Ol Pejeta Conservancy has announced plans for the construction of an estate that will be located next to a wildlife reserve on the outskirts of Nanyuki town. The project, dubbed Mount Kenya Wildlife Estate is part of an initiative aimed at generating income that will be geared towards the protection of endangered species within the game reserve. Ol Pejeta, a non-profit tourism and community outreach organization, kicked off the ground breaking phase on Monday, 15^th October 2012.

It will contain 100 residential housing units located on about 1000 acres of land. The Conservancy reports that house prices will start from KES 29.9 million, depending on the size and scope of the structures.

“This is a win-win situation for the Conservancy, the wildlife and the surrounding communities,” said the organisation’s Chief Executive, Richard Vigne. Speaking during the group’s initial announcement ceremony, he noted that the money from the project would be used to develop Ol Pejeta's wildlife and community development programmes.

The initiative is in line with Cap 376 of the Kenya Wildlife Conservation Act which stipulates that no man-made structures should interfere with the natural environment, much less endangered species. In light of this, one of the Conservatory’s major goal is the preservation of wildlife. Ol Pejeta is currently East Africa’s largest black rhino sanctuary.

The estate will have no internal fences, giving the local wildlife freedom to roam through the community. The housing units will be clustered around salt lick areas and waterholes in what the group describes as a predator-free zone. In turn, residents will be able to navigate through 9 Kilometers of paths around the open savanna.

Ol Pejeta is an award-winning wildlife protectorate that aims to empower local communities through outreach programmes, support endangered species and promote tourism in the region. The Conservancy recently won the Trip Advisor 2012 Certificate of Excellence. It has so far, secured breeding grounds for endangered species such as the Grevy’s Zebra, the Beisa Oryx and the Jackson’s Hartbeast.