WELCOME TO
BIG CAT & WILDLIFE RESEARCH
Step into a big cat volunteer experience in the Greater Maasai Mara, where lions, cheetahs, and wild dogs still roam and every data point counts. This is your chance to support big cat conservation by joining real-world wildlife conservation work, all while learning how protected areas are managed in one ofAfrica’s most dynamic regions.
You’ll split your time between two groundbreaking conservation models: Naboisho Conservancy, a wildlife-rich haven managed for eco-tourism, and Pardamat Conservation Area, a bold dual-use space where people, livestock, and wildlife coexist. Each day brings a new rhythm, shaped by big cat conservation priorities, community needs, and the realities of fieldwork.
Guided by field researchers, you'll collect essential data, support wildlife conservation strategies, and experience the magic and complexity of volunteering in Kenya’s most iconic ecosystem. It’s a full-circle big cat volunteer adventure, with purpose in every step.
Why Book This Wildlife Conservation Experience Through Lost Adventures
With over 15 years of experience in African travel and conservation - including as co-founder of the Modisa Wildlife Project in Botswana - Lost Adventures offers expert guidance, trusted support, and extended liability cover. There are no added fees, and if anything doesn’t go as planned, we’ve got your back.
Up to 14 volunteers
2 to 12 weeks
2 to 3 start dates per month (Mondays)
Minimum age: 18
Arrive at Nairobi Airport (NBO) Sunday, 06:00-22:00. Depart Monday after 21:30.
Stay first night in Nairobi (included); 6-hour transfer to Masai Mara Monday morning.
HIGHLIGHTS AT THE BIG CAT & WILDLIFE RESEARCH
Track the Icons
Contribute to big cat conservation through research on lions, cheetahs, and elephants in a groundbreaking dual-use conservancy.
Learn by Doing
Learn fieldwork techniques vital to wildlife conservation, from camera trapping to habitat restoration.
Culture Meets Conservation
Immerse yourself in the rhythms of Maasai culture while volunteering alongside local conservation leaders.
Your Wild Campus
Stay at the Wildlife Tourism College-your base for big cat volunteer training and community connection.
The Mara, Daily
Explore the legendary Greater Maasai Mara on daily game drives with a conservation lens.
Real-World Impact
Support community-powered wildlife conservation efforts in Kenya while gaining real-world field experience as a big cat volunteer.
By gathering and providing data as a volunteer, you will contribute to the Mara Predator Conservation Programme, a flagship initiative coordinated by Kenya Wildlife Trust. This program brings together communities, conservancy rangers, and tourism partners across the Greater Mara’s conservancies in an effort to help secure the future of lions, cheetahs, and wild dogs in these areas through tracking, monitoring, and understanding their behavior. Your daily game drives in Pardamat and surrounding conservancies will focus on tracking, identifying, monitoring, and recording big cats and wild dogs, providing valuable data to the program.
As a volunteer, you will conduct regular game counts along transects or within sample areas, with a focus on monitoring the distribution of wildlife across the Pardamat Conservation Area, including their movement patterns and trends over time. This critical monitoring helps conservation efforts by measuring improvements in wildlife density and movement in the conservancy. Part of your monitoring efforts will be dedicated to collecting valuable data on elephant sightings, including the location, size, and composition of elephant groups. This data is particularly important as elephants require large dispersal areas and move between the Maasai Mara National Reserve, neighboring conservancies, and community land as part of their migration route. The data you collect is reviewed regularly by the conservation area’s management team, and is also shared with researchers to ensure coordinated ecological monitoring efforts across the Greater Mara landscape. By contributing to this effort, you will help to ensure the preservation of elephant populations and other important wildlife species in the region.
At Pardamat Conservation Area, environmental challenges such as soil erosion and invasive species pose significant threats to the ecosystem. As a volunteer, you'll play an active role in conserving the area by participating in physical initiatives that aim to maintain a healthy environment for the wildlife to thrive in. These conservation efforts are carried out in collaboration with the management team of the conservation area and may include tasks such as removing invasive plant species, monitoring soil erosion, conducting grass checks, identifying game drive routes, repairing roads, collecting litter, and assisting with the construction of predator-proof bomas to keep livestock safe at night.
After your conservation experience in the Masai Mara, why not extend your stay in Kenya and explore the country's stunning coastal destinations? Kenya boasts some of the most breathtaking and exotic beaches on the continent, including Mombasa Beach, Watamu Beach, and Diani Beach. At Mombasa Beach, you can swim in the crystal-clear waters and indulge in fresh seafood from the beach shacks. Meanwhile, Watamu Beach offers incredible snorkeling and scuba diving expeditions, allowing you to explore the colorful underwater world.
Experience the African wilderness like never before by going on a safari in the Masai Mara. Your stay in the middle of the East African conservancy offers endless opportunities to explore and marvel at the wonders of nature. Enjoy movie nights under the stars, campfire nights, and bush dinners during your stay. For a touch of luxury, visit the nearby Eagle View luxury safari camp for a drink, dinner, or even an overnight stay. You can sit back and watch the resident wildlife visit the watering hole from the terrace. The world-renowned Masai Mara National Reserve is also within reach, and you could spend your free time going on safari through its wild landscapes in search of elephants, lions, rhinos, and other iconic African wildlife. You could also opt for a hot air balloon safari to witness the Mara from the sky, an unforgettable experience! Please note that these activities are optional and not included in the programme fee.
Activity Overview
dive into the details
Why we love THIS Big Cat & Wildlife research
Wildlife Research in the Greater Mara
It’s not about snapshots - it’s about long-term impact in the field. Volunteers actively support long-term conservation goals in one of Africa’s most iconic ecosystems.
Community-Powered Conservation
This project is all about connection. Conservation here is community-led, and that means real impact - for both wildlife and the people who share the land.
The Maasai Connection
What makes this special isn’t just the wildlife - it’s the people. Volunteers learn from Maasai guides, conservationists, and students who bring meaning and authenticity to every day in the field.
The Thrill of the Field
We’ll never get tired of the thrill of waking to lions calling in the distance. This experience offers a raw, real look at the work behind wildlife protection - and it sticks with you.
Make an enquiry for
Big Cat & Elephant Research
Once we receive your enquiry, we will swiftly check for availability and aim to get back to you within 2 business days. Please note that sending this enquiry does not create any obligations for you.
