R A NA TA LWA R’ S 70 t h B I RT HDAY SA FA R I I TI N E R A RY
3 0 th
K E N YA JU N E - 7 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
N A I R O B I - M A A S A I M A R A - T S AVO W E S T A N D E A S T - N A I R O B I
G I R A F F E M A N O R - M A R A P L A I N S - F I N C H H AT T O N ’ S - H O G H O U S E
30th JUNE 2018; NAIROBI - GIRAFFE MANOR
On arrival at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport you will be met and transferred to Giraffe Manor for your �irst night. James will meet you here.
1 s t - 3 r d J U LY 2 0 1 8 : M A A S A I M A R A - M A R A P L A I N S
After sharing your breakfast with Rothschild’s giraffe you will be transferred to Wilson Airport for your private charter to the Maasai Mara. You will have three nights at Mara Plains Camp.
4 t h - 6 t h J U LY 2 0 1 8 ; T S A V O W E S T - F I N C H H A T T O N ’ S
After breakfast you will �ly by helicopters south east, along the Tanzanian border stopping en route. You’ll have a picnic lunch in Amboseli before continuing to Tsavo West. You will be based at Finch Hatton’s for three nights.
7 t h J U LY 2 0 1 8 : T R A V E L D AY / N A I R O B I - H O G H O U S E
We will leave Finch Hatton’s after lunch and �ly you back to Nairobi by chopper. You’ll have a short time at Hog House just to shower and eat before we transfer you down to the international airport for your �light home.
R E G I O N S
R A N A TA L WA R ’ S 7 0 T H B I R T H D AY S A FA R I I T I N E R A R Y For this very special celebration safari we are combining the Maasai Mara with Kenya’s southeast Tsavo East and Tsavo West National Parks.
D AY 1
NAIROBI
GIRAFFE MANOR Lake Turkana
D AY S 2 - 4
MAASAI MARA
Lake Logipi
MARA PLAINS
Lake Baringo
D AY 5 - 7
T S AVO W E S T
F I N C H H AT T O N ’ S D AY 1 4
NAIROBI
HOG HOUSE
On arrival as usual you will have your �irst night at Giraffe Manor. We then �ly you to the Mara for three nights where you will be at your old favourite - Mara Plains camp. Ewaso Nyiro River
Samburu
Shaba
Lake Bogoria
Lake Victoria
En route to Tsavo you’ll stop in Amboseli where James will have cars positioned, you’ll have a picnic lunch there before carrying on to Finch Hatton’s where you’ll be for three nights.
Equator
Mt. Kenya
Lake Nakuru Masai Mara
Phil and Kim will come in on your last afternoon there and you’ll explore the Mara from the air locating the migration which will most likely be down on the southern border.
Lake Naivasha Nairobi Tana River
Lake Magadi Amboseli
Ts a v o Watamu
Mombasa
Lamu
We will use the choppers throughout your time in Tsavo, you’ll explore the Chyulu Hills - a chain of young volcanoes, the Gilana River in Tsavo East and you’ll be able to see the elephant orphan project at Voi. We plan to have cars in Tsavo to locate the supertuskers and will also have a small chopper to spot them from the air. These extraordinary elephants carry in excess of 100lbs ivory per side, making them the largest on the continent. Renuka - your remit is always to make each trip better than the last - and this one will certainly be truly fabulous!
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
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.”
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
P L A I N S
Nestled in the trees on the edge of the Ntiakatek stream in the 35,000 acre private Olare-Motorogi Conservancy (previously known as Olare Orok), Mara Plains is a small, luxury tented camp which prides itself on offering personal, high-level service. Just north of the legendary Masai Mara National Reserve, in the quiet wilderness of the Olare Motorogi Conservancy, there are 7 tents hidden within a copse of riverine trees. To get to them, you follow a wooden walkway that leads straight between an acacia tree's branches, which curve upward like a candelabra. Acacia trees, �lat-topped and seemingly frozen in motion, are a symbol of East Africa, and this particular tree was a deciding factor when National Geographic Explorers-in-Residence Dereck and Beverly Joubert and their partners at Great Plains Conservation set out to build a lodge here. The tree is a natural gateway to an exceptional safari experience.
Mara Plains Camp is at once elegant and unassuming. The elevated tents and the main camp area are crafted of rough-hewn wooden �loors and billowing canvas and �illed with an exquisite collection of furnishings and decor that recall the colonial in�luences of bygone centuries, as well as Kenya’s Swahili and Maasai roots. Whether you come for the thundering wildebeest, the rainbow-colored birds, or to experience
the culture of the Maasai person �irsthand, Mara Plains Camp is the perfect setting for immersing yourself in the mystique and the beauty of the East African savanna.
The guiding at Mara Plains is amongst the best in Kenya - to a Gold Grade standard. The game viewing in the OOC is spectacular with resident lion, cheetah and leopard populations. Enjoy walking with a Maasai warrior at twilight, followed by a sundowner (a cocktail) under an acacia tree, as well as night drives in the very high, open-sided vehicles. Mara Plains provides unprecedented entrance to the remarkable ecosystem of the Maasai Mara.
“If a camp’s success lies in its details, then Mara Plains
i s t r u l y b l e s s e d .”
