Name

Mpala Research Centre

Legal name

Mpala Research Centre

Website

https://mpala.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1994

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Field Research Services

NAICS

Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities (54172), Environmental Consulting Services (54162), Zoos and Botanical Gardens (71213)

SIC

Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731), Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

International Development & Donor-Funded Education Programs (EDADALAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Remote Sensing & Geospatial MRV (Satellite, Aerial, LiDAR, SAR) (EUABACAF), Forest Inventory, Mapping & Monitoring (GIS/Remote Sensing/MRV) (IMAMAJAB), Climate Finance, Carbon Markets & MRV Systems (BPADALAB)

Keywords

• Field-based research
• Ecological research
• Conservation science
• Wildlife research
• Research infrastructure

Headquarters

HQ city

Nanyuki

HQ country

Kenya

HQ region

Africa

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Accommodation and Facilities: Mpala charges daily rates for accommodation including Guest Cottages ($150/night full board), Researcher Bandas ($100/night full board), Student Dormitories ($50/night full board), day visits ($50), and laboratory use ($300/day). Vehicle hire and field equipment rental are available at cost. Revenue supports operational costs, staff, and facility maintenance.
2. Donations and Charitable Contributions: Mpala accepts donations through the Mpala Wildlife Foundation, a U.S. 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization (EIN: 52-1656147). Donors can contribute to unrestricted funds, scholarships and training funds (African Graduate Scholarship, Staff Professional Development, African Students Fund), or planned giving through bequests and trusts. Corporate partnerships and matching gifts are also available.
3. Research Grants and Sponsored Programs: Mpala receives National Science Foundation grants through Princeton University for facilities improvement, including construction of long-term field genomics and stable isotope laboratories. Various research projects are funded through international foundations and institutional grants.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Mpala Research Centre is a non-profit field research institution based on 48,000 acres of Laikipia savanna in Kenya that provides research access, laboratory facilities, accommodation, field equipment, and long-term ecological datasets to scientists, universities, and conservation organizations worldwide. It sells accommodation services (Guest Cottages, Researcher Bandas, Student Dormitories), laboratory use, vehicle hire, and field equipment rental to approved researchers, while offering data access through its Data Hub and educational outreach via Mpala LIVE.

Product overview

Mpala Research Centre operates a unified platform combining field-based research infrastructure, digital tools, and educational resources across 48,000 acres of Laikipia savanna in Kenya. The core offering integrates the Researcher Portal for permit management, accommodation booking, and dataset access; the Data Hub for long-term ecological datasets; Mpala LIVE for live wildlife cameras and the Field Guide species identification tool; and a Publication Database of 850+ peer-reviewed papers. Supporting infrastructure includes four research laboratories (Molecular Genomics, Wet, Dry/Computational, and Field Equipment Centre), accommodation facilities, and teaching programs including field courses, internships, and digital curriculum resources.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Researcher Portal Secure online platform for approved researchers to apply for research permits, book accommodation and laboratories, access private long-term datasets including meteorological data, manage invoices and payments, and store project files securely.
• Data Hub Repository providing access to long-term ecological datasets across research themes including wildlife health, genetics, population dynamics, ecology, social science, habitat dynamics, climate change impacts, and landscape evolution. Includes weather data and project-specific datasets for researchers.
• Mpala LIVE Wildlife Camera Network Live camera system streaming real-time wildlife footage from Mpala conservancy, with a decade-long archive of wildlife behavior footage featuring elephants, hippos, zebras, giraffes, and birds. Supports educational outreach through MpalaLive.org.
• Publication Database Searchable database of 850+ peer-reviewed publications with advanced filtering by year, theme, author, and journal. Supports export in BibTeX, RIS, CSV, and JSON formats. Includes Science Reports and Highlight Collections.
• Research Laboratories & Field Infrastructure Four research facilities including the Molecular Genomics Lab (field-based PCR and sequencing workflows), the Wet Lab (sample preparation, analytical workflows), the Dry Lab/Computational (data processing, GIS, statistical modelling), and the Field Equipment Centre (GPS collars, acoustic recorders, camera traps, soil coring equipment, seismic sensors).
• Research Application & Permit Facilitation Service Formal application process for submitting research proposals, with Mpala facilitating NACOSTI, KWS, NMK, and county permits on behalf of researchers. Proposals include abstract, background, objectives, methods, timeline, and expected outputs.
• Accommodation and Field Visit Services Residential accommodation and visit services for researchers and students, including Guest Cottages ($150/night), Researcher Bandas ($100/night), Student Dormitories ($50/night), day visits ($50), vehicle hire ($100/day with driver), and field equipment rental at cost. All rates include full board (accommodation, three meals, wifi, common facilities). Minimum 3-night stay; 50% deposit required; institutional invoicing available; group discounts for 10+ people.
• Field Guide and Teaching Resources Comprehensive species identification resources covering 100+ mammal species, 550+ bird species, 400+ plant species, and 1,000+ invertebrate species documented at Mpala, supporting university field courses and conservation training.

