Loisaba is a 57,000-acre wildlife conservancy and working ranch located in Northern Laikipia, Kenya. It is populated by 50 species of animals: including four of the Big Five: elephants, leopards, water buffalo and lions. Loisaba is also part of a larger story that extends well beyond its borders. It sits on the western edge of one of Kenya’s most important elephant movement corridors.
The previous owners the Ancilotto family bought the land in the early 1970’s and managed it as a low impact cattle ranch and tourist destination. Count Ancilotto achieved this largely by leasing the land in 1997 to a group of young Kenyans and an American Investor who created the Loisaba brand and managed it as a successful conservation, tourism and ranching business until December 2014 when, supported by generous donors, The Nature Conservancy and Space for Giants facilitated the transfer of ownership of the property and operating companies to the Loisaba Community Trust. The Loisaba Community Trust, together with its partners, continues to ensure Loisaba remains a catalyst for community development, a hub for wildlife research, and a world-class ecotourism destination offering unique opportunities for guests to become part of the Loisaba story both during their visit and for years to come.
Loisaba Conservancy provides a safe haven for more than 260 species of birds and 50 species of mammals, including lions, wild dogs, reticulated giraffe, and the endangered Grevy’s zebra. It also lies within an important movement corridor for the country’s second-largest population of elephants. Giraffe populations have been in sharp decline over the past few decades, and in late 2016 the species was re-classified as a “vulnerable” on the IUCN Red List. A new research program at Loisaba Conservancy is using innovative tools to help scientists understand the threats to reticulated giraffes.