Editor's Review

Celebrated Keynan conservationist Pala Kahumbu is the winner of the 2021 Rolex National Geographic Explorer of the Year award.

Celebrated Kenyan conservationist Paula Kahumbu is the winner of the 2021 Rolex National Geographic Explorer of the Year award.

The luxury watchmaker honoured Kahumbu for her efforts in wildlife protection during the National Geographic Explorers Festival which was held in June.

The celebrated wildlife activist is the CEO of Wildlife Direct, an NGO that strives to ensure wildlife is protected through education and improving the relationship between communities living near national parks and the wildlife.

Paula Kahumbu/ Princeton Alumni Weekly

She has partnered with First lady Margaret Kenyatta in her efforts to secure Kenya's elephants from poachers.

Kahumbu is a Princeton Educated PHD holder who at one point served in the Kenya Wildlife Services.

Her NGO, Wildlife Direct, runs the largest blogging site on the continent that focuses on wildlife.

Paula Kahumbu's work has been recognized both locally and internationally and was awarded the Order of the Grand Warrior(OGW) by President Uhuru Kenyatta in 2014.

She is also the receiver of numerous international awards including the National Geographic Emerging Explorer Award in 2011 and the Whitley Award in 2014.