From Africa to the World: Walking Thousands of Miles to Save Giants

Jim Justus Nyamu, OGW, is the founder and Executive Director of the Elephant Neighbors Center, a non-profit organisation with a mission to protect the African Elephant and secure landscapes for elephants outside protected areas through various initiatives and multi-stakeholder partnerships. To push the conservation agenda, ENC have founded a trademarked conservation brand, 'Ivory Belongs to Elephants™', with advocacy walks as its core activity and anchored on raising general awareness locally, nationally, and internationally of the plight of African Elephants.

To date, the campaign has covered over 22,000 miles (35,000 kms) since its inception in 2013, spanning the United States, the United Kingdom, and many African countries. Most recently, between August and October 2025, Jim led a team on a 57-day campaign walk from Mombasa, Kenya through critical elephant habitats in Tanzania, Mozambique, and back through Kenya to Nairobi, holding hundreds of community meetings along the way.

The next walk is planned to take place in March 2026, from San Francisco to Los Angeles, a distance of over 400 miles (almost 700 kms).

There are now estimated to be only 400,000 elephants in the whole of Africa, with Kenya's elephant population currently standing at approximately 36,000, as classified by the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS). Whilst showing a marginally unstable increase, these numbers are at risk of declining due to persistent threats.

Despite many challenges, the mission remains unwavering: to foster harmony between communities, wildlife, and the environment.

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GLOBAL RECOGNITION

Jim’s tireless work was recently spotlighted on the world stage when he spoke at the 21st International Elephant Conservation & Research Symposium at the Fort Worth Zoo, Texas (December 5–8, 2025). This prestigious event gathered leading scientists and conservationists to address urgent threats to elephants worldwide. Jim’s presence there was a testament to the power of grassroots action and your support.

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HOW YOUR DONATION HELPS

The ENC is funded entirely by donations. Every penny counts and makes a real difference:

• £10 provides fuel, meals, and water for 1 mile for the whole team.

• Funds also cover accommodation, insurance, walking kit, communication devices, and more.

• Your support enables education programs, habitat restoration, and policy advocacy that protects elephants and empowers communities.

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WHY THESE WALKS MATTER

The rationale behind the walks is clear:

• Strengthen elephant initiatives with national wildlife agencies, local organisations, and communities.

• Create awareness of the plight of elephants and other wildlife.

• Offer solutions to mitigate human-wildlife conflict and highlight the direct benefits of wildlife to local communities.

• Protect connected ecosystems that support cross-border species conservation.

African elephants are being pushed toward extinction, slaughtered for ivory in a trade worth up to £15 billion annually. Despite bans, approximately 30,000 elephants are killed every year, and some countries have lost their elephants completely. If this continues, African elephants could disappear in our lifetime.

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MY PERSONAL STORY

I met Jim in December 2017 during the Great London to Bristol Ivory Belongs to Elephants Walk. Despite terrible winter weather, we managed to walk a few miles together before darkness fell. Meeting Jim was one of the best moments of my life — he is humble, genuine, and unstoppable in his determination to ensure elephants survive in the wild. Along with the Sheldrick family and Lek Chailert, he remains one of the few people I truly admire and is a real inspiration.

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JOIN US

Please donate whatever you can and share this campaign widely. Your generosity powers every step Jim takes and every life-changing conversation he has along the way.

Together, we can secure a future where elephants roam free.

Thank-you for your support!

Susan :-)

(Please be aware that you are donating in GBP, so check the current exchange rate first if your bank account is in a different currency.)