Often targeted by poachers for their meat and teeth, hippopotamus numbers have fallen drastically in recent years across Africa.

However, whilst out on patrol the Anti-Poaching rangers came across a healthy looking hippo pod which is an encouraging sign and further reason to protect their threatened habitat.

Our team have been working hard to expand the tree nursery at Amu Ranch.

In an effort to safeguard the 63,000 acres of land, which is bigger than several of Kenya’s National Parks, over 10,000 seedlings have now been planted ahead of the wet season in May.

We were pleased to welcome along the new KWS Director General Mr Kitili Mbathi to Amu Ranch recently to learn more about our conservation efforts in Lamu.

Every year, thousands travel to Lamu Old Town for the annual cultural festival to celebrate the rich Swahilli culture of the Lamu Archipelago.

As ever, our team were on hand to answer any questions about the Lamu Conservation Trust and how we are conserving indigenous cultures, wildlife and marine ecologies.

Through 'Project Amu’ we are not only protecting the Lamu Archipelago, but ensuring a future for native wildlife and habitats. The inland coastal belt is one of the most important habitats relatively uncultivated on the coast of East Africa and the need to preserve this environment is of paramount importance to the inhabitants. Thanks to the local community who are also invested in conserving this unique habitat, we are working towards making this a reality.

The Lamu Conservation Trust (LCT) with support from the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust (DSWT) is working together with the Witu Livestock Cooperative Group Ranch, which is a community ranch bordering Amu Ranch and Witu Forest. This group ranch lies within an important wildlife corridor home to an array of endangered and threatened plant and animal species.

We are saddened and shocked to report that there has been an attack on the new Milihoi Camp on Amu Ranch in Lamu. The Milihoi outpost has been operating successfully and has contributed tremendously in extending protection over Amu Ranch which is a vital wildlife habitat, yet on the evening of the 7th July 2014 the camp was calculatedly burnt down.

With the recent success of receiving the management rights from the Kenya Forest Service to protect the Witu Forest Reserve which lies within the greater Lamu conservation area adjoining Amu Ranch, the DSWT in partnership with the LCT is proud...

During January 2014 the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust’s Patron, Kristin Davis, visited Project Amu, one of the Trust’s Saving Habitats initiatives in the Lamu District on Kenya’s remote north coast.

The Lamu Conservation Trust joined the Lamu Cultural Festival in its 13th year of celebrations during a myriad of festivities spanning a long weekend over the 21st to the 24th November 2013. This annual festival held in Lamu Old Town is dedicated to celebrating the local traditions of this beautiful archipelago, whilst being timed each year to coincide with the high tides which create ideal conditions for Lamu’s famous dhow races.