an awards ceremony. It’s a meeting of innovators, leaders, and thinkers from all corners of the world—people reshaping how businesses connect, grow, and give back.

Being part of that dialogue as a safari company from Kenya feels meaningful. Because tourism, when done right, is not just about showing people animals. It’s about giving something back—to the land, to the people, to the future.

And conservation heroes, in all their quiet courage, deserve every bit of that future.