An African farmer has been praised for ensuring wild animals in drought-stricken Kenya don’t go thirsty.

Pea farmer Patrick Kilonzo Mwala has detailed his visits to replenish a local waterhole that supports elephants, zebras, lions and buffalos in a series of posts to Facebook .

Mr Mwala’s efforts are a funded by donations, and he delivers an estimated 12,000 litres per visit.

His work ensures countless animals are able to get access to water where they might not have otherwise.

Mr Mwala makes the 45km trip about four times a week and at a cost of $326 per visit.

(Facebook/Patrick Kilonzo Mwala)

He said that many animals have come to rely on him, with many waiting at the waterhole for his daily delivery and some even mobbing his tank truck due to the “smell of water”.

In a post earlier this month, he described a number of “big giants…coming towards our truck with no fear, for we have precious commodity they missed [sic]”.

The ongoing drought forced the Kenyan government to declare a state of national disaster on February 10, and the nation’s Red Cross has estimated about 2.7 million residents are in need of food aid, The Africa Report said .

Severe drought conditions across the Horn of Africa have left more than 12 million people in urgent need of humanitarian assistance, ActionAid reports .

Mr Mwala also founded TSAVO Volunteers , an organisation that runs volunteering organisations within the Tsavo West National Park.