Miles for Elephants

Are you adventurous,  active, compassionate, and concerned about the challenges facing the world’s most magnificent, intelligent and emotionally complex animals?

Do you long for a real adventure,  far off–the–beaten track in one of the world’s most spectacular wilderness areas?

Would you go the extra mile  to support a cause you believe in?

If your answer to all three questions is yes, the 100 Miles for Elephants fundraising trek is for you or your group of friends.

This trek is an extraordinary expedition,  helping elephants in a unique and important way. Funds raised go to supporting local scout teams who are preventing poaching and de-escalating the human-elephant conflict that threatens elephants and local communities in this part of Kenya.

Kenya’s Laikipia ecosystem hosts one of East Africa’s largest free-ranging elephant populations.  For many years these herds were decimated by poaching, but wildlife scout programs (some of which we supported) helped to substantially reduce the number elephants killed. Despite this elephant still face problems: as the human population increases, local people need more land for grazing livestock and growing crops. This dimishes the space elephants have to roam and feed and inevitably leads to conflict.

Funds raised on the 100 Miles for Elephants trek will be used by our partner Space for Giants  to provide wages, equipment and training for vitally needed scouts on the ground and rapid response teams in Laikipia. Our aim is that humans and elephants can safely inhabit these lands.

This once–in–a–lifetime adventure is a unique opportunity to connect with local people who share your love of elephants, and to do something extraordinary and meaningful in this diverse, vibrant and captivating part of the world.

How Your Trek Will Help Save Elephants

Each participant is asked to raise a minimum of $500, with a target of $2500. Donations can be made directly to Space for Giants.

The Story of the Miles for Elephants Trek

In January 2012, Dag Goering and Maria Coffey trekked over 150 miles with camels to the Kirisia Hills. They were greeted by members of the Kirisia Community Forestry Association, who are working year round to protect the forest and elephants. Inspired by their courage and dedication, on returning home Dag and Maria embarked on a whistle–stop fundraising and media tour through BC, raising over $8000 to cover the first year’s stipends for 12 key Kirisia anti–poaching scouts. They then decided to run 100 Miles for Elephants treks, and to date team members have raised over  $200,000.