ABOUT US
Dr Piers Simpkin was born in Nairobi and has lived most of his life in Kenya. He studied environmental science at the University of London, and went on to research camels in northern Kenya, obtaining an MPhil again through the University of London in 1985, and a PhD from the University of Newcastle-upon-Tyne in UK in 1997.
His career has been based around pastoralist systems and trying to find solutions to the challenges faced keeping livestock in arid lands. His work has taken him to many countries across Africa and the Middle East with organisations such as FARM-Africa, Tufts University, ICRC, FAO and the Frontier Counties Development Council (FCDC) amongst others.
He bought his first camel in 1983, and over the years has bought others, and now owns “mlango moja”, a synonym for approximately one hundred camels.
Traditionally, it is considered inappropriate to mention actual numbers, and many people believe that such “boasting” attracts the “evil eye” and brings misfortune to the herd. A belief that seems to haunt modern herds too.
Spiers Camels and Livestock Consultants Ltd not only consists of his and his partners’ herd of happy friendly camels, but also provides consultancy services and links to other camel keepers and advisory services. Spiers can also offer immersion into the camel keeping culture, allowing people to experience hands-on camel keeping.
Piers was a founding member of the Kenya Camel Association and is currently the interim chairperson of the newly registered Camel Breeders Society of Kenya. He is also a founding member and of the global Livestock Emergency Guidelines and Standards (LEGS)and is currently on the Advisory Committee.
The Spiers team includes Dr Piers Simpkin, Prame Lesorogol and Mohamed Ullow who have all worked together for the last 40 years.
Educational videos made by the Spiers team on various aspects of camel management can be found on the following link:
https://academy.elengo.co/courses/camel-course .
A recent product made by Spiers Camels is Zanubia camel milk soap, named after an ancient queen renowned for her beauty and strength (reputedly from bathing in camel milk) are artisanal soaps made 100% from Kenyan products. The camels themselves are kept under Good Agricultural Practice as a large mixed herd comprising several generations and living a natural, healthy life free to feed on plants of their choice, many of which are known to have medicinal properties. Piers, through Spiers Camels, can also provide fresh milk on order (Spiersent06@yahoo.co.uk).
Spiers Camels also host 4-night camel safaris in the Karisia Hills of Samburu County (wilderness_camel-walks). this is an initiative to conserve the Karissia Hills ecosystem through sustainable and eco-tourism.