Daniel Njaga

Environmental, tourism and writing consultant with over three decades of experience spanning wildlife research and management, corporate communications, commercial tourism, land-use planning and technical reports development in Kenya. Delivered 16 major consultancy assignments since 2019, serving as lead or technical author for the gazetted Amboseli and Maasai Mara Ecosystem Management Plans, the Kamuthe Community Land Use Plan (Garissa County), and the Ecoscapes Conservancy Management Plan (July 2025).

Background includes establishing Kenya Wildlife Service's first centralised black rhino information system, publishing Lake Nakuru National Park's inaugural ecological monitoring report, and directing a tour operation for 12 years while serving on KATO and KTF committees. Non-fiction writer with a published record of articles, features, and commentary on conservation, tourism, environment, health science, and public policy in Kenya's national press. Expert at navigating complex, multi-stakeholder governance involving county governments, donors, boards, and local communities.

Seeking senior advisory work in which conservation planning must withstand scrutiny from a county government, a donor, a board, and a community assembly simultaneously.

Founder and Principal Consultant at Frontline Consulting Services (FCS) Inc (2019-01 – Present)

• Established Frontline Consulting Services in 2019, successfully executing 16 specialised consultancy projects for community land groups, county governments, private conservancy operators, and conservation trusts across five counties.
• Led authorship of the Kamuthe Community Land Use Plan for Garissa County, synthesising government workshops and public participation into a formal communal spatial management framework. Facilitated community engagement workshops for more than 50 community members
• Guided the Ecoscapes conservancy management plan in Naivasha from data collection and public participation through stakeholder validation, KWS submission in February 2025, and gazettement in July 2025. Facilitated presentation and endorsement workshops for conservation and development stakeholders in Naivasha.
• Managed tourism briefs for the Maasai Mara (gazetted December 2021) and Amboseli Ecosystem Management Plans, reconciling commercial safaris with ecosystem carrying capacity. Presented tourism master plan to community and stakeholders
• Assessed tourism potential and market positioning across Saruni Basecamp Foundation's Pardamat Conservation Area, setting out separate investment models by geographic zone rather than one blanket proposition.
• Compiled the Pardamat East Management Plan covering land lease terms, conservation, tourism, livestock, and community livelihoods. Facilitated a community engagement meeting for more than 60 community members and stakeholders.
• Edited the 2025 Wildlife Conservancies Investment Prospectus and the KWCA Community Conservancies Management Handbook, and wrote the KWCA Private Sector Engagement Strategy and Action Plan.
• Evaluated Baringo's GEF Small Grants Programme portfolio, utilising landscape evidence to write a conservancy business plan.
• Drafted and publicly presented the Narok County Wildlife Conservancies Bill (2023) policy paper. The bill has successfully become law, giving a framework for support of community conservancies

Ecotourism Consultant at Friends of Karura Community Forest Association (2020-01 – 2022-12)

• Pioneered the ground-up development of the Karura Eco-tours initiative for a prominent urban forest in Nairobi, establishing visitor-handling protocols and operational standards for guided trail activities.
• Built local capacity by instructing 18 community scouts in trail safety, wildlife interpretation, customer service, and historical context to prepare them as professional guides.
• Developed comprehensive guided tour itineraries, trail maps, field reference guides, and educational literature tailored for both visitors and the scout team.
• Maintained high service delivery standards across daily operations by managing scout schedules, conducting quality audits, and implementing a guest feedback framework.
• Launched the guiding service in partnership with the association to drive local engagement and maximise visitor numbers during the initial season.
• Finalised the consultancy by providing an evaluative performance report to the Friends of Karura board, outlining operational metrics, project results, and strategies for sustainable self-sufficiency.

Corporate Affairs Manager at Gamewatchers Safaris and Porini Safari Camps (2016-08 – 2018-07)

• Authored the 2018 - 2023 Ol Kinyei Conservancy Management Plan, codifying institutional governance, security protocols for wildlife, and spatial zoning for 18,700 acres within the Mara ecosystem.
• Managed the comprehensive technical submission for the IUCN Green List, navigating the COMPASS framework to ensure full compliance with international standards for protected area excellence.
• Published a formal case study on community-led conservation revenue models on the PANORAMA platform, earning selection for presentation at the 2021 World Conservation Congress.
• Secured essential external funding through successful grant applications and CSR proposals for habitat restoration and community social welfare in Selenkay and Ol Kinyei.
• Refined commercial tourism strategies for Porini Safari Camps, ensuring that increased occupancy translated into sustainable financial returns for community land leases and conservation operations.
• Directed human resources and administrative functions for a regional network of over 250 personnel, overseeing talent acquisition, professional development, and internal corporate communications.

Director at Menengai Holidays Ltd. (2004-01 – 2014-12)

• Owned commercial strategy, international partnerships, and travel management at Menengai Holidays across a 12-year tenure, selling Kenya as a destination through a full cycle of sector downturn and recovery.
• Co-authored the visitor management strategies and policy recommendations that fed into the Maasai Mara Management Plan (2004–2007), tying commercial safari operations to long-term ecosystem objectives.
• Structured the consultation frameworks that put government agencies, tour operators, conservation bodies, and community representatives in the same room on regional tourism policy.
• Advised the Kenya Association of Tour Operators Marketing Advisory Committee (2007–2011) on destination branding across 12 international markets and helped establish promotional priorities.
• Set environmental compliance standards for tour operators nationwide through the Kenya Tourism Federation Environmental Committee, 2008–2012, including sustainability benchmarks members were measured against.
• Turned those same benchmarks into working environmental guidelines for Menengai's own fleet and tour operations, so the standards applied in-house before they were argued for industry-wide.

Guest Lecturer at Kenya Wildlife Service Training Institute (2004-01 – 2014-12)

Communications Specialist at African Population and Health Research Center (APHRC) (2002-01 – 2003-12)

Corporate Communications Officer at Kenya Wildlife Service (1998-01 – 2002-12)

Research Scientist – Lake Nakuru Station at Kenya Wildlife Service (1996-01 – 1998-12)

Research Scientist – Rhino Programme at Kenya Wildlife Service (1996-01 – 1997-12)

Research Scientist – Ecological Monitoring Unit at Kenya Wildlife Service (1993-01 – 1994-12)

Master of Philosophy in Wildlife Management – Moi University

Bachelor of Science in Zoology – University of Nairobi