A B UA LSAU D SA FA R I D E SI GN E D BY JA M ES RO BE RT S O N
K E N YA 1 9 th - 2 9 th 2 0 1 8
J U LY
I T I N E R A R Y
O V E R V I E W
T H E E M A K O K O - O L M A L O H O U S E - M A R A E X P E D I T I O N - E L S A’ S K O P J E - E M A K O K O
N A I R O B I N P - L A I K I P I A - M A S A I M A R A N A T I O N A L R E S E R V E - M E R U N A T I O N A L PA R K - N A I R O B I N P 19th July 2018: NAIROBI
On arrival you will be met and transferred to the Emakoko located on the edge of Nairobi National Park. As you arrive on Turkish Airlines you’ll be at the lodge in time for a hearty breakfast and it is here that you will meet Ollo Nicklin, your private guide. We suggest after breakfast you take a gentle game drive to look for both Black and White rhino. After lunch you could head to Langata and visit the Giraffe Centre, craft centres and �inish up at the World reknowned Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage. You’ll have just one night here.
20th - 22nd July 2018: LAIKIPIA
You will �ly by private charter north to Ol Malo which is perched on the edge of the Laikipia Plateau. We have booked the lovely Hippo House for you. There is plenty to do here and you have three nights here.
2 3 rd - 2 5 t h J u ly 2 0 1 8 : M A ASA I M A R A R E S E RV E
This morning you �ly southwest across the Rift Valley and into the Maasai Mara where you will meet up with the Saraf family. You will be met at the airstrip and your safari starts now as you game drive slowly to camp. You will be based at the beautiful Mara Expedition camp on the Djagatiek River for three nights. During your stay in the Mara you may decide to take a balloon �light or a helicopter safari over the migration.
2 6 t h & 2 7 t h J u l y 2 0 1 8 : M E R U N A T I O N A L PA R K
After breakfast we will �ly you, again by private charter, this time over the Equator and pst Mt. Kenya to Meru National Park. You will stay at Meru’s most stunning lodge - Elsa’s Kopje for two nights.
2 8 t h & 2 9 t h J u l y 2 0 1 8 : N A I R O B I & T R A V E L D AY
Today we will �ly you back to Nairobi again by private charter and you will be based again at Emakoko. There will be time to return to the elephant orphanage if you wish in the afternoon or go shopping. You’ll have your last night here before a very very early start to catch your �light on Turkish Airlines.
R E G I O N S
A B U A L S A U D S A FA R I I T I N E R A R Y This fabulous 10 day safari takes you to three of Kenya’s most wildlife-rich areas - Laikipia, the Maasai Mara and Meru National Park. On arrival you’ll have a full day near Nairobi at the Emakoko located in Nairobi National Park. You can choose to �ill the day by heading into Nairobi to visit local craft markets, the Giraffe Centre and Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage, or simply take it easy. This park is super for rhino viewing.
D AY 1
NAIROBI E M A KO KO
Lake Turkana
D AY 2 - 4
LAIKIPIA
Lake Logipi
OL MALO HOUSE D AY 5 - 7
MASAI MARA
MARA EXPEDITION D AY 8 & 9
MERU N A T I O N A L PA R K E L S A’ S K O P J E D AY 1 0
NAIROBI
T H E E M A KO KO
Lake Baringo
Ewaso Nyiro River
Samburu
Shaba
Lake Bogoria
Lake Victoria
Equator
Mt. Kenya
Lake Nakuru Masai Mara
Next day you will head north to Laikipia and Ol Malo a beautiful private ranch where you can walk and ride if you wish. The wildlife here includes some of our arid northern species like kudu and gerenuk as well as superb elephant and a good chance of leopard.
