The Amboseli Guide School is an intensive set of wildlife courses for Maasai adults who have completed their high school education. The purpose of the Amboseli Guide School is to provide training in wildlife ecology and ecotourism, so that they may become gainfully employed as guides in local national parks and on community lands.

The Need

Livestock ownership and herding is the traditional form of livelihood for the Maasai people, and today many Maasai herd cattle and other livestock on community lands. However, climate change has led to increased periods of drought, threatening livestock health, and in turn Maasai livelihoods.

Sharing these community lands are some of the most iconic wild animals on the African continent. Giraffes, lions, zebras, elephants, and cape buffalo roam Maasai lands, which border such internationally recognized ecotourism destinations as Amboseli and Serengeti National Parks. Close proximity to wildlife may lead to human-wildlife conflict. Predator-related conflicts could further threaten livelihoods deriving from livestock.

Our Contribution

The Amboseli Guide School seeks to provide an opportunity for the Maasai to pursue an alternative or additional source of income through wildlife tourism. Trained in wildlife ecology, graduates of the Amboseli Guide School can provide tourists with wildlife facts while placing them in the ideal position for safe and ethical wildlife viewing.

Attendees of the Amboseli Guide School take courses in Maasai Culture and History, Ecology, Geology and Geography of East Africa, Zoology, Botany, Ornithology, Guiding and Leadership, Wilderness First Aid and CPR, Introduction to Ecotourism, Managing Maasai Lands for Wildlife, and Kenya History. Graduates leave with the ability to work effectively as wildlife tour guides and secure positions in local national parks and guiding outfitters.

Ecotourism brings financial support to regions rich in natural beauty like Amboseli. Providing Maasai members with the opportunity to earn livelihoods in wildlife ecotourism reduces their dependence on livestock herding and provides incentive for protecting the wild animals that share their lands.

Our Results

To date, the Amboseli Guide School graduated several Maasai students. Participants have gone on to work as wildlife guides, or moved on to higher education opportunities.

Next Steps

With the initial success of Amboseli Guide School, BCI is first interested in evaluating the impact of the training on the initial student cohort. We are determining whether graduates are working in the field of conservation tourism and how the Amboseli Guide School affected their ability to be hired. We are particularly interested in how the COVID-19 pandemic affected job prospects for graduates.

Moving forward, we are considering several options for program reinstatement and expansion, including building a permanent training facility and seeking Maasai teachers to ensure the long-term sustainability of the school.