MANDO organized a trip for five community members to learn about the integrated livestock ranching and wildlife conservation approach at Ol Pejeta Conservancy.

Cattle, zebras, elephants and other grazing wildlife enhance each other on this 90,000-acre private wildlife conservancy. Grass for grazing animals is enriched by cattle dung deposited while held overnight within mobile, predator-proof fences. Cattle also intensively graze while there which improves grass quality (if not grazed, grass gets rank and stale).

As well as learning about livestock/wildlife integration, the group heard about how this practice is compatible with tourism – indeed, is an added attraction. Other subjects included the ecological aspects of using livestock as a tool to manage rangeland, disease control, slaughtering and marketing livestock products. Since Ol Pejeta's 2000-head herd is the largest of pure Boran cattle in the world, the Maasai cattle men learned considerably about breeds and breeding.

Ol Pejeta is on the equator in Kenya's Laikipia district between Aberdares foot hills and Mount Kenya.