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The Ol Lentille Trust


The Elephant Orphans’ Project is at the heart of the organisation

Located in northern Kenya’s spectacular Laikipia region, The Sanctuary at Ol Lentille is regarded as one of Kenya’s most exclusive safari lodges in the most spectacular and breath taking location. Indeed lots of people say they have some of the best views in Africa – we agree!

It is owner managed by entrepreneurs and philanthropists, John and Jill Elias. But it’s the work that Jill and John have done, with the co-operation of the local communities, to ensure the sustainability of both the people and the land with a lasting legacy that is so extraordinary.

The Ol Lentille Trust supports conservation, education, healthcare and enterprise development in an area of Laikipia North and Isiolo Districts, Kenya. The charity is based at The Sanctuary at Ol Lentille on Kijabe Group Ranch, within a Maasai community. It funds community healthcare programmes and supports local schools, through community-based conservation programmes and a leading edge model of eco-tourism and enterprise.

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Balancing the three-legged stool of Conservation, Economic Development, and Community Development is an enormous challenge. Increased wealth in pastoralist communities can lead to more livestock, and increased grazing pressure on fragile semi-arid lands. This leads to environmental degradation and the flight of wildlife. In turn, such degraded land is useless for tourism, which is one of few routes open to these communities for economic development.

Here, the community owns the fixed assets of the tourism business, as well as earning an income from it. Here, the community has designated livestock quotas, rotational grazing areas, and separate settlement areas – resulting in good wildlife populations in non-protected areas, and bigger stronger livestock able to better withstand perennial drought. Here, the community has invited, and entered into a contract with, Regenesis to manage its tourism business and it’s Conservancy for the long term. Thus, as well as investing its income in livestock, the community here is investing in education, healthcare, and animal husbandry, as well as new businesses, tourism development and conservation.

Get Involved

How will your stay help?

Most of the people who come as guests to The Sanctuary at Ol Lentille love to solve problems. They are in a part of the world beset by problems. Struggle for water, for health, for education, for habitat for wildlife. Guests typically want to come up with solutions. They help them analyse the problem and mull over possible solutions. The Trust then supports the implementation of these, often though not necessarily, backed by a guest donation. The intellectual added value of these conversations with guests is reward in itself.

A visit to The Sanctuary at Ol Lentille is indeed an opportunity for guest philanthropy, but is not in in any way expected neither by the Trust nor by the community.

The Local Community

Currently, the local economy is almost wholly reliant on livestock production and tourism. The Trust’s area of influence covers a population of over 10,000 people and almost 1000 square kilometres. The Ol Lentille Project as a whole provided employment to well over 100 people.

The Trust supports Maasai and Samburu Community Development. Ol Lentille Trust is determined, with YOUR help to make a very deep, lasting and sensitive impression in a small place which will positively impact the lives and livelihoods of a traditional but dynamic people.

How can I make a donation?

There are many more ways you can help towards our goal. We understand that your giving is important to you and we want you to do it in the way that suits you. If you would like to find out about more ways you can support The Ol Lentille Trust, please contact our Individual Giving Manager at [email protected] and find out how we can make the best of your generous contributions.

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