Lake Naivasha Nairobi Tana River
Lake Magadi Amboseli
Ts a v o Watamu
Mombasa
Lamu
You will then �ly to the Maasai Mara which in July hosts the wildebeest migration. This will be in full swing and you will be located right in the middle of all the action. Predators will be out in force making the most of the abundance of prey and you will also have superb elephant sightings too. You will stay at the luxurious Mara Expedition camp for three nights. You’ll have options to take a balloon safari or a chopper �light over the migration which will be absolutely breathtaking. For your last two days we take you north to Meru National Park which will be a superb contrast to the Mara but still full of wildlife.. You’ll be based at Elsa’s Kopje for two nights. On your last day you’ll return to Nairobi and base at the Emakoko again for the night before you �ly home early on the morning of 29th July. You will be privately guided throughout your safari.
K E N YA
‘ S A FA R I ’ i s t h e S w a h i l i w o r d f o r ‘ a j o u r n e y ’ a n d K e n y a e v o k e s n o s t a l g i a f o r t h e e a r l i e s t o r i g i n s
of the African safari. Romance and adventure are plentiful in the classic stories told in ‘Out of Africa’ a n d ‘ B o r n F r e e ’, i l l u s t r a t i n g K e n y a ’ s s c e n e r y, w i l d l i f e a n d p e o p l e , w h i c h h a v e e n d u r i n g a p p e a l .
Kenya is a sovereign state achieving political independence from the British in 1963. Since, anxious times have been de�ied, mainly due to its dynamic people who are amongst the most colourful in East Africa. Friendly and hospitable, the Kenyan people rely heavily on tourism.
Located on the east coast of Africa, the Equator bisects the country resulting in a tropical climate, although diverse geography provokes wide variations in temperature, rainfall and humidity. In relation to size, the assorted landscape is unparalleled and the multitude of national parks and reserves all have their own unique attractions. Marine reserves boast coral reef gardens with palm fringed beaches and turquoise oceans, while the savannah grasslands exhibit quintessential depictions of imagined Africa, harsh trackless expanses, solitary �lat - topped acacias and incredible concentrations of plains game.
Kenya remains one of the best places in Africa to see great wildlife – lions, elephants, leopards and of course the annual ‘wildebeest migration’ streaming into the Masai Mara from Tanzania. The East African Rift Valley runs through the country from top to bottom and provides stunning landscapes of giant volcanoes, hot springs and �lamingo sprinkled lakes.
Dominated by Lake Turkana, the ancient source of the Nile, the Rift Valley lakes are some of the most picturesque in Africa. The formation of the Rift created Mt Kenya, the second highest peak in Africa, some three millions years ago. “The spiritual home of safari, Kenya is where it all began. From the big cats of the Mara to the elephants of Amboseli, combined with traditional tribes, real tented camps and an unparalleled physical diversity, Kenya has it all. ”
Uganda
KENYA Lake Victoria Rwanda Burundi
Tanzania
Zanzibar
“A c o n t i n e n t i n o n e c o u n t r y ” Sandor Carter
T H E
E M A K O K O
Uniquely positioned on the edge of the Nairobi National Park, this elegant lodge is a spectacular way to start or end your safari.
The Emakoko is a family-owned and run
offers a wealth of treasures all locally
Nairobi National Park. It is located a short
Take a game drive in one of the most unique
lodge, artfully built into the side of a valley
on the Mbagathi River which borders the 45 minute ride from both airports in Nairobi city.
5 rooms are located on the same level as the
airy main dining and lounge areas and a
further 5 rooms are at the top of the lodge, perched on the cliff overlooking the valley and with the most spectacular views. All
are ensuite and beautifully furnished with
contemporary African �lair in rich chocolate browns, creamy beiges and crisp white linens.
Deep, comfortable chairs nestle
around your own stone �ireplace.
Whether you are enjoying an Emakoko
cocktail in the viewing area or simply a
coffee by the pool overlooking the river, relaxation
is
assured.
The
Emakoko
crafted in Kenya.
game parks in the world, Nairobi National Park, or visit the community that borders it.
An excursion in the environs of Nairobi to visit the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust, the giraffe centre or the local shops may be more appealing.
