Location: 30 km (19 mi) Southeast of Amboseli
Open: 6am- 7pm daily
Kimana Wildlife Sanctuary, located in southern Kenya near the Tanzania border, is a vital ecological and cultural landmark in the Greater Amboseli ecosystem. Established in 1996 as Kenya’s first community-owned wildlife sanctuary, it spans approximately 5,700 acres (23 km²) and serves as a critical wildlife corridor connecting Amboseli National Park to the west with the Chyulu Hills and Tsavo West National Park to the east. Its strategic location, diverse habitats, and community-driven conservation model make it a unique and essential component of East African biodiversity preservation.
Kimana Wildlife Sanctuary was born out of a grassroots initiative in
the 1980s by the local Maasai community, who recognized the need to
protect a critical migration route for wildlife, particularly elephants,
moving between Amboseli and the Chyulu Hills. At the time, increasing
human settlement and agricultural expansion were encroaching on
traditional wildlife pathways, leading to heightened human-wildlife
conflict. The Maasai, who communally own the land, leased it to create a
protected area, formalizing the sanctuary in 1996. This pioneering model
of community-based conservation set a precedent for other conservancies
in Kenya, balancing wildlife protection with local economic benefits
through tourism and lease payments.
Since 2018, the Big Life
Foundation, in partnership with the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust, the Global
Environment Facility, and the D.N. Batten Foundation, has managed the
sanctuary. The Sheldrick Wildlife Trust covers the cost of the land
lease paid to the 844 Maasai landowners, ensuring community involvement
and financial benefits. This partnership has strengthened conservation
efforts while promoting sustainable livelihoods.
Kimana Sanctuary’s ecological importance stems from its role as a
wildlife corridor and a year-round water source in a semi-arid region.
The sanctuary lies at the heart of the Amboseli-Tsavo ecosystem, forming
a narrow “pinch point” that links Amboseli National Park with the Chyulu
Hills and Tsavo West. At its narrowest, the Kimana Corridor is just
46–70 meters wide, yet it is traversed by some of Africa’s largest
elephants, including the iconic “Super Tuskers” with tusks weighing over
100 pounds each. This corridor is critical for seasonal migrations,
allowing animals to move between protected areas while avoiding human
settlements.
The sanctuary’s springs, swamps, and streams, fed by
the Kimana River, provide perennial water in a region where seasonal
fluctuations in water availability dictate animal behavior. These
wetlands, surrounded by savannah plains, fever tree forests, and Acacia
tortilis woodlands, create a lush oasis that supports a high density of
wildlife year-round. The swamps are particularly vital during dry
seasons, attracting hundreds of animals and reducing competition for
water between wildlife and nearby human communities.
Kimana Sanctuary’s relatively small size belies its extraordinary
biodiversity, driven by its varied habitats. The sanctuary hosts a wide
range of mammals, birds, and other wildlife, making it a haven for
nature enthusiasts.
Mammals: The sanctuary is renowned for its
elephant populations, including both bull elephants and family herds.
Notable individuals like Tim, a Super Tusker who passed away in early
2024, have drawn global attention to Kimana’s conservation efforts.
Other large mammals include buffalo, giraffes, zebras (Burchell’s),
wildebeest, and antelopes such as Thompson’s and Grant’s gazelles,
impala, eland, waterbuck, and dik-diks. Predators like lions, leopards,
cheetahs, spotted hyenas, caracals, and jackals are present, though less
abundant than in larger parks. Smaller mammals, including warthogs,
baboons, vervet monkeys, bushbabies, and bat-eared foxes, are also
common. Nocturnal species like aardvarks have been recorded via camera
traps.
Birds: Kimana is a paradise for birdwatchers, with a diverse
array of species inhabiting its woodlands, wetlands, and savannahs.
Notable birds include grey-headed kingfishers, Verreaux’s eagles, and
various waterbirds that frequent the swamps. The sanctuary’s proximity
to Amboseli National Park, known for flamingos and other waterfowl,
enhances its ornithological appeal.
Reptiles and Other Fauna: The
Kimana River and wetlands support reptiles such as crocodiles, snakes,
and lizards, though specific species are less documented. The
sanctuary’s insect life and smaller flora also contribute to its
ecological richness, particularly during guided nature walks.
The
sanctuary’s biodiversity is under ongoing study, with projects like Dr.
