Sidai Camp works within community-owned wildlife conservancies in Laikipia. But what exactly is a conservancy?
Since Kenya’s national parks and reserves were not large enough to give wildlife and tourism the space they needed to flourish, the Kenya Wildlife Service launched the “Parks Beyond Parks” initiative in 1997. The concept was simple yet powerful: if local communities—who had coexisted with wildlife for generations—set aside portions of their land for conservation, then wildlife, visitors, and above all the landowners themselves would all benefit.
The idea seemed bold—perhaps even risky—at the time. Yet, years later, local communities embraced it and truly made it their own. Today, Kenya’s community conservancies stand as a remarkable success story and a conservation model recognized and studied worldwide.
The “win–win” approach is both simple and sophisticated: tourism not only creates jobs but also generates significant direct income through conservation fees paid by every visitor. Conservancies are managed by the communities themselves, working hand-in-hand with tourism investors—a formula that safeguards the interests of all stakeholders.
These community-led conservation initiatives showcase the powerful link between people, wildlife, and nature—a relationship sustained and strengthened through tourism.
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