SA M P L E
I T I N E R A RY
LUXU RY CAMP IN G SAFAR I K E N YA
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
R E G I O N S
L U X U R Y C A M P I N G S A FA R I S A M P L E I T I N E R A RY
D AY 1
This two week safari takes in �ive of Kenya’s very best wildlife areas. After one night in Nairobi on arrival at Giraffe Manor we head north to Buffalo Springs. This reserve is arid and rugged but through it �lows the Ewaso Nyrio River, the lifeblood which attracts great numbers of game from the surrounding area.
NAIROBI
GIRAFFE MANOR
D AY 2 & 3
Lake Turkana
B U F FA L O S P R I N G S K & D LUXU RY C A M P D AY 4 & 5
LAIKIPIA
LARAGAI HOUSE D AY 6 , 7 & 8
AMBOSELI
K & D LUXU RY C A M P D AY 9 & 1 0
CHYULU HILLS
O L D O N YO LO D G E D AY 1 1 , 1 2 & 1 3
MAASAI MARA
K & D LUXU RY C A M P D AY 1 4
NAIROBI
HOG HOUSE
From here we head west to Laikipia - higher and cooler. Borana Ranch is host to good numbers of game especially Black rhino. You have freedom here to walk and horseback ride amongst some of our most drammatic scenery.
Lake Logipi
Lake Baringo
Ewaso Nyiro River
Samburu
Shaba
Lake Bogoria
Lake Victoria
Equator
Mt. Kenya
Lake Nakuru Masai Mara
We then take you south into the shadows of Kilimanjaro to spend time amongst elephant herds and the Maasai tribespeople with whom we share our private concession. Then to the Chyulu Hills, a young volcanic chain again where we can enjoy walks and bicycle ride.
Lake Naivasha Nairobi Tana River
Lake Magadi Amboseli
Ts a v o Watamu
Mombasa
Lamu
Finally we head for the savannahs of the Maasai Mara, which from June - October hosts one of the greatest spectacles in the Natural World - the Wildebeest Migration. Huge numbers of predators and prey can be seen at all times of year. We will use traditional Ker & Downey luxury camping in Buffalo Springs, Amboseli and in the Mara. Camp is set up just for you and moves three times during your safari. Whilst camp moves you will stay in beautiful boutique lodges, Laragai House and Oldonyo.
I T I N E R A R Y
O V E R V I E W
N A I R O B I - B U F FA L O S P R I N G S - L A I K P I A - A M B O S E L I - C H Y U L U H I L L S - M A A S A I M A R A - N A I R O B I D AY 1 : G I R A F F E M A N O R , N A I R O B I
On arrival at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport you will be met and transferred to Giraffe Manor, Nairobi’s most famous boutique hotel. You will be here for one night.
D AY S 2 & 3 : K & D L U X U R Y C A M P, B U F FA L O S P R I N G S N R
After sharing your breakfast with Rothschild’s giraffe you will �ly by private charter north, past the Aberdare Mtns and Mt. Kenya to Buffalo Springs. You will be camping in luxury for the next two nights.
D AY S 4 & 5 : L A R A G A I H O U S E , B O R A N A R A N C H , L A I K I P I A
While camp is moved to Amboseli you will �ly across Samburu to Borana Ranch and will be staying at beautiful Laragai for two nights.
D AY S 6 - 8 : K & D L U X U R Y C A M P, A M B O S E L I
You will �ly south by private charter towards the Tanzanian border into the shadows of our continent’s highest mountain - Kilimanjaro. You will be camping again in K&D’s luxury camp set up just for you for three nights.
D AY S 9 & 1 0 : O L D O N Y O L O D G E , C H Y U L U H I L L S
Whilst this time camp is moved to the Maasai Mara, you will head to stunning Oldonyo Lodge in the Chyulu Hills for two nights.
D AY S 1 1 - 1 3 : K & D L U X U R Y C A M P, M A A S A I M A R A
After breakfast you will �ly west, across the Great Rift Valley and on into perhaps the best known area in the World for Big Game; the Maasai Mara. Here camp will be set up on the banks of the Mara River. You will be here for three nights.