“The park is home
to lion, leopard & rhino, all of which range
within spitting distance of camp, while hippo
and impala are known to frequent the
l o d g e ’ s g r o u n d s .”
E L E P H A N T
O R P H A N A G E
Daphne Sheldrick was the �irst person in the entire world to successfully hand rear newborn fully
milk dependent African elephant orphans, something that spanned 28 years of trial and error to achieve. Located on the edge of Nairobi National Park, the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust is home to some 20+ baby elephants. Ranging in age from a few weeks to several years, a visit here is a must for any animal lover.
To date, the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust has successfully hand-raised over 200 infant elephants, and 17 black rhinos. It has also accomplished its long-term conservation priority by effectively reintegrating over 100 orphans back into the wild herds of Tsavo. These hand-reared elephants are fully established and living free amongst their wild peers in Tsavo, some returning with wild born young to show their erstwhile human family. The older orphans are based within Tsavo East National Park at either of 2 established rehabilitation centres for the gradual process of the re-integration, with others in early infancy are at the Trust’s Nairobi National Park Elephant and Rhino Nursery.
The Trust has trained a team of competent elephant keepers who replace the orphans’ lost elephant family until such time as
the transition to the wild herds has been accomplished, something that can take up to
10 years, since elephant calves duplicate
their human counterparts in terms of development
through
age
progression.
Those that were orphaned too young to recall
their
dependent
elephant
longer,
but
family
all
the
remain
Trust’s
orphans eventually take their rightful place amongst their wild counterparts, including those orphaned on the day they were born.
“The world’s most emotionally h u m a n l a n d m a m m a l .”
Daphne Sheldrick
PR IVAT E
CHA RT ER
F L I G H T S
A t h r i l l i n g w a y t o a p p r e c i a t e t h e d i v e r s i t y o f E a s t A f r i c a i s f r o m t h e a i r.
Flying is the perfect way to optimize your safari time, without being limited by distances and time. All our private charter �lights are operated by trusted companies that we work with all the time. Experienced pilots, passionate about Kenya – its history, geography, people and wildlife – make every effort to ensure �lights are enjoyable and part of the safari experience. The pilots we use are some of the best bush pilots in the world. The geography of this country is dominated by the Great Rift Valley, it’s lakes and volcanoes and seeing this all from above really helps to gain a greater understanding of Kenya’s varied environments. We use Cessna aircraft almost exclusively. Its proven track record as a single engine aircraft, great performance on bush strips and robust design, make Cessna aircrafts the most suitable planes for Kenya and East Africa. It is capable of taking off from nearly all bush airstrips, made possible by the large wheels, very ef�icient wing and powerful engine. Cessna Caravan (C208) - 12 pax. We use the caravan 208 the most . The caravan is the best-selling, most-�lown airplane ever, due to its proven reliability, �light characteristics and reputation as the safest
general aviation aircraft ever built.
‘Baby’ Caravan (C208) - 6 pax. Extremely comfortable, with great visibility out of the large windows. It is versatile in all weather conditions with a turbine engine. Cessna 182 (C108) - 2 pax. Single-engine light aircraft. Its high wing position allows excellent visibility and it is comfortable, reliable and versatile.
Cessna 182 (206) - 6 pax. Single-engined aircraft, popular as bush planes for its powerful, rugged construction and large cabin. Cessna (F406) - 12 pax. Twin turboprop aircraft ideal for short �lights.
Beechcraft Super King Air - 9 pax. For those looking for luxury in the air, a spacious and well appointed twin engine aircraft.
Flying between destinations is a highlight of any safari. As you �ly over the ever changing landscape and ecotones, you get an incredible birds eye view of this incredible country.
L A I K I P I A
I n t h e c e n t r a l h i g h l a n d s o f K e n y a , s t r e t c h i n g f r o m M o u n t K e n y a i n t h e e a s t t o t h e R i f t Va l l e y i n t h e w e s t is a 2.149 million acre area of semi-arid grassland and bush savannah known as the Laikipia Plateau.
