© Grevy’s Zebra Trust
El Barta was an area historically rich in biodiversity but the last few decades have seen wildlife bear the brunt of the increasing enmity between the Turkana and Samburu. A rise in illegal firearms has resulted in increased poaching, the use of wildlife for target shooting, and more wildlife being killed for food during livestock raids. Through our community workshops and schools visits in El Barta, it was realized that local children have little understanding of wildlife, as much of it has disappeared from their areas.
GZT therefore initiated an annual “Safari to Samburu”, which gives children from Samburu North, where wildlife is in low numbers and nervous, the opportunity to experience areas with diverse, abundant and habituated wildlife. The Safari is also an opportunity to build trust and friendship between the children from two different ethnic groups.
In December 2017, ten Samburu and Turkana children from two different schools, were brought to the GZT field camp in Westgate community conservancy. Here they had the opportunity to interact with children from “Lkiramat Nkujit” (the “Grass Guardians”) and the Grevy’s Zebra Scholarship girls, and were able to share knowledge and experiences, learning from each other.
Over the three days, the group learnt more about wildlife, in particular Grevy’s zebra, through presentations from the GZT team, interactive games and group discussions, and also took part in some fantastic game drives in the Buffalo Springs and Samburu National Reserves, where they were lucky enough to see a wonderful variety of wildlife, including Grevy’s zebra, elephants and even the elusive leopard! At the end of the three days, the children discussed in groups what they had learnt and what messages they would take home to their families and friends about wildlife conservation and their experiences. Their enthusiasm during the Safari was incredibly encouraging, and contagious! According to the kids, some of the highlights of the trip were seeing certain animals for the first time, touching an elephant at Reteti elephant orphanage, seeing a horse for the first time, making new friends, and sleeping in a tent for the first time!
