A Performance of a Life(time)

The Angama Amboseli team are used to seeing Big Life’s rangers on patrol in Kimana Sanctuary, moving through the landscape with purpose and keeping watch over the wildlife, livestock, and people who share this place.

One day, however, something was different. Angama Amboseli General Manager Ibrahim noticed the rangers doing something slightly out of the ordinary. Instead of the familiar foot patrols the team were used to seeing, the rangers had gathered beneath a large acacia tree near their main base at Hippo Camp, deep in discussion.

Then things became rather more lively. There was shouting, running, sudden movement, and plenty of laughter — enough to prompt the obvious question: what exactly was going on?

The rangers were taking part in a refresher training course covering several important aspects of ranger work, including first aid, safety, and evacuation procedures following serious injuries caused by wildlife or, in some cases, people. The source of all the commotion was a simulation exercise involving a ranger who had supposedly been badly wounded. The ranger chosen to play the 'victim' committed fully to the role, complete with fake blood and dramatic cries of pain, before being treated and evacuated safely by the team.

The refresher course focuses on the practical skills needed to save lives in the field — including bleeding control, treating injuries, monitoring vital signs, and safely evacuating casualties from remote areas. The training is led by in-house training instructors and conducted regularly across Big Life’s 45 ranger teams, with many lessons based on standards set by the Game Rangers’ Association of Africa. Big Life partners with LEAD Ranger, an organisation based on Rukinga Ranch in Tsavo, to facilitate these courses.

After watching the training unfold, Ibrahim felt it would be valuable for the Angama team to learn from it as well. While going about daily life at Angama Amboseli, the team regularly encounters large wildlife. Serious incidents are rare, but in places where people and wildlife share the same landscape, understanding how to respond in an emergency is an important skill.

The demonstration proved incredibly worthwhile. The Angama Amboseli team came away having learned how calm decision-making and simple first-aid responses can make a critical difference in a crisis. The session also explored how to manage worst-case scenarios involving guests, making the lessons feel both practical and relevant.

Although this was only a basic demonstration, the Angama team are eager to learn more. For a partnership already rooted in protecting Kimana Sanctuary, it became another meaningful way to share knowledge, strengthen skills, and support the people who work in this landscape every day.

Kimana Sanctuary is managed and protected by Angama Amboseli’s partner, Big Life Foundation, on behalf of its owners — 844 Maasai family members. Guests have the opportunity to meet members of the Big Life team and learn more about their work protecting wildlife, preserving habitat, reducing human-wildlife conflict, and supporting surrounding communities.

Find out more about Big Life at biglife.org