This region serves as a portal to Kenya’s remote and wild, Northern Frontier and is a patchwork of cattle ranches and tribal lands that have been amalgamated under the umbrella of eco-tourism.
The Laikipia Wildlife Forum promotes this collaboration and is an incredible example of successful conservation whereby ranchers and pastoralists encourage the practical co-existance of people, livestock and wildlife. The desire to truly understand all the inhabitants of this natural environment is illustrated in the large number of research and community conservation projects within the area. Straddling the Equator at altitudes of between 5,000 and 8,000 feet, this secluded part of Africa is incredibly scenic, comprising of magni�icent escarpments which descend into open grasslands, basalt hills, lonely kopjes and riverine forest, fed by rivers sourced on the slopes of Mount Kenya. This diversity attracts considerable animal numbers and is home to the highest number of endangered species in East Africa. Half the population of black rhino, Kenya’s second largest elephant population, the fastest growing wild dog population on the
continent and the globally threatened Grevy’s zebra have all found their home in Laikipia. This is a unique and fascinating wildlife experience when adding the animals that occur solely in central and northern Kenya, such as the reticulated giraffe, Jackson’s hartebeest, gerenuk and Somali ostrich. With such an array of plains game come the predators and Laikipia is home to signi�icant numbers of lion, cheetah and the ever elusive leopard.
Lake Turkana
LAIKIPIA Lake Victoria
Mt. Kenya N.P
Masai Mara
Nairobi Amboseli N.P
Kilimanjaro N.P
Ts a v o N.P
O L
M A L O
Wildly romantic, Ol Malo is a 5,000 acre private ranch in one of the most spectacular areas of Laikipia, the Ewaso Nyiro �lowing between high rock kopjes and rugged thorn bush.
Nestled into a rock escarpment on the northern edge of the Laikipia Plateau, Ol Malo was built to face east so that every morning you are greeted with one of the most spectaular views of your life. If that is not enough, then there is also a waterhole below that attracts wildlife throughout the day.
Built from olive wood and other local materials and set among the natural curves of the rocky hillside, Ol Malo is a striking lodge offering superb views over this untamed and beautiful landscape. It features comfortable sitting and dining rooms on shady terraces, open �ire places, a stunning in�inity pool and a barbeque area, ideal for alfresco dining under the African night sky. Rooms at Ol Malo are split between the main lodge and the house (which can be taken privately for groups), they blend seamlessly into the hillside with rocky walls, thatched roofs, wooden �loors and amazing twisted and gnarled wooden furniture.
The 4 main lodge cottages feature double bedrooms, with ensuite bathrooms, large window frames as well as private verandas.
Ol Malo House comfortably accommodates up to 12 guests. The house has a large sitting and dining room with open �ireplaces surrounded by 3 ensuite double bedrooms. Adjacent cottages create 3 further bedrooms. An ancient land inhabited by wildlife and peoples of a time long ago, undisturbed and living by the rhythm of nature, there, as part of this untamed and beautiful landscape is Ol Malo – Place of the Greater Kudu.
“A t O l M a l o y o u a r e
an honoured guest at a f r i e n d l y t a b l e .”
THE
G REAT
RIFT
VAL L E Y
T h e G r e a t R i f t V a l l e y, a l a n d s c a p e i n t u r m o i l , t o r n a p a r t b y t h e t w i s t i n g a n d b u c k l i n g o f t h e E a r t h ’ s c r u s t . I t i s a l s o a l a n d s c a p e o f h u g e u n p r e d i c t a b l e c h a n g e , t h a t f o r c e s a n i m a l s d a y b y d a y, s e a s o n b y s e a s o n t o gamble with their lives, but for those that win, this is one of the most fertile landscapes on Earth. The Great Rift Valley was the name given by British explorer John Walter Gregory, to the continuous geographic trench, approximately 6,000 kilometres in length, running from northern Syria to central Mozambique in South East Africa. The East African Rift Vally has two branches – the Eastern branch which runs through Kenya and Northern Tanzania, and the Western branch through DR Congo, and Western Tanzania. The Western Rift is edged by some of the highest mountains in Africa including t h e V i r u n g a M o u n t a i n s i n Rwa n d a , a n d a l s o includes the Great Lakes. These are some of the deepest lakes in the world and all of the African Great Lakes were formed as the result of the rift.