D AY 1 4 : H O G H O U S E , N A I R O B I
On your last day we �ly you back to Nairobi and welcome you to our home, Hog House, set inside the Giraffe Sanctuary. Ideally located close to craft centres and shops and also a stones throw from the Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage. We will transfer you to the international airport in time for your �light home.
G I R A F F E
M A N O R
The exclusive boutique hotel, built in the 1930’s, is famous for its
magni�icent herd of resident Rothschild’s giraffes and the manor offers personal and unmatched experiences with these endangered mammals.
Giraffe Manor is beautifully located on a private 12 acre property on the outskirts of Nairobi. Amidst half a square kilometre, dry upland indigenous forest displaying Olea africana, Albizzia gummefera and Ficus thonningii trees, this is home to over 180 bird species.
Set within a lush garden and shaded by arching trees, the 2-storey stone house is characterised by parquet �looring and a sweeping staircase. The decor tells of a bygone era with its dark wood furnishings, velvet curved chairs, plush cushions and stylish art. The accommodation is comprised of 2 luxury suites, complete with double and twin rooms and a lounge area, and 8 further bedrooms each boasting a �ireplace and beautifully appointed ensuite bathroom with shower and bath. The extensive windows offer views of the Ngong Hills as well as the garden-roaming giraffes, warthog, dik dik and bushbuck. Dining is sensational. Breakfast is served in the sun room with giraffes comically poking their heads through the windows, whilst dinner is savoured either alfresco lit by
lanterns or, in the wood panelled dining room at the long table.
Activities vary from a visit to the Karen Blixen Museum, once home to the author of “Out of Africa”, to walks along the nature trail in the Giraffe Centre or, for a unique treat, watch the feeding and bathing of baby elephants at the David Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage. The highlight however of Giraffe Manor is the ability to touch, feed and photograph the giraffes from the comfort of your breakfast table, bedroom window or the front door – a remarkable opportunity.
“English grandeur
meets AFRICAN MAJESTY a t G i r a f f e M a n o r,
a picturesque and
u n f o r g e t t a b l e e x p e r i e n c e .”
B U F FA LO
SPRING S
&
S HABA
In Kenya’s Northern Frontier District , at the beginning of the dry north of Africa, lie Buffalo Springs and S h a b a N a t i o n a l R e s e r v e s . A f r i c a s h o w s a n o t h e r f a c e a b o v e t h e E q u a t o r, g r e a t s t r e t c h e s o f s c r u b d e s e r t and dry savannah, broken only by small hills, dry river beds and scattered acacia woodlands.
The Uwaso Nyiro River, translated as the “River of Brown Water”, is the life blood of the area and supports the riverine forest vegetation and doum palms along its banks; a stark contrast to the sun-baked plains. This is an area of deep earthen colours, a landscape of ochre and brown, cream and yellow with the faded green of plant life exposed to the sun for hours on end. The reserve was gazetted in 1974, but was closed for much of the 70’s due to attacks by rebels. Samburu and Shaba include all the �lora and fauna found in the north of Kenya within their boundaries. They are relatively small which is of great advantage as the considerable concentrations of wildlife are easier to spot. In this dryer part of Africa a number of endemic northern species can be found including the long–necked gerenuk, Grevy’s zebra, Beisa’s oryx, Reticulated giraffe and dik dik. Other species that inhabit the area include powerful predators such as lion, cheetah and hyena with the rare treat of leopard being seen often in daylight. Many large pods of hippo inhabit the gently meandering river and Nile crocodiles sun themselves on sandbanks.
Both areas are internationally renowned. The Samburu area has been made famous by Iain Douglas-Hamilton and his work studying elephant choices, through the observation of the large herds that roam the park. Shaba was the home of Joy Adamson together with her husband, George and their lioness Elsa.
A place of solace and contentment, the essence of this area makes for an experience of sheer quality. Lake Turkana
BUFFALO SPRINGS N.P Lake Victoria Masai Mara
SHABA N.P Mt. Kenya N.P
Nairobi Amboseli N.P
Ts a v o N.P
L U X U R Y
T E N T E D
C A M P I N G
Our camps are the most luxurious available in Africa, but what truly distinguishes Ker & Downey i s t h e p r o f e s s i o n a l i s m a n d e n t h u s i a s m o f o u r c a m p c r e w.
