West Gate Conservancy stretches along Ewaso Nyiro river to the west of Samburu National Reserve – hence its name. Its landscape is dominated by acacia scrubland dotted with rocky outcrops and a green ribbon of riparian plant growth along the Ewaso Nyiro. The scenery might be not exactly as charming and varied as that of the National Reserve, yet it is a perfect spot for wildlife encounters and will thrill those travellers who are looking for a more private experience of the African bush and at the same time want to get a deep insight into the lifestyle of the local Samburu people.
Measuring 400 sqkm, Westgate is a safe haven for up to 500 heads of the rare Grevy’s zebra (hence the West Gate Conservancy’s moto “We cherish to Conserve – The Grevvy zebra is our Gold”), numerous elephants, lesser kudu, Somali ostrich, Grant’s gazelle, impala, warthog and waterbuck. Being sandwiched between the Ewaso Nyiro in the south, Meibae Conservancy to the west and Kalama Conservancy, respectively Samburu National Reserve to the east, West Gate’s ecological role as an important wildlife corridor for animals moving between the river and the conservancies further to the north can’t be overestimated.
Founded only in 2004, the Conservancy has reached impressive achievements by establishing anti- poaching units which in return have boosted security and wildlife numbers, apart from creating jobs for community rangers. Another benefit achieved by the Conservancy is an advanced grazing management program, that enables the rehabilitation of degraded soils and the sustainable utilization of the land by both, higher livestock and wildlife numbers. Almost twenty women groups were trained in craft-making, product development, basic accounting and leadership skills and there is also a micro-credit program that enables the owners of the group ranch to set up alternative sources of incomes for their families. A cattle sale program has proven equally successful, earning the pastoralist families much needed cash.
Apart from the Northern Rangeland Trust, West Gate is closely partnering with Ewaso Lions, a community based organisation who works to conserve lions and other large carnivores. Although their Warrior Watch program is majorly to increase community engagement in conservation, the warriors also collect important data on wildlife presence, and assist West Gate Conservancy rangers in security operations and wildlife monitoring.

Contact
E-mail: westgate@nrt-kenya.org;