How I Discovered A Cause I’m Connected To — Halfway Across The World

Going on safari is one of those bucket list items that I had put so far in the future, I had hardly even given it much thought. But I woke up one morning to my boyfriend tapping my shoulder. “Do you want to go to Africa in June? I need to know by the end of the day!”

He’d been invited on a trip with friends, to a place called Sarara, in Kenya. Without thinking, I blurted out, “Of course!” Because who says no to an invitation to Kenya?

“Who says no to an invitation to Kenya?”

As the days went on, I imagined myself in khaki pants with binoculars looking at elephants and giraffes… but the adventure felt so far away from everyday life, it was hard to wrap my head around what was even in store for us.

When most people think of safari, they imagine roughly what I did: Glamping, a line of Land Cruisers idling on flatlands, an industry built on the chase to view the “big five” — lions, leopards, rhinos, elephants, and buffalo. And that version can come with some baggage. Tourism often has little regard for the Indigenous peoples, and the profits go into the pockets of foreign operators instead of supporting the land, animals, and people that call it home.

But the moment we landed at Sarara, and a friendly group of Samburu guides greeted us at the airstrip, I knew I was in for something else entirely. What I didn’t realize yet was that I had just landed in the middle of one of the most successful community-led conservation projects in the world.

“I had just landed in the middle of one of the most successful community-led conservation projects in the world.”

The word “safari” could hardly do it justice. Sarara is a community conservation project run in partnership with the Indigenous Samburu people. It’s set on 850,000 acres of wilderness in the Mathews Mountain Range in northern Kenya.

Today it’s all open, green, sprawling land, home to elephants, giraffes, and animals that are respected and protected. Of course, Sarara welcomes visitors, but it’s done mindfully, centering the native people, animals, and land.

After visiting, I can say without a doubt it’s one of the most beautiful and magical places in the world.

A camel stands in a small greenish pond surrounded by bushes, with mountains and a cloudy sky in the background. — “We believe conservation is as much about people as it is about wildlife. In a world where climate change is placing ever more pressure on Indigenous People and communities who rely on healthy landscapes to thrive, our core goals have never been more important. To protect and grow biodiversity, Sarara supports locally-led, grassroots programs to improve livelihoods and build a flourishing community.” *– Jeremy Bastard, CEO, The Sarara Foundation*

Person sitting on a rock with hiking boots, overlooking a group of elephants near a waterhole in a lush, mountainous landscape. — “We believe conservation is as much about people as it is about wildlife. In a world where climate change is placing ever more pressure on Indigenous People and communities who rely on healthy landscapes to thrive, our core goals have never been more important. To protect and grow biodiversity, Sarara supports locally-led, grassroots programs to improve livelihoods and build a flourishing community.” *– Jeremy Bastard, CEO, The Sarara Foundation*

But just a few decades ago, it didn’t look like this. According to Sarara, elephant numbers were falling as international demand for ivory grew, and poaching was a huge threat across the country. Animal populations plummeted, including a herd of 15,000 free-roaming elephants that dropped to around 400. And in turn, the ecosystem suffered, changing the texture of the landscape and making it less productive for the Samburu and their livestock.

Then in 1995, the Samburu community established the Namunyak Community Conservancy. And two years later, they partnered with a couple, Piers and Hilary Bastard, third-generation Kenyans dedicated to wildlife conservation, and opened Sarara Camp — a locally-owned tourism model. Because the conservancy is community-owned and community-governed, the money stays locally, the animals are protected, and the Samburu remain in charge of their own land. (And three decades later, that herd of 400 elephants is now over 6,000. Pretty amazing.)

“Because the conservancy is community-owned and community-governed, the money stays locally, the animals are protected, and the Samburu remain in charge of their own land.”

While I was there, I got to spend time with Jeremy and Katie, who took over Sarara in 2010 from Jeremy’s father, Piers. They’ve dedicated their lives to it, living on the land year-round with their kids, and in 2016 they co-founded Reteti Elephant Sanctuary, which rescues and releases orphaned elephant calves and is run by the Samburu community. Can you imagine having elephants, zebras, and giraffes in your backyard? That’s the norm for Jeremy and Katie’s family.

A group of six elephants, including calves, stands near a waterhole surrounded by trees and green landscape, with hills visible in the distance. — “There are very few countries in the world where the community and wildlife are living so close to each other and coexisting. If every human being on the planet came to visit places like this, they’d be much more inclined to fight to protect them.” *– Katie Rowe, Co-founder, Reteti Elephant Sanctuary, and Director of Conservation, The Sarara Foundation*

A zebra stands near a round infinity pool on a wooden deck overlooking a hilly, green landscape under a partly cloudy sky. — “There are very few countries in the world where the community and wildlife are living so close to each other and coexisting. If every human being on the planet came to visit places like this, they’d be much more inclined to fight to protect them.” *– Katie Rowe, Co-founder, Reteti Elephant Sanctuary, and Director of Conservation, The Sarara Foundation*

Then there’s the Milk to Market program. After an orphaned baby elephant was nursed back to health with the aid of goat’s milk, it inspired a business venture for the Samburu women. Now over 1200 “Milk Mamas” sell locally sourced goat milk to Reteti Elephant Sanctuary, where it feeds the orphaned calves. For many of the women, it’s the first income they’ve ever earned.