Kioko’s 2019–2020 camera trap and night vision surveys providing
critical data on mammal diversity and nocturnal activity. These efforts
aim to establish a baseline for conservation planning in the
Amboseli-Tsavo ecosystem.
Kimana Sanctuary exemplifies community-driven
conservation, with the Maasai landowners playing a central role. The
Big Life Foundation employs 22 local rangers across five units to
monitor wildlife, prevent poaching, and mitigate human-wildlife
conflict. Key initiatives include:
Human-Wildlife Conflict
Mitigation: A 48-km human-elephant conflict-mitigation fence,
completed along the southern edge of the Kimana Corridor, protects
farmland on the slopes of Kilimanjaro while allowing wildlife
passage. An additional 60-km fence is under construction.
Elephant-proof barriers, such as electrified wires suspended across
roads, enable safe crossings for vehicles and bicycles while
deterring elephants from entering farms.
Corridor Protection: Big
Life has secured the narrowest part of the Kimana Corridor with
conservation easements, protecting it for at least 50 years. Speed
bumps along the Emali-Loitokitok Highway reduce wildlife-vehicle
collisions, and camera traps monitor species using the corridor,
including elephants, zebras, and aardvarks.
Eco-Tourism
Development: Tourism revenue supports both conservation and the
Maasai community. The sanctuary has upgraded campsite infrastructure
and partnered with lodges like Angama Amboseli, which offers
exclusive access to the sanctuary while contributing lease fees to
landowners.
Partnerships: The Sheldrick Wildlife Trust, Big Life
Foundation, and other organizations collaborate to fund ranger
operations, land leases, and habitat restoration. These partnerships
ensure the sanctuary remains a viable wildlife haven while providing
economic benefits to the community.
Kimana Sanctuary offers a serene, less-crowded
alternative to larger parks like Amboseli, with stunning views of Mount
Kilimanjaro as a backdrop. Visitors can engage in various activities:
Game Drives: Guided safaris, led by experienced local guides, allow
visitors to observe elephants, giraffes, zebras, and predators in their
natural habitat. Drives can extend to nearby Amboseli National Park for
a broader wildlife experience.
Nature Walks: Guided walks provide an
intimate look at the sanctuary’s flora, insects, and smaller wildlife,
with rangers sharing insights into Maasai culture and ecology.
Camping: The sanctuary offers private, unfenced campsites like Elerai,
equipped with long-drop toilets and bucket showers. Camping provides a
raw, immersive experience, with elephants, hyenas, and other wildlife
often audible or visible nearby.
Lodging: Options include the
luxurious Angama Amboseli Lodge, with 10 tented suites and an infinity
pool overlooking Kilimanjaro, or the self-catering Kimana House, a
four-bedroom property for up to eight guests. Nearby accommodations in
Amboseli, such as Tawi Lodge or Kibo Safari Camp, are also available.
Cultural Engagement: Visitors can learn about Maasai culture through
interactions with rangers and visits to Big Life’s headquarters to
observe conservation efforts.
Entrance fees are affordable (Ksh
1,000/USD $10 for Kenyan residents, Ksh 2,500/USD $25 for non-residents,
free for children under 10), with all income supporting conservation and
community development. The sanctuary is accessible by road from Nairobi
(200 km, ~3.5–4 hours) or by plane to Kimana Airfield.
Despite its success, Kimana Sanctuary faces significant
challenges:
Habitat Fragmentation: Over the past two decades,
land subdivision and agricultural expansion have eroded the Kimana
swamps, reducing available habitat. The corridor’s narrowest point
(46 meters) is vulnerable to further development.
Human-Wildlife
Conflict: Elephants, particularly Super Tuskers like Tim,
occasionally stray onto farmland, leading to crop damage and
retaliatory attacks. Incidents, such as Tim’s spear wounds,
highlight the ongoing tension between conservation and local
livelihoods.
Climate Change: Projected decreases in key grass
species, like Cynodon mezianus, under high-emission scenarios could
reduce grazing resources for wildlife and livestock, exacerbating
competition.
Funding and Sustainability: While tourism and
partnerships provide revenue, maintaining ranger operations, fences,
and land leases requires consistent funding. Expanding eco-tourism
without compromising the sanctuary’s tranquility is a delicate
balance.