In Kenya, the valley is at it’s most dramatic to the north of Nairobi, the ancient volcanoes of Longonot and Suswa are easy to see from the road. Most lakes in northern Kenya are shallow and poorly drained and therefore have become alkaline. Their waters are rich in blue - green algae which
David Attenborough
feed insect larvae, small crustaceans and massive �locks of �lamingos. The Kenya Lake system is also a key location on a route followed by huge numbers of birds in their annual migration from breeding grounds in the north, to wintering places in Africa. The lands around the lakes include large populations of Black rhino (Lake Nakuru), Rothschild's giraffe, Greater kudu, lion, cheetah and wild dogs. Lake Turkana
GREAT RIFT VALLEY Shaba N.P Buffalo Springs N.P Lake Victoria Masai Mara
Mt. Kenya N.P Nairobi
Amboseli N.P
Ts a v o N.P
M A S A I
M A R A
Only in the Mara does the whole spectrum of life and death, birth and growth seem to be there for you, right before your eyes. Most documentary wildlife �ilmmakers choose the Mara due to the abundance and easy access to wild animals here. Almost 450,000 acres of rolling grasslands make up the Maasai Mara and its surrounding conervancies, bordered by mountains to the north and east and the Siria escarpment to the west. The permanent meandering rivers traced by deep forest snake across the savannah. The Mara’s proximity to Lake Victoria, which creates its own weather patterns, ensures that the area receives much higher rainfall than the Serengeti ecosystem. This crucial fact enables millions of animals, including gazelle, zebra and antelope, to survive through the driest time of year. An estimated one and a half million wildebeest make the annual migration up from the southern Serengeti plains into Kenya and remain here from late June into October. You will be staying in one of the quitest parts of the Mara, a conservancy. Even during migration season you can be away from the crowds. An hour can pass in nail-biting anticipation as a cheetah conducts a painstaking stalk of her prey, only to lose her meal at the last moment when the wind changes.
Watch the peculiar quality of the light, and the shadows of the clouds on the plains, the strange optical illusions of the distant herds silhouetted along the horizon. Light and shadow, rock and grassland, predators and prey, this is quintessential Africa.
Lake Turkana
Lake Victoria
MASAI MARA
Mt. Kenya N.P
Nairobi Amboseli
Serengeti N.P Ts a v o N.P
M A R A
E X P E D I T I O N
This is a place where lions own the night and hippos stake claim to vast territories,
where we submit to the supreme power of wild Africa and take our lead from Mother Nature… Lying just inside the north-central border of the acclaimed Maasai Mara Game Reserve, Mara Expedition draws the �irst time traveller and the safari connoisseur alike. Known as “the Greatest Show on Earth”, Mara Expedition offers unrivalled access to the routes of the Great Migration, exhibiting the awe-inspiring movement of 200,000 zebra, 18,000 eland, 500,000 Thompson’s gazelle and over a million wildebeest, up close.
Resting just off the Ntiakatek River, the 5 entirely exclusive suites are caught up in the branches of a cluster of trees, each raised on wooden decking with three open sides and ensuite bathrooms complete with showers. The private verandas may display the serene sight of a herd of wildebeest grazing in the plains below, whilst the uncluttered design is complemented by red velvet throw cushions, natural wooden accents and white linen. Decadent cuisine may be savoured by candlelight in the elegant dining room after the wild appeal of a day in the bush. Providing the ultimate draw card, there is no better way to end the day than around a roaring camp�ire reliving the day’s stories with drink in hand.