Our custom-made tents are the largest and roomiest available, consisting of a bedroom, verandah and changing area with private shower and toilet. Each tent has plenty of room to move around and unpack your belongings. Showers are available anytime and you will �ind them piping hot and wonderfully relaxing. On the other side of the partition is your bathroom with �lush toilet. In the cool evenings, slip into your duvet-covered bed that has been warmed with hot water bottles. The insect-proof windows are extra large for superb ventilation and exquisite views of the surrounding wilderness. Our delectable food is well known throughout the industry. Our menus are customdesigned to suit your tastes. Breads, such as our scrumptious cinnamon rolls are baked fresh each day. Fresh fruits and vegetables are delivered as needed throughout the safari. Fine wines, sodas soft drinks, beer, liquor, coffee, tea and mineral water are provided in camp. All of your needs and comforts are attended to, such as laundry, shoe polishing; our tents and beds are made up every day.
For lighting we use a combination of gas lamps, rechargeable �luorescent and kerosene lanterns. Cameras and video recorders can be charged in our game driving vehicles. Mobile telephones with full international roaming will work in many areas.
Our vehicles are specially modi�ied Land Cruisers with large roof hatches allowing for fantastic game viewing and photography. They have fridges stocked with cools drinks. Our luxury private camp is set up only for you. Live in world of luxury far away from the daily rush you have left behind.
“Ker & Downey Safaris PIONEERED a dream,
a dream that we still offer t o o u r g u e s t s t o d a y.”
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, Lelwels 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
L A R A G A I
H O U S E
Laragai House is situated on the 32,000 acre private Borana Ranch on the Laikipia Plateau,
part of the vast Ewaso ecosystem. This setting is idyllic with the snow-tipped peaks and glaciers of Mount Kenya to the south and a vista of desert and mountains to the north.
This exclusive, thatched ‘home away from home’, is set on a plateau offering absolute seclusion. 27 kilometres north of the equator and 6000 feet above sea level, this ranch land is home to 50 indigenous tree families and over 300 bird species. The lavish house consists of 6 luxurious double rooms with ensuite bathrooms, 2 twins which share a bathroom, a separate dining room and a games room. The décor merges an ethnic tone with international �lair, combining carpets from Rajasthan and opulent materials from London. Whilst lazing beside the crystal pool, the �licking tails of the Grevy’s zebra may be observed and the elevated deck provides a dining sensation with a bird’s eye view of the Lolokwe and Wamba Mountains.
The main camp, an eco-lodge, offers further dining experiences with fresh produce and
juices from the ranch, private bush picnics as well as an in�inity pool. Game drives and guided walks offer the opportunity to view lazing lions as well as leopard, oryx and hartebeest. Known for horseback riding, Borana offers the thrill of a riding safari amongst Reticulated giraffe and elephant herds. The wide variety of horses caters for every rider - an extraordinary highlight. For a truly unbeatable experience, view the African landscape from above, by chartered helicopter or �ixed wing plane.
“It is handsomely decorated in a
somewhat formal style, evocative of Kenya's c o l o n i a l h i s t o r y.”
A M B O S E L I
Against the magni�icent backdrop of Mount Kilimanjaro lies Amboseli, a national park and ecosystem. Meaning the ‘salty earth’ in the language of the Maasai, Amboseli is aptly named after the alkaline volcanic ash that spewed from the now dormant volcano Kilimanjaro.
The 5,000 square kilometre ecosystem lies on Kenya’s boarder with Tanzania and incorporates habitats of dry lake beds, savannah grasslands, woodland and swamps fed by springs emanating from Mount Kilimanjaro.
The area is home to grassland dwellers such as buffalo, wildebeest, zebra, giraffe, gazelle and warthog, while the resident predators include lion, cheetah and hyena. Amboseli is also a birding hotspot, with over 600 species recorded. The principal attraction at Amboseli however, is the large herds of free roaming elephants made famous by Dr. Joyce Poole who, through the Amboseli Elephant Research Project, put these intelligent giants on the map. Her long running large mammal research project in Africa combines three decades of uninterrupted study and chronicles Amboseli’s elephant herds, from new born calves to 60yr old matriarchs and old bulls that carry some of the longest tusks in Africa. Contiguous with Amboseli National Park is the Kitirua Wildlife Conservancy, a partnership between a local Maasai community and the private sector.