Quantifiable outcome

• 850+ peer-reviewed publications produced since inception
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability5 records

Feature8 records

Partnerships

22 partnerships are on record, tiered strategic, anchor, core and support.

• Bomet UniversitystrategicStrategic or Co-development Partner · 24 June 2026Framework for collaboration in research, ecosystem management, education, and innovation including staff and student exchanges, collaborative research, internships, field visits, scholarships, research fellowships, joint short courses, data sharing, joint grant writing, and commercialization of innovations.
• United States International University-Africa (USIU-Africa)strategicStrategic or Co-development Partner · 6 June 2026Partnership supporting collaborative research in wildlife conservation, climate modelling, nature-based solutions, and climate adaptation. Includes student fieldwork, internships, specialized training in GIS, ecological monitoring, engineering, machine learning, and AI. Promotes researcher exchanges, shared facilities access, and joint community initiatives.
• Wildlife Research and Training InstituteanchorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023WRTI is a Kenyan state corporation established under the Wildlife Conservation and Management Act of 2013. As an anchor institutional partner, WRTI leads wildlife research programs and policies in Kenya while advancing training and capacity development. WRTI joined the Mpala Board and signed a five-year Framework of Collaboration in July 2026.
• Princeton UniversityanchorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 November 1994Princeton University serves as the managing partner for Mpala. Through Princeton, Mpala has received National Science Foundation grants to improve facilities and rebuild the campsite, most recently constructing a long-term field genomics and stable isotope laboratory. Princeton faculty, researchers, and students visit the property for research and learning.
• Smithsonian InstitutionanchorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1994The Smithsonian Institution is Mpala's first permanent research facility in Africa. The Smithsonian offers multiple fellowship opportunities with Mpala to promote study in biology, anthropology, geology, hydrology, social science, soil science and related areas.
• Kenya Wildlife ServiceanchorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1994Kenya Wildlife Service, Kenya's national wildlife authority, collaborates on wildlife conservation, biodiversity monitoring, and applied research. KWS scientists and veterinarians work alongside Mpala researchers on wildlife capture, collaring, animal health, ecological monitoring, and conservation management.
• National Museums of KenyaanchorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1994National Museums of Kenya (NMK), a state organization responsible for Kenya's museums, heritage sites, and scientific collections, has been a foundational partner since Mpala's establishment. NMK scientists collaborate widely in fields from biodiversity to paleontology, and Mpala researchers maintain formal affiliations with NMK.
• Laikipia Conservancies AssociationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMpala is an active member of the LCA, contributing to landscape connectivity, collaborative conservation, and strengthened collective impact across Laikipia.
• Lekiji CommunitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne of four neighboring communities with formalized engagement through the Community Engagement Committee. Mpala supports community projects in education, infrastructure, livelihoods, and access to resources.
• Il Motiok CommunitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne of four neighboring communities with formalized engagement. George Small Fund has supported students from Il Motiok since 2014. Community projects include water access and school support.
• Tiamamut CommunitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne of four neighboring communities engaged through the Community Engagement Committee. A 50,000-liter water tank supplies local schools, community centre, and surrounding households.
• Koija CommunitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne of four neighboring communities engaged through the Community Engagement Committee with monthly meetings to review community engagement plans and assess progress.
• Daraja AcademystrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership providing internships, research dissemination sessions, immersive field trips, and a tailored conservation curriculum for young women. Re-established in 2025 to build pathways for environmental leadership.
• Veterinarians InternationalsupportStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupported the Laikipia Rabies Vaccination Campaign contributing to rabies eradication efforts in Laikipia County.
• Laikipia County GovernmentcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCounty government collaborates on rabies vaccination campaigns, mobile health clinics, and infrastructure projects including the Lekiji Borehole launched by the Governor.
• Nature KenyasupportStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartners with the Buffelgrass Project providing scientific basis for biological control of invasive grass species.
• Max Planck Institute of Animal BehaviorcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartners on Vulturine Guineafowl Project and Mpala Baboon Research Project. Supports research using GPS tracking, accelerometry, and drone-based habitat mapping.
• University of ZurichcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartners on the Vulturine Guineafowl Project and hosts postdoctoral fellows conducting research at Mpala.
• San Diego Zoo Wildlife AlliancestrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerLeads the Uhifadhi wa Chui Leopard Conservation Program in collaboration with Mpala and other partners.
• Explore.orgstrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerSponsors and hosts the Mpala LIVE platform, including contests for naming wildlife (e.g., baby hippo 'Amani' meaning peace).
• Australian National UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartners on the Vulturine Guineafowl Project with Principal Investigator Damien Farine.
• National Museums of KenyaanchorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartners on the Vulturine Guineafowl Project and other biodiversity research initiatives.

