Simon Nkoitoi is a renowned wildlife conservationist and educator in Kenya. A proud Maasai, he was born and raised in the Maasai Mara. He began his career as a schoolteacher before dedicating many years to Friends of Conservation, where he deepened his commitment to community-driven conservation. He went on to found the Koyaki Guiding School, the first safari guiding school in Kenya, aimed at empowering local youth with professional opportunities in ecotourism and conservation.

In 2015, Simon became the Chief Warden of Ol Kinyei Conservancy, where his leadership has played a key role in preserving one of the most biodiverse areas in the Mara region.

Simon Nkoitoi and Qiang Zhuo, also known as Simba, became close friends during Simon’s tenure at Ol Kinyei. They share a deep passion for wildlife conservation and a firm belief in the power of community-based conservation as the future of protecting Africa’s natural heritage.

Simba began supporting Ol Kinyei Conservancy in 2012 through a wide range of initiatives: promoting ecotourism, constructing lion-proof bomas to reduce human-wildlife conflict, donating vehicles, motorcycles, and other essential equipment to assist rangers, and supporting various community projects. Together, Simon and Simba have worked tirelessly to elevate Ol Kinyei into one of the best-managed protected areas in the world (IUCN Green List 2018).