The �lexible nature of Mara Expedition makes each stay unique and personal; unwind in the lavish lounge areas, visit a local Maasai village for a taste of African culture or witness the riverine forests, grasslands and rolling hills by hot air balloon.
With incomparable predator activity aided by the high density of prey during the migration period, sightings of leopard, hyena and cheetah are at their peak. Night drives offer a rare nocturnal perspective whilst day safaris offer the opportunity to view over 470 bird species, herds of elephant, buffalo and giraffe or the sight of a lion strutting right past the vehicle.
“There’s an air of yesteryear in Mara Expedition Camp’s
design, which draws stylistic reference from the old,
authentic expedition camps o f t h e c o l o n i a l e r a .”
M ERU
Of all the parks, Meru has the widest variety of landscapes and habitats – forest, swamp savannah divided by many streams and rivers all rising in the foothills of Mount Kenya a n d t h e N y a m b e n i H i l l s , e n d i n g i n t h e m i g h t y Ta n a R i v e r f o r m i n g a n a t u r a l b o u n d a r y t o t h e s o u t h . Meru, famous for its association with the
zebra,
allowing us to enjoy warm days and
famous for its birdlife, including riverine
�ilm “Born Free”, lies Northeast of Nairobi
and 11.3 kilometres north of the equator, pleasant nights.
Meru is vast with arid, open plains dotted with Doum palms and Baobab trees and
reticulated
giraffe,
Grant’s gazelle, leopard, lion, cheetah, rhino and the rare, elusive greater kudu. Meru is
and forest species as well as the arid dry country species.
lush vegetation along 13 rivers, like green ribbons, bisecting the Park.
Lake Turkana
Exploring Meru Park is very rewarding
because of the diversity of the habitat.
From thickly wooded springs and stream beds to open marshland and rocky Kopjes and of course, the great Tana river. All this in the shadow of Mount Kenya far to the
west makes photography and game viewing exciting and fun. Here we will see a more
diverse range of species than in any other park or reserve. Regular sightings include Beisa oryx, gerenuk, elephant,
Grevy’s
lesser kudu,
Buffalo Springs Lake Victoria Masai Mara
Mt. Kenya N.P
Shaba
MERU
Nairobi Amboseli N.P
Ts a v o N.P
E L S A ’ S
K O P J E
G e o r g e a n d J o y A d a m s o n n a m e d E l s a ’ s K o p j e a f t e r E l s a t h e l i o n e s s m a d e f a m o u s i n t h e � i l m ‘ B o r n F r e e ’.
Elsa was released into the wild in Meru and the Mughwango Hill is the site of George Adamson’s original camp. Unashamedly romantic and beautifully styled, Elsa’s Kopje is sculpted into Mughwango Hill, above the site of George Adamson’s camp where he raised and released orphan lions, long before conservation became fashionable. Meru lies Northeast of Nairobi and 15 kilometres north of the equator, allowing us to enjoy warm days and pleasant nights. Of all the parks, Meru has the widest variety of landscapes and habitats – forest, swamp savannah divided by many streams and rivers all rising in the foothills of Mt. Kenya and the Nyambeni Hills, ending in the mighty Tana River forming a natural boundary to the South. All of the 9 thatch cottages are crafted around the rocks, with a large bedroom, open sitting room, veranda and spacious bathroom, each with breathtaking views. Paved paths, lit by lamps at night, lead from each cottage to the comfortable open bar, lounge and dining room. There is a sense
of space, style and pure relaxation.
The
ultimate ‘pool with a view’ looks out across the plains, perfect for chilling out
after a game drive or guided walk in the bush.
At Elsa’s we have the opportunity to
experience the bush on foot and go on night game drives to �ind the elusive nocturnal animals. Other attractions breakfasts
include
bush
and sundowners and visits to
the Tharaka tribal village on the southern boundary of the Park.
"The park offers
a t h r i v i n g r h i n o s a n c t u a r y, a n d i s FA M O U S
for large elephant herds,
h i p p o , l i o n , a n d b i r d l i f e .”
