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About Us

Driven by our vision of a healthy ecosystem where biodiversity and humanity flourish in harmony, our mission focuses on protecting Kenya’s Community-owned Wildlife Conservancies.

We achieve this through collaborative efforts, uniting donors and investors to partner with specialised implementing organisations. Together, we accelerate impact by establishing and enhancing community-owned wildlife conservancies, fostering conservation leadership opportunities, and strengthening community resilience.

History

Svein Wilhelmsen founded the Basecamp Explorer Group in 1998, a combination of responsible tourism and the foundation, designed to work hand-in-hand to protect wildlife, the environment, and the pastoral way of life.

A life-changing meeting sparked the establishment of the Basecamp Explorer Group with the late Motinka Ole Taek, who served as a Maasai Chief. Sitting around the fire one evening, Ole Taek told a worrying tale about the threats facing his people. Svein was inspired by his concern to establish a body that would care, leave a positive footprint wherever it operated, and positively impact the people it worked with.

Since its humble beginnings in 1998, Basecamp Explorer, now Saruni Basecamp – https://sarunibasecamp.com) has blossomed into a network of responsible tourist destinations across Kenya. With a steadfast focus on responsible travel, Saruni Basecamp has a clear commitment to People & Nature, working alongside its sister organization, Basecamp Explorer Foundation Kenya.

Basecamp Explorer Foundation now consists of a network – the 501(c)(3) registered Basecamp Explorer Foundation USA; Basecamp Explorer Foundation Norway  and Basecamp Explorer Foundation Kenya – the fund manager registered and operating in Kenya. We firmly believe that our strength comes through collaboration, and our ability to deliver impact comes through our joint commitment to support Kenya’s wild spaces and the people that live there.

Where We Work

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Our Implementing Partners

We work with specialised local organisations to deliver solutions and accelerate impact.

Africa Rutual
Hardwick
Critical Conversations Logo
Kicoco
Kenya Bird Of Prey Trust
Naboisho Conservancy
Nyekweri Kimintet Conservancy
Mara Elephant Trust
North Rangeland Trust
Kalama Community Wildlife Conservancy
Saruni Basecamp
The Maa Trust
Wildlife Tourism College of Maasai Mara
Pardamat Conservation Area
The Pangolin Project
Centre for Ecosystem Restoration Kenya
Maasai Mara Wildlife Conservancy Association
Mara Lemek Conservancy

Our Funding Partners

Our work is made possible by the generous support of our funding partners.

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