On the night of 23rd February 2025, a DHL cargo flight touched down at the JKIA. Onboard, a special delivery; 17 rare mountain bongos returning home from Florida, USA. Endemic to Kenya, the mountain bongo, a majestic antelope with a bright chestnut-red colour and striking narrow white stripes, is one of Africa’s most endangered species.
The antelopes are the third-generation bongos taken from Kenya in the 1960s. In what marked a monumental moment for Kenya’s conservation efforts, this batch of bongos is now the second of several more similar repatriations expected in the near future. The first successful repatriation happened in 2004 when 18 mountain bongos were flown back and gradually reintegrated into their natural habitat.
An endangered species
While receiving these beautiful herbivores at the JKIA, Kenya’s Tourism Cabinet Secretary, Rebecca Miano, noted that the mountain bongo, a species originally found only in Kenya, had suffered untold grief over the decades, with its numbers dwindling to alarming lows.
Once abundant in Kenya’s montane (high-altitude) forests, habitat loss, poaching, and disease have pushed their numbers to near extinction. Presently, fewer than 100 individuals remain in the wild, primarily in the Aberdare, Mount Kenya, and Eburu forests. Globally, their numbers are equally low and shrinking, with data showing more bongos living in captivity than in the wild.
Kenya’s conservation efforts
Recognizing the urgency of the situation, Kenyan conservationists, in collaboration with international partners, have worked tirelessly to develop strategies to revive the species. The return of these 17 mountain bongos, born and bred in conservation facilities in the U.S., is a beacon of hope for their ultimate survival.
The journey home
The bongos were carefully transported from Florida to Kenya, undergoing months of preparation to ensure they adapted smoothly to their new environment. Upon arrival, they were introduced to the Mawingu Mountain Bongo Sanctuary, a haven established specifically for their rehabilitation and eventual rewilding.
The sanctuary is part of a broader initiative led by the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS), the Mount Kenya Wildlife Conservancy, and other stakeholders, aimed at breeding and reintroducing bongos into the wild. This project aligns with Kenya’s long-term conservation strategy, reinforcing its reputation as a champion for endangered species.
A hopeful future
With the 17 bongos now settling into their ancestral homeland, conservationists are hopeful for the species’ revival. Kenya has set an ambitious goal—to grow and rewild the mountain bongo population to 750 over the next 50 years. To achieve this, conservation teams are implementing rigorous monitoring programs, fostering natural breeding, and carefully reintroducing them into larger forested areas where they can roam freely once more.
How can you assist?
Any time you visit one of Kenya’s national parks and wildlife conservancies, you’ll be contributing directly to the care and survival of these stunning creatures.
Kendirita Tours applauds the dedication of conservationists and partners who made the return home of the rare mountain bongo a reality. Now more than ever, we are excited to take our travelers deep into the heart of the wild. We hope you’ll see the rare mountain bongo thriving—wild and free—in Kenya’s forests, where they truly belong.
Writer: Winnie Wekesa