Scale indicators18 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Others

• Laikipia Conservancies Association: Umbrella organization of which Mpala is an active member, coordinating landscape-level conservation across the Laikipia ecosystem. Comparable as a multi-stakeholder governance structure connecting research, conservation, and community programs across the same geographic region.
• Wilson Wildlife Research Center: Adjacent field research ecosystem within the broader international wildlife research community focused on Africa; shares the model of combining academic research partnerships, long-term datasets, and conservation outcomes in African savanna contexts.

Broad incumbents

• Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute: Anchor institutional partner at Mpala since 1994 and global leader in conservation research with much broader species and geographic mandate. Operates multiple research facilities worldwide and offers fellowship pathways to Mpala; comparable in mission but vastly larger scale.
• Wildlife Conservation Society: Global conservation organization with established field programs across Africa including Kenya; operates a similar combination of field research stations, community conservation, and policy engagement. Larger and more diversified than Mpala but competes for similar institutional grants and donor funding.
• African Wildlife Foundation: Pan-African conservation organization with significantly broader geographic scope (across multiple African countries) and a wider mandate including policy advocacy, anti-poaching, and habitat conservation. Operates with a larger portfolio that overlaps with Mpala's conservation and capacity-building mission.

Direct peers

• Ol Pejeta Conservancy: Direct peer operating in the same Laikipia ecosystem with a similar multi-stakeholder conservancy model combining wildlife conservation, research, and community programs. Comparable in scale of land holdings, multi-partner governance, and active research partnerships with international institutions.
• Mpala Wildlife Foundation: The U.S. 501(c)(3) (EIN 52-1656147) that serves as the primary fundraising and donor engagement vehicle for Mpala Research Centre. Directly tied through shared mission, Board representation (Kitili Mbathi as Ex Officio), and donor stewardship of the same research enterprise.
• Lewa Wildlife Conservancy: Kenya conservancy with integrated research, education, and community programs; operates as a similar model combining wildlife conservation with field-based research and offers comparable accommodation, researcher logistics, and partnerships with international universities.
• Borana Conservancy: Adjacent Laikipia conservancy with overlapping landscape connectivity through LCA membership, similar mixed-use model of livestock, wildlife, and tourism with growing research programs. Direct neighbor with shared ecosystem dynamics and conservation challenges.

Emerging players

• San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance: Strategic partner leading the Uhifadhi wa Chui Leopard Conservation Program with Mpala; operates wildlife conservation programs with a narrower species focus but significant applied research capacity. Comparable as a zoological institution translating ex-situ expertise into in-situ field programs.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/mpala_rc
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCK_pBNbmPNcKC72yLWa394w
• Facebookfacebook.com/mpalaresearchcentre
• Instagraminstagram.com/mpalaresearchcentre
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/mpala-research-centre

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles18 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Mpala Research Centre