Credit: Intrepid Travel.
Travellers will soon have the opportunity to help restore one of East Africa’s most important ecosystems as part of selected Intrepid itineraries
Intrepid Travel is expanding its commitment to responsible travel in East Africa by supporting a major reforestation project in Kenya’s Mau Forest, with plans to plant 20,000 native trees over the next five years.
Working alongside the Kenya Forest Service and local conservation organisation Rhino Arc, Intrepid has secured a licence to restore 15 acres of degraded forest in the Mau Forest – the critical water catchment that feeds the Mara River and supports both the Maasai Mara National Reserve and Tanzania’s Serengeti National Park. The initiative also supports the Kenyan Government’s ambitious target of planting 15 billion trees by 2032.
From 2027, travellers on selected Intrepid East Africa itineraries will have the opportunity to visit the reforestation site, learn about the environmental significance of the forest and contribute by planting or watering native seedlings.
Intrepid has already planted more than 4,000 native seedlings and plans to plant a further 5,000 each season until it reaches its 20,000-tree target.
Samuel Karani, General Manager, East Africa, at Intrepid Travel said: “Kenya’s rich biodiversity is a vital part of the African and global ecosystem. We can enjoy all it has to offer but we also have an obligation to protect and preserve this land. Our custodianship of these 15 acres is just the beginning – we have already planted over 4 000 trees on the way to achieving our target and we hope to continue planting beyond that 20 000-tree goal.”
Rochelle Turner, Head of Impact for EMEA at Intrepid Travel said: “As a purpose-led business, we see impact KPIs as being just as important as profit-related ones. And we need to protect the resources that all travel, and life, depend on. This project is the first of 10 nature-related projects in our 2030 strategy.”
The Mau Forest project is one of the first nature-based initiatives under Intrepid’s 2030 impact strategy and complements the company’s Climate Impact Fund, which invests AUD $2 million annually into projects that reduce emissions and support nature restoration.
For more information, please visit https://www.intrepidtravel.
ABOUT INTREPID TRAVEL
Intrepid Travel has been a world leader in responsible travel for 35 years. The company’s mission is to create positive change through the joy of travel, which comes to life on more than 900 trips all designed to truly experience local culture. With its own network of country offices in 35 countries, Intrepid has unique local expertise and perspectives. Globally recognised for their commitment to transparency and ethical travel, they became B-Corp certified in 2018. Intrepid Travel is also the first tour operator with near-term science-based climate targets through the Science Based Targets Initiative, and its not-for-profit, The Intrepid Foundation, has disbursed more than $20 million to more than 160 partners. For more information, download the company’s 2025 Integrated Annual Report and follow Intrepid on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok or LinkedIn.
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