Designed to protect wildlife, this private and exclusive conservancy enables both day and night drives, walking and an unparalleled opportunity to meet members of the Maasai community in a welcoming and culturally sensitive manner.
This is a quintessential African landscape of elephants and traditional tribes with the snow-capped peak of Mount Kilimanjaro rising above the clouds behind. Lake Turkana
Lake Victoria
Mt. Kenya N.P
Masai Mara
Nairobi
AMBOSELI N.P
Kilimanjaro N.P
Ts a v o N.P
M A A S A I
T h e M a a s a i t r i b e s p e o p l e o f s o u t h e r n K e n y a a n d n o r t h e r n Ta n z a n i a
are a Nilotic ethnic group who arrived in this area about 300 years ago from the North. They are among the best known, and most distinctive tribes living in the semi arid lands along and beside the Great Rift Valley and close to many well known national parks and reserves. Their cousins North of the Equator are the Samburu, with whom they share many customs. The Maasai occupy a total land area of 160,000 square kilometers and number around 1.5million. They are semi-nomadic herding cattle over large areas of communally owned land. Their family encampments are comprised of a circular boma (fence) of Acacia to protect livestock from predators. Inside the boma they build small loaf- shaped houses made of mud, sticks, grass and cow dung. The women are responsible for building houses, supplying water, collecting �irewood, milking cattle and cooking. The young men or warriors (Moran) enforce security while boys are responsible for herding livestock. The elders are directors and advisors of day-to-day activities and make decisions for the whole community. On the western boundary of National Park lies Kitirua – concession shared between Downey and the local Kisongo
Amboseli a private Ker and clan. We
have nurtured a relationship over 35 years such that we are welcomed into their homes to learn something of their traditional way of life. By the same token we welcome them into camp thereby creating a unique opportunity for guests to interact. K&D sponsors two local schools in the area. The Ngararambuni Nursery school is on the edge of Kitirua Conservancy and caters to children between 4 & 10 years old. It is still set up underneath a large spreading Acacia tortilis and has three dedicated Maasai teachers. We helped to set this little school up in 2003, before this the children would have to walk 7km through an area rich in big game to get to school.
Whilst in Amboseli we encourage as much interaction with local people as possible. Even though we do not share a language it is extraordinary to watch our children play with theirs as the common language of fun transgresses these boundaries. Learning to throw spears and how to use bows and arrows, digging for water, and donning traditional garb are all a part of being with these colourful, friendly, fun and fascinating people.
O L
D O N Y O
L O D G E
W e d g e d b e t w e e n K e n y a ’ s Ts a v o a n d A m b o s e l i N a t i o n a l P a r k s i n t h e h e a r t o f t h e C h y u l u H i l l s ,
this is a place of timeless wild beauty presided over by the magni�icent summit of Africa’s greatest icon Ol Donyo Lodge is favourably located on the 300,000 acre Mbirikani Group Ranch and nestles between the great Amboseli and Tsavo National Parks, in south eastern Kenya. This exclusive, safari destination rests on the slopes of the Chyulu Hills which form part of a 100 kilometre volcanic �ield and welcomes 333 bird species and over 7,000 animals, including the endangered black rhino. 10 thatched chalets all with private lounge and 2 double bedrooms nuzzle amongst the thorny arms of acacia trees and dense thicket. All suites have a lounge, veranda, indoor and outdoor showers, double wash basins, �lush toilet and bath, and “star-bed”. All but 2 have their own pool. The roof top star-bed offers breathtaking views of Mount Kilimanjaro and is accessed from the veranda via a winding stone staircase. This is a fabulous sleep-out option, with utter privacy and all the amenities of the suite just below. From the canopied beds adorned in crisp white linen to the eclectic paintings and oversized grass couches, the decor is lavish and �lavoured with African �lair.
– Mount Kilimanjaro.
Dining at Ol Donyo is a memorable affair, whether savoured by candlelight in the stylish dining room, alfresco on the veranda or in the heart of the bush surrounded by an orchestra of bird calls. The opportunity to ride across the verdant grasslands on horse back and witness a herd of buffalo or perhaps the long graceful necks of a family of giraffe or the rare Fringe-eared oryx abound. Game drives may offer excellent opportunities for viewing predator activity with lion, cheetah and the typically elusive leopard; however guided walks provide a more intimate experience with sightings of a boisterous elephant herd and the timid gerenuk.