O L I V E R
N I C K L I N
Born and brought up in Kenya, Oliver spent much of his childhood on the east African coast and exploring the bush. With a surfer for a father and a safari guide for an uncle,
Oliver developed a passion for water sports and a parallel love of the African wilderness.
An unconventional student with a love of physical and mental challenges, on leaving school Oliver
set up a kite-sur�ing business in Watamu with a friend. They ran the business successfully for
three years, teaching kite-sur�ing, organizing tailor-made trips for clients and guiding kite-sur�ing safaris along the coastline. During this period, he travelled extensively around East Africa - climbing
Mount Kenya, �ishing on remote lakes and camping in diverse landscapes. He also broadened his experience with trips to South East Asia, South Africa and Europe - sur�ing in Indonesia and Vietnam and travelling by train around Europe.
Three years ago, Oliver decided that it was time for a change and a challenge, and shifted his
career from the beach to the bush. He studied Business in South Africa and completed an EcoTraining course in Borana, Kenya. Since then, he has worked on several safaris, guiding for
Ker and Downey Safaris, The Luxury Safari Company and Africa Born. When Oliver is not guiding he also works as a lodge manager in Northern Kenya and the Mara working closely with the Maasai and Samburu tribes. More recently Oliver spent 3 months in Rwanda Managing Sabyinyo
Silver Back Lodge where he was able to immerse himself in the inspiring Rwandan history and learn all about the incredible Mountain Gorillas of the Volcanos National Park. Invigorated and
inspired, he is passionate about conserving Kenya’s wildlife and habitats on land and in the ocean - and about sharing that very special world with others.
Oliver is a professional, informative and entertaining guide with an infectious love of wilderness and exploration.
M A R I A
D O D D S
Maria is a third-generation Kenyan who grew up on her family ranch in Laikipia. She is an exceptional botanist and especially good with young children who all fall in love with her easy going fun loving nature.
Maria lives a diverse and dynamic life, and loves being on safari and in the bush. She has worked
in the Kenyan tourism industry for many years, having been a naturalist, hostess, manager and guide at a number of well known Kenyan tourism establishments. In more recent years Maria has
had regular work as a �irst or second guide or hostess / nanny with James Robertson, Chairman of Ker and Downey Safaris.
Being on safari enables Maria to indulge in her passion, botany, and in particular succulents. She
is well known in the succulent community in Kenya and is currently the Chairperson of the Kenya
Aloe Network. This involves much hard work in promoting sustainable use of indigenous aloes, and working to ensure their protection. Using extracts from her own extensive aloe collection she
produces soaps and lotions for boutique hotels and lodges. She also teaches rural communities and women’s groups in parts of Kenya and Ethiopia the art of soap making, and sustainable utili-
zation and protection of aloes. She has had two species named after her – Aloe doddsiorum and Angolluma doddsiae, and also recently brought Aloe tartarensis to scienti�ic recognition.
Maria is a Silver Level guide accredited by the Kenya Professional Safari Guides Association, and having spent most of her life in the bush, has become an excellent safari guide, with a broad knowledge of mammals, birds, botany and culture. She has a quick wit and an easy charm, and is
very comfortable guiding guests of all ages on safari, and she strives to make every safari a fascinating, fun and informative experience.
K E N YA
WILD LIFE
T RU ST
Fo u n d e d by a g ro u p o f Ke r & D ow n ey g u i d e s , Ke nya W i l d l i fe Tr u s t
is here to protect the country’s predators through a network of high-impact conservation initiatives In 2007, a small group of private guides decided to form a Trust, as a way to raise funds through their safaris for grassroots conservation projects around Kenya. The result of that pioneering and entrepreneurial spirit is Kenya Wildlife Trust.
