The greater Mara ecosystem begins in its surrounding forests. From the Mau and Loita forests to its north and east respectively, and the rapidly disappearing Nyekweri Forest to its west, these critical catchments hold water in the landscape, stabilise soils, and feed the rivers that sustain people and wildlife – ultimately supporting the Great Migration, which attracts approximately half a million tourists to Kenya and Tanzania annually.
‘The Mara is world famous, but its future depends on protecting the forests that give it life,’ said Vincent Shacks, Wilderness Group Head of Impact. ‘For us, this project is about investing in the ecological resilience of the Mara ecosystem by empowering young people and local communities to become active custodians of the landscape they depend on.’
Located near Nyekweri Forest, Enkereri Primary School recently became the ninth partner school in Wilderness Kenya’s growing CITW network, with 30 children and three Eco-Mentors already participating in the environmental education and leadership development programme.
The nursery project, developed in partnership with the Centre for Ecosystem Restoration – Kenya (CER-K) and Living Machines, will train students, teachers, and community members in indigenous tree propagation, nursery management, ecosystem restoration, and sustainable land-use practices.
Saplings grown at the nursery will contribute directly to restoration efforts in and around Nyekweri Forest, which has reportedly lost over 80% of its cover in less than a decade due to charcoal production, land subdivision, and agricultural expansion. Indigenous species, including East African greenheart, broad-leaved croton, quinine tree and wild African olive, will be cultivated for reforestation projects across the Mara landscape.
Seedlings will also support riverbank restoration along the Mara River through collaborations with the region’s large network of tourism operators, including Wilderness Mara and Governors’ Camp Collection, where guests will have opportunities to participate in conservation-focused tree planting activities.
‘Conservation cannot succeed without local communities, and young people at the centre of it,’ said Vincent. ‘What makes this project especially meaningful is that it connects restoration, education, community participation, and tourism in a tangible way. From students learning to grow indigenous trees, to guests helping strengthen riverbanks along the Mara River, it demonstrates how conservation tourism can support ecosystem health while creating a deeper connection between people and place.’
Nyekweri Forest remains one of the last forest fragments in the Mara ecosystem and is a critical water catchment feeding the Mara River. The forest also provides protected habitat for elephants dispersing beyond the Masai Mara National Reserve, Mara Triangle and adjacent conservancies, important raptor breeding sites, as well as a sanctuary for Kenya’s last remaining population of giant ground pangolins – estimated to be fewer than 30 individuals.
For Enkereri Primary School, the nursery and kitchen garden are welcome additions to their already thriving CITW Eco-Club, and will encourage students to help protect the very environment they depend on, while benefitting from increased food security through supplemented school meals.
‘We believe this project presents an unparalleled opportunity for our students to engage in practical, hands-on environmental education and to contribute meaningfully to the conservation of our precious local ecosystem,’ said Thomas Tampushi, Headmaster of Enkereri Primary School. ‘Our students and Eco-Club members are eager to take an active role in establishing and maintaining the nursery, while learning skills that will benefit both their futures and the future of this landscape.’
As Wilderness prepares to open Wilderness Mara in the Mara Triangle in June 2026, initiatives such as the Enkereri Primary School Tree Nursery and Kitchen Garden Project form part of the Group’s wider Impact strategy in the region: to ensure the long-term ecological health of the greater Mara ecosystem – not only for wildlife and tourism, but for the communities and future generations who call it home.
To access a photo gallery, including images of the MoU signing, the project site, Nyekweri Forest, and children from the Enkereri Primary School CITW Eco-Club, please click here.
