Simon King

Simon is a conservationist and safari business owner in Tanzania devoted to preserving the lands that diminishing populations of big mammals need to survive.

His groundbreaking work with local Masai recently inspired the Government of Tanzania to set aside a new 571 sq km reserve adjacent to Tarangire National Park.

With the right protection, the reserve will give free passage to the wildlife that inhabits the wider 35,000 sq km Masai Steppe ecosystem, including the largest population of elephant in northern Tanzania — also the fastest growing population of elephant on the whole African continent.

Simon, who runs his family-owned East African Safari and Touring Company near Arusha, originally hails from Australia.

You can learn more about conservation challenges in East Africa on his blog, Saving What's Left.