Ol Donyo Lodge encompasses all the wonder and exclusivity of a luxury safari experience in one snapshot.
“It is at Ol Donyo
where some of Africa’s last giant elephant bulls roam freely”
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 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
H O G
H O U S E
Hidden in the 130 acre Giraffe Sanctuary in Langata, Hog House is a private home with incredible views across to the Ngong Hills. Serene and peaceful you would hardly believe you are in one of Africa’s largest capital cities.
Located close to both Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, and Wilson Airport, this unusual family home is an ideal place to begin or end your safari. Its rustic décor and the fact that it is surrounded by wildlife will help to ease you in, and out, of your time here on safari. The straw bale construction uses plantation cedar and fallen African olive and blends with the wooded sanctuary perfectly. The house itself comprises 2 double bedrooms and a triple, all ensuite. There are a further 2 cottages outside in the garden for larger groups. Hog House is only available for exclusive use. The large open plan sitting/dining is cosy with a warm �ireplace and lots of seating for all to congregate. Daytime meals we normally take outside in the shade of the Euclea trees in the garden, and a beautiful horizon pool beckons on hot afternoons. Walking in the sanctuary is the perfect way to loosen up stiff joints from long intercontinental �lights and you have
every chance of seeing Rothschild’s giraffe, warthog, dik dik, bushbuck, suni and Syke’s monkeys. Birds of every colour throng around the bird table and hyrax will doubtless entertain you at night! The Giraffe Centre, Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage, Karen Blixen Museum, and many craft centres are all within a stone’s throw of Hog House.
“It is a privilege to stay in this unusual and
beautiful home within the G I R A F F E S A N C T U A R Y,
so close and convenient to all the classic
Nairobi attractions, and yet quietly tucked away in your o w n h a v e n o f s e r e n i t y.”
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. Based at two established Elephant Rehabilitation centres within Tsavo East National Park others are still in the gradual process of the re-integration with others in early infancy 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
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 . . .”
J A M E S
R O B E R T S O N
T h i r t y - � i v e y e a r s a f t e r l e a d i n g h i s � i r s t e x p e d i t i o n , J a m e s i s c h a i r m a n o f t h e b o a r d a t K e r & D o w n e y, and an in�luential leader of the new movement in community-led conservation.
Like the safari industry itself, James Robertson was born and raised in Kenya, where his appetite for adventure has earned him a reputation as one of the modern pioneers of the global safari business.
James’ dependability for never following the same itinerary twice, and for continually searching out new experiences for his clients, has won him admirers across the industry, as well as an army of repeat guests (including two families who have each travelled with him 26 times!). Among his long-standing Kenyan crew, he’s known as “Ndorobo” after the fabled hunter-gathers of northern Kenya – a tribe renowned for their resourceful bushcraft, and their complete absence of fear for wild animals. Although James’ �irst love and main base is Kenya, he is an “all-Africa guide” and just as likely to be found travelling through the game-rich parks, reserves and conservancies of eastern and southern Africa. In recent years, he has been supporting a number of Maasai and Samburu communities that have turned part of their grazing lands over to conservation – giving guests a chance to see some rarer wildlife species, and to experience an absolutely authentic immersion in two of the world’s oldest tribal cultures. In 2001, James was a founder of The Mara Conservancy, a ground-breaking and widely-admired partnership between conservationists and the county government, which established a new public-private template to protect the critical wildlife dispersal areas north of the Maasai Mara Reserve. He sits on the board of the (removed the MMWCT) Kenya Wildlife Trust , and his unrivalled contacts enable his guests to meet some of the leading conservationists and wildlife researchers in the world.
Having been raised on the edge of Kenya's largest National Park, Tsavo is close to James’ heart. His most recent focus is on protecting the last remaining Great Tuskers of which there are around 10 bulls each carrying in excess of 100lbs of ivory per side. He is working closely with the Tsavo Trust to protect these valuable elephants.
James and Abigail live within a wildlife sanctuary on the outskirts of Nairobi, where they host most of their guests personally. They work together as much as possible out on safari where their shared passions are apparent to anyone travelling with them.
TEL: +254 720 911143
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