Mugie Conservancy
At the very western edge of the Laikipia plateau, the Mugie Conservancy is a 200-sq-km private wildlife reserve. It’s crawling with heavyweight animals – almost half of the ranch is given over to the 89-sq-km Mugie Sanctuary with big cats, elephants, Grevy’s zebras and endangered Jackson’s hartebeests. Even if you are not staying overnight, you can still enter the park as a day visitor.
Mugie is 46,000 acres but 22,000 acres have been set aside to create Mugie Sanctuary. The Mugie sanctuary is home to around seventy species of mammal including lion, cheetah, leopard, buffalo, elephant, eland, and hyena.
Mugie was established by the Hahn family who has been committed to Africa’s wildlife and people for over forty years. For the last 32 years, Mugie has been managed by Claus Mortensen was born and brought up in Kenya. Mugie has preserved and increased its population of critically endangered Grevy’s zebra and Jackson’s Hartebeests. Through their preservation of the delicate ecosystem, the sanctuary has boosted populations of lion, oryx, elephant, giraffe, cape buffalo, eland, as well as over two hundred unique bird species.
Mugie Conservancy is at the forefront of conservation, operating as a low-impact cattle ranch alongside preserving the delicate and productive eco-systems that host abundant wildlife. Mugie supports cheetah and wild dog research with the Cheetah and Wild Dog The project and lion research through collaring and monitoring with Lion Landscapes. Cutting edge community grazing programs and community empowerment projects through micro-economic assistance have encouraged engagement and investment from the local community in the conservation goals of Mugie.
Sadly there are no longer any rhinos – poaching forced the ranch to move the remaining 25 rhinos in 2012 to other sites around the country.
Activities at Mugie Conservancy
Game Drives
Mutamaiyu has various 4×4 safari vehicles to offer both night and day drives. Claus Mortensen, Mugie’s manager frequently takes the game drives so guests can learn about the history of the ranch, the Rhino Sanctuary or the Laikipia Predator Project. There are also expert guides who will help to identify the wildlife and birdlife and answer questions on flora and fauna. Game drives often finish with a bush breakfast in the morning or a sundowner drink in the evening.
Bush Walks
One of the benefits of visiting a private conservancy like Muvgie is not being confined to safari vehicles. Walking is a most rewarding wildlife experience, an opportunity to decipher the stories told by animal tracks, learn the defense mechanisms used by the acacia trees, look inside a termites nest or glimpse a feeding elephant.
Visit the School
A visit to Mugie Primary School is a mutually rewarding experience. Many of our visitors have been impressed at the high standard of achievement particularly with Susannah Mortensen’s art room and singing. Many visitors have generously bought with them small gifts (pens, notebooks & pencils) which you are most welcome to do. Sweets are discouraged!
Visit to the Cultural Village
A visit to a local Pokot village is a unique opportunity to understand the way of life of this local tribe. A visit may include an opportunity to be shown around their “rondavels” – round thatched houses, hearing about their history and day-to-day life and perhaps watching a tribal dance in their traditional dress.
Painting & Sketching
Whether you are an accomplished artist or an interested novice, a day spent painting your impressions of Africa with guidance from Susannah Mortensen will make a memorable contribution to your safari. Claus’s wife Susannah was born and brought up on a neighboring ranch to Mugie and studied at the Chelsea School of Art and the Slade School of Art, London University. She is an accomplished watercolor painter specializing in landscapes, people, animals, and flowers. Susannah regularly exhibits in Nairobi and the UK.
A Day in the Ranch
Guests interested in farming are most welcome to inspect or help out with the livestock. Mugie has also been planted a substantial number of indigenous trees and has developed a 12-hectare irrigation project to provide fresh vegetables for guests and employees. Along with the re-introduction of rhino to Mugie, bloodhounds have been introduced primarily to assist in security. These working dogs are trained to track a human scent and are a great asset against poaching. Bloodhounds are friendly dogs and happy to demonstrate their tracking talents.
Mugie Conservancy is also recognized for hosting the core study area of the Laikipia Predator Project that strives to protect Africa’s largest and most majestic predatory hunters.
Laikipia is host to many tribes but principally the Pokot, Turkana, Samburu, and Il Dorobo whose people have maintained their traditional way of life. Mugie employs people from all these tribes. Laikipia District is world-renowned for its wildlife. Mugie supports and works together with the Laikipia Wildlife Forum (LWF) on various community projects, security, and ultimately the conservation for the greater area.