NAIROBI, Kenya – Kenya’s nature conservation efforts have received a shot in the arm after WWF-Kenya joined Fallohide Africa and the Kenya Institute of Primate Research to launch ARGO, Africa’s first public environmental Augmented Reality (AR) game.
Created by Kenyan Extended Reality (XR) artist and game developer Joanna Oluoch, ARGO offers players a story-driven, immersive journey through forest trails, blending African folklore with conservation science to promote environmental awareness and action, especially among young people.
At the launch event held at Oloolua Forest on Friday, May 16, 2025, 77 children were in attendance and had the opportunity to test the ARGO app firsthand, exploring the forest through interactive AR experiences that brought conservation stories to life.
“Technology is a powerful tool for nature conservation, and WWF-Kenya is proud to collaborate with partners in creating innovative platforms like ARGO that inspire the youth to connect with, appreciate, and protect our natural world,” WWF-Kenya said in a statement.
Set within the forest trails of Oloolua, ARGO transforms a nature walk into an interactive digital experience. Using mobile devices, players engage with animated forest guardians Ruki, Popo, Hariri, and Lulu, the Spirit of Oloolua, as they learn about biodiversity, pollution, and restoration.
How visitors touring Olooua Forest will access the game
The game will be digitally accessible to all visitors at the Oloolua Forest, as durable augmented reality (AR) markers will be put on nature trail signages for the public to immerse themselves as they walk along the trail.
ARGO’s storytelling is grounded in the principle of “urgency without despair,” a creative approach designed to counteract public fatigue and environmental desensitisation.
Instead of overwhelming audiences with statistics and crisis language, ARGO invites players into a mythic world of guardianship and renewal, fostering empathy for nature through hopeful, locally resonant narratives. In doing so, it becomes an effective tool to shift perception, reawaken concern, and re-engage the public, particularly the youth, with conservation.
Joanna Oluoch, creator of ARGO, shared that she grew up in Oloolua Forest, and even after all these years, it still feels like her home.
“ARGO is my way of sharing the adventures I experienced there, using technology to connect young people to the forest and let them feel the wonder of nature for themselves,” Oluoch said.
Walid Kilonzi, XR producer and founder of Fallohide Africa, said that as an organisation, they believe technology can tell Africa’s stories in ways that empower and uplift.
“Through Joanna’s vision and our XR expertise, ARGO stands as a testament to how digital creativity can serve conservation, education, and environmental awareness,” Kilonzi explained.
Why young people should embrace the newly launched game
Dr. Yussuf Wato—Manager, Biodiversity, Research, and Innovation Programme—said that technology is a powerful tool for nature conservation.
According to Wato, WWF-Kenya is proud to collaborate with partners in creating innovative platforms like ARGO that inspire people, especially the youth, to connect with, appreciate, and protect our natural world.
“Through digital games that provide immersive experiences rooted in African storytelling, we can trigger people’s interest and deepen their understanding of vital ecosystems like forests and the urgent need for their restoration,” explained Wato.
ARGO was produced by Fallohide Africa and made possible through the support of Electric South, the National Film and Video Foundation (SA), the Ford Foundation, and the Kenya Institute of Primate Research.
The launch of ARGO was funded by WWF-Kenya, an organisation committed to the conservation of nature and education. The World Wide Fund for Nature-Kenya (WWF-Kenya). An independent, locally registered, non-governmental conservation organisation and an affiliate of WWF International.
