Ostriches & Emus in Makueni County

Farm Activities Wildlife Conservation at Makoyo Village, Kenya

WILDLIFE & CONSERVATION

Kenya has very few emus. Makoyo Village is working to change that — one hatch at a time.

Our wildlife conservation programme breeds and protects ratites — a family of large, extraordinary, flightless birds that includes ostriches, emus, rheas, and kiwis. In the open drylands of Makueni County, where the landscape suits these remarkable animals, we are building one of Kenya’s most distinctive community-based wildlife programmes.

Our Emus

The emu is the world’s second-largest bird by height — standing up to 1.9 metres tall, capable of running at 50 kilometres per hour, and genuinely curious about people who stand still near them. They are prehistoric in appearance and surprisingly gentle in temperament
Emus are native to Australia but present in very small numbers in Kenya through conservation and private breeding programmes. At Makoyo Village, we breed them specifically because of how rare they are — and because semi-arid Makueni County’s climate and open landscape provide ideal conditions for these remarkable birds.

WILDLIFE & CONSERVATION

Kenya has very few emus. Makoyo Village is
working to changethat — one hatch at a time.

Our wildlife conservation programme breeds and protects ratites — a family of large, extraordinary, flightless birds that includes ostriches, emus, rheas, and kiwis. In the open drylands of Makueni County, where the landscape suits these remarkable animals, we are building one of Kenya’s most distinctive community-based wildlife programmes.

Our Ostriches

Africa’s own giant. The ostrich is the world’s largest bird, native to the African savannah, and entirely at home in Makueni County’s semi-arid landscape. Fast, powerful, and visually dramatic, our ostriches are a daily presence on the farm — and a constant reminder of how extraordinary the wildlife of this continent truly is.

Standing next to an emu for the first time is an experience visitors consistently describe as one of the most memorable moments of their visit.

Why Conservation Matters Here

Makoyo Village’s conservation programme is not a display. It is an active breeding and protection effort grounded in a belief that community-based conservation — where the people living alongside wildlife are its primary guardians — is the most durable form of protection.

When children from Kasikeu and visiting schools stand next to an emu for the first time, something happens. They get curious. They ask questions. They go home and tell their families. That curiosity is where conservation actually begins.

CBC School Wildlife Programme

Our wildlife programme is aligned with Kenya’s Competency Based Curriculum. Schools visiting Makoyo Village can access structured wildlife education sessions covering:

Ratite biology —

size, speed, anatomy, and adaptations to semi-arid environments

Conservation —

why emus are rare in Kenya and what community breeding programmes do

Hands-on encounter —

supervised, safe, and genuinely memorable

Biodiversity —

the relationship between land management, farming, and wildlife

Wildlife encounters with our ostriches and emus are available daily.

Included with every Bantu Harmony Homes stay.Available to day visitors with advance booking.Structured CBC sessions available for school groups.

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