In October 2025, the OKOA Fund and Ker & Downey Africa joined forces to launch the Climb for Conservation campaign, raising funds for African Bush Camps Foundation’s Lion Boma Project. The project tackles one of the greatest conservation challenges of our time: human-wildlife conflict. With a simple, tried and tested intervention, the project not only protects wildlife, it safeguards the livelihoods of rural communities in Southern Africa.
The Lion Boma Project is a simple community-led solution with a powerful impact – protecting community livestock from predators, such as lions. A lion boma is a mobile enclosure for livestock made of heavy-duty canvas material, secured to poles, that prevents predators from seeing the animals inside. This simple yet effective intervention protects livestock from lions and other predators at night, preventing retaliation killings and helping people and wildlife to live side by side.
On 12th October, Ker & Downey Africa’s Sarah Morris and Julie Graham, set out on a 7-day journey to summit Mount Kilimanjaro, with the mission of raising $7,000 in 7 days to build 7 life-saving lion bomas. Through the Climb for Conservation campaign, Sarah and Julie did more than reach the top of Africa’s highest peak. They dedicated every step towards a positive impact, helping to create a future where communities and wildlife can thrive together.
Thanks to the support of the OKOA Fund, Ker & Downey Africa and more than 20 individual donors, the campaign reached its goal and $7,000 was donated to African Bush Camps Foundation to fund the construction of seven lion bomas.
African Bush Camps Foundation, with the support of local traditional leaders and community partners, compiled a list of beneficiaries. These were selected to prioritise households situated in wildlife conflict hotspots, and those whose livestock had previously experienced attacks or loss to predators.
Each beneficiary was required to cut twenty 2-metre poles as part of their contribution to the installation process. Lion Guardians, together with other community members, assisted with digging the holes and erecting the structures. The beneficiaries expressed strong appreciation for the intervention, which has significantly improved their sense of security and protection.
Lion Guardians are an integral part of the project, playing a pivotal role in liaising with community members before, during, and after implementation. While the intervention has been well received and effective to date, there remains a significant need for additional lion bomas to meet community demand and further mitigate human–wildlife conflict.
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