A caretaker feeds two baby elephants with large bottles at a fenced wildlife facility on a sunny day. — “Before this program, many women did not contribute to the household budget and depended on livestock sales. Today, milk provides daily income, empowering us to support our families, contribute to household decisions, and take a greater role in sustainable rangeland management.” – Lilian Leturuka-Leitemu, Milk Mama

A mural of two smiling women in traditional attire with the text “Feed an elephant, support a mama” painted on a dark green wall under a corrugated metal roof. — “Before this program, many women did not contribute to the household budget and depended on livestock sales. Today, milk provides daily income, empowering us to support our families, contribute to household decisions, and take a greater role in sustainable rangeland management.” – Lilian Leturuka-Leitemu, Milk Mama

See how all these pieces work together — equal care for animals, ecosystem, and the people? And the “community-led” part of conservation ended up being one of the most inspiring takeaways from the whole trip. Honestly, I’ve told more people about the Samburu than I have about the animals.

The Samburu have been pastoral nomads for thousands of years, herding livestock and moving with the seasons. They’re so connected to the land that they can identify seemingly every plant and its edible, medicinal, or utilitarian use. One day our guide pulled over, excited to show us a plant that turned into eye drops when you squeezed it, then one that worked like sandpaper, then one that made a delicious tea. They’re true stewards of this place. And what got me most was that they were just as moved by the animals as we were, even though they see them every day.

A person in colorful clothing stands on a rocky hilltop overlooking a vast, green landscape with distant hills under a partly cloudy sky. — “To me, community-led conservation means putting the community at the centre. They are at the centre of decision-making, leadership, problem-solving, strategic planning for the future, and implementation. It ensures that community livelihoods are supported by maximising the benefits communities receive from conservation.
What makes it a successful strategy is ownership and sustainability. When everyone leaves, including donors and conservation organisations, the community should still have the capacity, commitment, and ownership to continue conservation.” *– Dorcas Lolngojine, Head of the Milk to Market Program*

A person uses binoculars in a safari vehicle while looking at a group of giraffes standing on grassy terrain with mountains in the background. — “To me, community-led conservation means putting the community at the centre. They are at the centre of decision-making, leadership, problem-solving, strategic planning for the future, and implementation. It ensures that community livelihoods are supported by maximising the benefits communities receive from conservation.
What makes it a successful strategy is ownership and sustainability. When everyone leaves, including donors and conservation organisations, the community should still have the capacity, commitment, and ownership to continue conservation.” *– Dorcas Lolngojine, Head of the Milk to Market Program*

Beyond the remarkable success of Sarara, and the beauty I encountered while I was there, there was a stat I overheard at dinner that really inspired this piece. Animals and the environment receive only about 4% of total US charitable giving (Giving USA). And of the money that does reach animal organizations, most of it goes to household pets, cats, and dogs. So despite everyone’s well-intentioned care in the direction of wildlife, our charitable efforts don’t seem to be matching up.

We love the photos, the social media posts, the little elephant trinkets. But elephants live so far from our day-to-day lives that most of us have never really considered what supporting them looks like. Which got me thinking: What do I care about? And do my intentions match where my money actually goes?

“What do I care about? And do my intentions match where my money actually goes?”

Being that close to the wildlife cemented it for me — I really do care about wild animals and conservation, and I came home wanting to do more than post about it.

No, you don’t need to fly to Kenya for that (though I’d recommend it if you ever get the chance!). Getting to know one organization well enough to trust it, then giving to it and watching what it does with the money, is enough. You can do that from your couch. Sarara is the one I got to see in person, so it’s the one I can vouch for. And if wildlife, or elephants, are something you care about, it’s a good place to start.

I’ve adopted an elephant named Kimani, who was rescued from a well when he was only three days old and is now thriving in the care of Reteti. While I was there, I got to watch a feeding. The keepers sing, and the elephants come bounding through the gates, unmistakably joyful.

Three elephants stand behind a wooden fence at a wildlife sanctuary while two people in uniforms interact with them. Trees and a small building are in the background.

A group of elephants gather around several small waterholes in a green, hilly landscape with distant mountains in the background.

My trip to Sarara really opened my eyes and expanded my worldview. And I encourage you to consider the causes you care about, get to know an organization that lines up with your values, and visit and give to it if you feel called! That’s what community-led conservation taught me: Change doesn’t happen in isolation. It requires us to participate. And thinking about something bigger than yourself, selfishly, feels really good.

“Change doesn’t happen in isolation. It requires us to participate.”

I’ll leave you with a quote from Jeremy:

“Conservation programs cannot operate in isolation. Everything is interlinked. People need nature and vice versa. Healthy and thriving communities create the runways for land and wildlife conservation, and often healthy land results in healthy communities. Without clean air and water, and without healthy soils, we have nothing.”

Grace Abbott is a LA-based freelance Brand & Marketing Strategist and a Contributing Editor at The Good Trade. She has a degree in Graphic Design from Parsons School of Design and is the founder of How To Go Freelance — a brand dedicated to empowering creatives to monetize their skills and build personal brands. Beyond work, she’s always studying a new spiritual modality, painting her bedroom a new color, practicing Pilates, hosting friends, or going on a nature walk with her chihuahua, Donnie. Find her on Substack or Instagram.

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