OUR TEAM
JFD, an old Frenchman, has fallen in love with Kenya 40 years ago, and spent a good part of his career working in Africa.
After a very painful divorce, he moved to Oletukat.
Jackson who is with JFD, director of the Company Stern Seagal which owns the ranch, had made him discover the site. They built a house as well as bungalows and tents for a boutique size tourism. The Company leased and registered a fairly large track of land from landowners related to Jackson family first, and then others, with the idea to develop a Conservancy.
CONSERVANCY
We are leasing some 450 hectares (1200 acres) for the moment, but there is much more land around which is not developed by humans, except that it is badly overgrazed and trees are cut for charcoal. After close to 4 years of conservation, we are seeing major improvements on our ranch/conservancy: grass is growing back; trees are protected, erosion, which is a major problem, is slowed down. And wildlife is coming back
WILDLIFE
One of the main objectives of the Oletukat Ranch & Conservancy is to see the wildlife come back when the land is protected and is healing itself after years of overgrazing and tree cutting (and poaching).
We notice that the wildlife is responding very quickly when it feels safe.
When we started the project in January 2021, there were perhaps 10 zebras on the leased land. Now their number is increasing regularly!
Zebras are very clever and opportunistic! They are the first ones to come, followed by impalas, buffaloes soon after. And now we see other species like cliff springers, elands, bush bucks, etc.
We have a fairly large population of greater Kudus, a very shy, large, and elegant antelope. Over the last 3 to 4 years, their population has increased on the ranch. We see young ones regularly now. But this species is sought by poachers because of the male horns and for the meat.
We also have occasional visitors, like wild dogs, lions, cheetahs, leopards, and we have not properly explored the night fauna yet, but we have seen bat eared foxes, mongooses and aardvarks.
The wildlife remains difficult to see, contrary to national parks, but we notice already that they do not mind seeing our rangers who patrol the territory every day. They probably recognize them and feel safe.
BIRDS
Our Ranch is a very nice place for bird watchers. Because of the river, and the dry land above, one finds a great variety of birds. Turacos, red and yellow barbets, kestrels, grouses, an occasional fish eagle, and many others.
OUR IMPACT
EDUCATION
Our Company is sponsoring 15 children, 8 in primary, 7 in secondary, when the need for sponsoring is much more important in Oletukat alone. We cannot afford to do more than that number but we invite people interested in the education problems to join us in our effort.
ACCESS TO WATER
The primary and secondary school of the village do not have direct access to water. A dam was built some 20 years ago on the land owned by the primary school. It was invaded by thirsty cattle, and of no use for the school.
WILDLIFE
One of the main objectives of the Oletukat Ranch & Conservancy is to see the wildlife come back when the land is protected and is healing itself after years of overgrazing and tree cutting (and poaching).