The Kilimanjaro Lion Conservation Project (KLCP) was established to apply the lessons learnt in Laikipia to halt the massacre of lions in an area of Maasailand between the Chyulu Hills, Tsavo and Amboseli National Parks in southern Kenya. The region is ecologically important, as it is the wet season habitat for wildlife dispersing from nearby National Parks.

The project started on Mbirikani Group Ranch in early 2004, expanding in 2008 to Eselenkei and Olgulului Group Ranches, semi-arid grassland and bush communally owned by several thousand Maasai families.

The Maasai residents of the area are pastoralists who depend on their herds of cattle, sheep and goats.

Until a few years ago lions were common here, but poisoning and spearing have taken their toll on the population.

The Maasai were once considered 'natural conservationists', living in harmony with wildlife, including the great predators that share their lands. However, Maasai have lost their tolerance to lions, and their depredations on cattle, and in this area alone about 300 lions have been illegally poisoned and speared between 2001 and 2010. Fewer than 60 adult and subadult lions remain in the 4000 square kilometer area that includes Amboseli National Park and Mbirikani, Olgulului, Eselenkei and Kimana group ranches, a density less than 10% of that which would be expected if this region were a protected area.

The Kilimanjaro Lion Conservation Project carries out similar studies to the Laikipia Predator Project, monitoring the remainder of the local lion population, and the effects of conservation interventions designed to reduce conflict between people and lions.

KLCP works closely with the Maasailand Preservation Trust and their Predator Compensation Fund (PCF) which alleviates financial losses due to predator damage, thereby reducing the incentive for predator killings.