Estate receives wildlife to boost conservation

Kenya: Fresh from winning East Africa’s Best Gated Community Development 2014 Award, Mt Kenya Holiday Homes has received a herd of small game from the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) to boost the private sector’s support for wildlife conservation.

As part of the strategy aimed at promoting wildlife conservation within privately owned but highly secured conservancies, KWS has seeded a herd of gazelles and zebras at Mt Kenya Holiday Homes Naro Moru site.

Reginald Okumu, the project manager, said the seeding would further enhance the project’s appeal as an eco-friendly golf resort. Okumu added extensive reforestation efforts through the planting of indigenous trees was also going on.

 Model project

“We are excited to have won the East Africa Property Awards trophy last November and also by the gesture from KWS which is a mark of confidence on this project’s viability and wildlife conservation potential,” Okumu said, noting that they will ensure the project becomes a model eco-friendly development in the Mt Kenya region, combining environment and wildlife conservation with contemporary golfing hospitality.

The project is one of the country’s single largest golf resort facilities currently under development. The property is located in Naro Moru, near Nanyuki town, and targets the popular Mt Kenya/Laikipia tourism circuit.

The project, which broke ground last year, features 95 holiday homes, each on half an acre, and a nine-hole executive golf course.

It also features a clubhouse and other facilities for home owners and guests, including grounds for events like destination weddings, conferences and golf tournaments.The first phase of the development sold out. Phase two is over 40 per cent sold.

It is being undertaken through a build-and-transfer model to lock out speculators. The conserved forest area hosts over 100 species of birds and animals.