Lekurruki Group Ranch

The pool at Tassia Lodge, on Lekurruki Group Ranch.

The Laikipiak Maasai have shown tolerance for wildlife living alongside their cattle, sheep and goats. The lower regions are dry, but the prolific loimugi (neutonia hildebrandii) trees and the clean water spring from Tassia provide succulent feed and water for elephants and provide cover for small gazelles.

The higher slopes of the escarpment are densely forested, providing fodder for herds of buffalo. The largest number of elephant counted on the ranch recently was in excess of 450

They have adopted a flexible semi-nomadic lifestyle that is becoming more and more difficult to sustain, with an increased human population, the need for access to schooling and other services and the inflated economic aspirations of the people. As a result, the capacity of livestock and bee keeping to sustain the Laikipiak Maasai has reduced and as a result alternative forms of income had to be found, which preferably are not dependent on the forest. They have maintained this forest to date without burning charcoal and no logging, except that of dead cedar to build their own homes, schools etc.

Such areas in Kenya are vanishing at an astounding pace, because people are harnessing the land for commercial use in ways which cannot sustain its natural beauty; raping forests, charcoal burning, arable farming, horticulture etc. Cultures are altering as a result of materialism, since there are few profitable financial ventures that can preserve the traditional ways of life and therefore preserve their sense of identity.

It was decided by the elders of the tribe to diversify into tourism and so it was decided to establish a conservation area on a portion of the Group Ranch. The elders agreed to remove all livestock from this area and situate all community settlement on the Mokogodo escarpment, primarily on the Andanguru Plain.

This area is far better suited to the sedentary lifestyle the peoples have now adopted; rainfall is higher and more reliable, fresh water springs more plentiful and access to roads, schools and towns easier. Moreover, this land is more suited to the cultivation of small-scale maize and vegetable farming.

The staff at lekurruki's Tassia Lodge.

A view of lekurruki Group Ranch

The conservation area at the base of the escarpment envelops a much more fragile eco-system. The rainfall is much lower here and the area had been damaged by over-grazing and consequent erosion problems. Despite this, after 3 years the land is already beginning to recover and wildlife is starting to return to the area.

This conservation area needed protection so a group of security guards was enlisted and trained, funded by charitable donations. They work under the supervision of Edward Paya, an employee of Il N'gwesi (the neighbouring group ranch) to keep out illegal grazers, combat any threat of poaching and provide security to the guests of the Group Ranches. All the rangers are members of Lekurruki and Il N'gwesi Group Ranches.

A lizard at Lekurruki Group Ranch.

After much thought and consideration on the different possibilities for improving the economic status of the community it was decided that the construction of a small eco-lodge on the Group Ranch would bring with it much needed economic and employment benefits whilst having a beneficial impact on the ecology of the area.

Grant funding was secured through an English foundation, which financed the construction of Tassia Lodge . The building took over a year and many members of the community were involved in its construction and were presented with the opportunity to work with skilled craftsmen and thereby acquire new skills such as carpentry, stone masonry and plumbing.

During the construction phase the Laikipia Wildlife Forum assisted with channelling funding, with the identification of directors and the incorporation of a management company for the new project.

From the start it had been decided that all employees of the lodge were to be community members. This presented a challenge in that 90% of them had never previously been employed and only a couple had ever worked with tourists before. It was soon established, however, that several members of Lekurruki spoke adequate English and they were immediately employed on the project as guides. Their own knowledge of the bush, both its flora and fauna was already very impressive and with some additional help and training they are now well qualified to share their knowledge with their guests. Other members of the community were taught about housekeeping in the western tradition and have quickly responded to lodge maintenance, cooking western cuisines, dealing with rubbish, and looking after the swimming pool.

Tassia Lodge opened for business in June 2001 and has proved to be a popular and successful destination. The community is justifiably proud of its achievements. Generated income is carefully managed and, where possible, surplus cash is channelled directly back into the community to support education, and the health and humanitarian needs of the community.