Our long-term partnership with Ker & Downey re�lects the fact that the best private guides have conservation in their DNA. What we offer to both guides and visitors is a trustworthy pair of hands, focused on putting the right boots on the ground rather than into big of�ices. Remaining close to a range of safari partners, we are uniquely positioned to connect visitors from abroad to effective, grassroots conservation. Over the years, our team has developed a curated portfolio of high-impact conservation initiatives, with a strong focus on big cats. Since 2013, our two �lagship projects - the Mara Cheetah Project and Mara Lion Project - have been monitoring big cats with the long-term aim of stabilising the populations of both cheetah and lion. During your safari, you will spend time with both of our project teams at the Tony Lapham Predator Hub in the heart of the Masai Mara, learning about their focus, methods and �indings.
By raising funds through safaris, we can award grants to those projects (and people) achieving meaningful results across the three ‘pillars’ of Predator Conservation, Community Development and Conservation Education. Undertaking robust monitoring and evaluation of all our grants, we are the donor’s eyes and ears on the ground, ensuring every penny ends up where it should. Our team understands the importance of balancing scienti�ic research with community engagement, as well as the value of investing in people who live near wildlife. After all, conservation is really about people. “By donating to Kenya Wildlife Trust through their UK charity, I know and trust that my money is going straight to the cause.” Donor to The Friends of Kenya Wildlife Trust
Thanks to a sma ll number of donors who c o ver our c ore c osts, 100 % o f e v e r y d o n a t i o n g o e s d i r e ct l y t o o u r p r o g ra ms .
Moreo ver, for e ver y £1
we spend on c ore c osts, w e ra is e a t l e a s t £ 4 .
F R O M 2 0 0 7 T O 2 0 1 7 - C E L E B R AT I N G
1 0 Y E A R S O F C O N S E R VA T I O N I M PA C T.
K E R
&
D O W N E Y
“ S o m e t h i n k t h e b e s t l a r g e - s c a l e o p e r a t i o n a f t e r t h e w a r…
was the one launched over a drink or two on the veranda of the Imperial Hotel in Addis Ababa” – Bartle Bull, Safari: A Chronicle of Adventure, 1
Like so many great ventures, Ker & Downey Safaris was born from a chance encounter. Donald Ker and Syd Downey, two big game hunters from Kenya, had been �ighting with the British in Ethiopia shortly before the fall of Addis Ababa in 1941. Syd had just been released by the Italians and was celebrating at a local hotel when he bumped into Donald Ker. With one car and a lot of bravura, the pair made a plan to establish “the best safari company the world has ever known”.
and 70’s, the company continued to grow – extending its reach across southern Africa, east to the jungles of Congo, and north into the deserts of Ethiopia and Sudan. By 1977, when hunting was of�icially banned in Kenya, K&D had transformed itself into the leading provider of customised mobile photographic safaris in Africa.
In 1962, shortly before Kenya’s Independence, Ker & Downey spread its wings to Botswana, with Harry Selby and a couple of other guides offering safaris in this ‘new’, uncharted corner of Africa. Through the 60’s
“Because we’ve been doing
It was not until January 1946 that Syd and Donald, newly discharged from the army, took out their �irst safari. They were hired to run a camp in the Maasai Mara for the production of “The Macomber Affair”, the United Artists blockbuster starring Gregory Peck and Joan Bennett. It was the beginning of a long love affair with Hollywood, which would see “K&D” out�it some of the biggest �ilms ever to come out of Africa.
Today, Ker & Downey is celebrated as the longest-existing safari out�itter in the world, and the standard-bearer for unsurpassed luxury in some of its last great wild places. So successful has the “K&D” name been that it has been brazenly borrowed by a number of copycat companies in Africa and the West. Yet to this day, no one has come close to emulating the luxurious standards, the rich experiences, or the peerless guiding of “The Original Ker & Downey Safaris”.
t h i s f o r 7 0 y e a r s . . .”
TEL: +254 (0)720 911 143
EMAIL: INFO@JAMESROBERTSON.CO.KE S K Y P E : J RS A FA R I S
W W W. K E R D O W N E Y S A FA R I S . C O M