Africa’s Living Laboratory

Field-based research, teaching, and conservation across 48,000 acres of the Laikipia savanna.
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Our Impact

Advancing Solutions to the Planet's Most Consequential Challenges

For more than 30 years, Mpala has supported field-based research and teaching that advances understanding across a wide range of disciplines including climate change, biodiversity, health, coexistence, energy systems, and so much more.

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Across 48,000 acres
of Laikipia savanna.

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Researchers in 2025
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From 65 institutions across 10+ countries.
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Active Research Projects
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Spanning ecology, health,
climate, and people.

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Explore Mpala

Discover how we integrate research, education, conservation, and community development
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Research

Mpala supports researchers from around the world conducting field-based studies in disciplines ranging from ecology and wildlife biology to health, engineering, climate science, and the social sciences.

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Teaching

Mpala provides immersive learning opportunities through field courses, internships, digital curriculum resources, and hands-on research experiences for students at every level.

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Conservation

As a working conservancy, conservation is woven into everything we do. Our mandate is to steward the flora and fauna for Kenya and for the planet. Mpala also advances science-informed stewardship of wildlife, habitats, and natural resources through both research and daily operations.

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Community

Mpala recognizes that our community is our strength. Our Community Outreach Committee works closely with neighboring communities, institutions, and partners across Kenya to support collaboration, education, and shared stewardship of the landscape.

Featured Research

Explore Mpala's Flagship Projects

Mpala supports researchers from around the world conducting field-based studies in disciplines ranging from ecology and wildlife biology to health, engineering, climate science, and the social sciences.

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Savanna Ecology & Ecosystems

Kenya Long-term Exclosure Experiment

30+ years tracking how cattle, wildlife, and mega-herbivores shape savanna ecosystems through controlled exclusion plots.

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Savanna Ecology & Ecosystems

Ungulate Herbivory Under Rainfall Uncertainty

Simulating size-based mammal extinctions across a rainfall gradient to test how climate mediates herbivore impact.

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Wildlife & Biodiversity

Vulturine Guineafowl Project

Tracking 2,500+ tagged birds to understand the evolution of social groups in harsh, drying landscapes.

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Wildlife & Biodiversity

Princeton Zebra Project

Using AI and computer vision to study why plains zebras thrive while their endangered Grevy’s cousins decline.

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Wildlife & Biodiversity

Samburu-Laikipia Wild Dog Project

25 years of community partnership to recover one of Africa’s most endangered carnivores after a 2017 disease outbreak.

For Researchers & Educators

Access our comprehensive resources to support your research and teaching

Open Datasets

Access long-term ecological data from our research plot

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Publication Library

800+ peer-reviewed papers from Mpala research

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Researcher Portal

Apply for permits, book accommodation, request data

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Interested in Research or Teaching Opportunities at Mpala?