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 1.2 million acre 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 30 years of uninterrupted study and chronicles Amboseli’s elephant herds, from new born calves to 60 year 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
T S A V O
W E S T
Ts a v o N a t i o n a l P a r k i s l o c a t e d i n s o u t h - e a s t e r n K e n y a , a n i n c r e d i b l e 5 . 6 m i l l i o n a c r e s
d i v i d e d i n t o 2 p a r k s , Ts a v o E a s t & Ts a v o W e s t , e a c h o f f e r i n g v e r y d i f f e r e n t l a n d s c a p e s . The 2 parks feel like quite distinct parks with different eco-systems: the open, �lat-to-undulating plains and scattered bush of Tsavo East and the much more wooded, hilly landscapes, dotted with volcanic cones and dramatic, black lava �lows, that characterise Tsavo West. The northern part of Tsavo West is fascinating geologically: ravaged as recently as 200 to 300 years ago by a series of violent eruptions. Tsavo is home to some of the largest elephant on the planet these “supertuskers” carry over 100 pounds of ivory each side. There are thought to be about 15 remaining on the African continent. 10 of them live in Tsavo. Catching a glimpse of one of the giants is a privilege. The most iconic attraction in the park is Mzima Springs. The crystal-clear water of this chain of lakes is �iltered through the volcanic rocks of the Chyulu Hills just to the north. Shaded by majestic �ig and acacia trees, the lakes swarm with �ish, large crocodiles and some big pods of hippos. If you’re lucky, the underwater viewing chamber, can provide unique photo opportunities – of a sinuous, gliding crocodile, or the delicate, tiptoe, swimming-walking style of a hippo.
The Shetani Lava Flow is the youngest of a whole series of lava �lows in the park. These caves used to be notorious for trapping prey animals that had stumbled inside in search of water, and then trapping predators that had followed them. The hilly landscapes and woodland of Tsavo West mean that spotting wildlife can sometimes be tricky, but there’s plenty of it, including good lion prides. There’s also a good chance of seeing black rhinos in the secure rhino sanctuary. The birdlife in the park is outstanding. Lake Turkana
Laikipia Lake Victoria
Mt. Kenya N.P
Masai Mara
Nairobi Amboseli N.P
Kilimanjaro N.P
TSAVO N.P
F I N C H
H A T T O N ’ S
At Finch Hattons, they have preserved the ideals that Denys Finch Hatton lived by; a dedication
to elegance and style, coupled with a passionate love of the Kenyan wilderness and a long forgotten way of life. Denys Finch Hatton was a legendary British aristocrat who travelled to Kenya in 1911 and fell under the spell of the African wild. His love affair with Karen Blixen was the subject of her novel “Out of Africa” and his fascination with the wildlife turned him into a renowned photographer, dedicated conservationist and host, introducing both business tycoons and British Royalty to his world of Luxury Safari. The location and luxury tented camp is an eclectic blend of eco-friendly accommodation and world-class facilities, encapsulated in the enchanting surroundings of the Kenyan wilderness. Relax in your private suite or by the pool as you watch the resident hippo pods wallow in the natural spring-pools that �low through the African camp.
Each luxury tent suite is an eclectic mix of elegance & luxury, designed to invite the cooling breeze closer over the water, transporting all the African sounds, tastes and smells right onto your doorstep. With indoor and outdoor showers, copper bath tubs and creamy white linens offset by soft lighting, the suites are reminiscent of the glorious golden days of safari, when wealthy adventurers would spend nights in the bush surrounded by wildlife while enjoying the comforts of home provided by accents such as beautiful hardwood writing
tables, intricate chandeliers and ornately carved chests lending to a rustic yet luxurious ambiance.
Tsavo West National Park covers a huge variety of landscapes from swamps, natural springs and rocky peaks to extinct volcanic cones, rolling plains and sharp outcrops dusted with greenery. Home to one of the largest populations of red elephants in East Africa, with a resident herd of over 12,000 elephants. There is a diverse variety of wildlife featuring buffalo, bushbuck, eland, giraffe, hartebeest, impala, leopard, lion, oryx, wildebeest and many more. Over 500 bird species inhabit the area, making Tsavo a bird spotters paradise.
Remnants of lava �lows and caves from the area’s volcanic past, offer the chance for hiking and cave exploration for the adventurous. For an unparalleled view of life under the surface, visit Mzima Springs, an oasis created by a gushing supply of fresh water.
“A n U N R I VA L L E D l o c a t i o n
i n Ts a v o W e s t N a t i o n a l p a r k with unparalleled luxury w h i l e o n s a f a r i .”
T S A V O
E A S T
Ts a v o i s h o m e t o s o m e o f t h e l a r g e s t e l e p h a n t o n t h e p l a n e t - t h e s e “ s u p e r t u s k e r s ” c a r r y o v e r 100 pounds of ivory each side. There are thought to be about 15 remaining on the African continent. 1 0 o f t h e m l i v e i n Ts a v o . C a t c h i n g a g l i m p s e o f o n e o f t h e g i a n t s i s a p r i v i l e g e . Tsavo East National Park is by far the biggest of Kenya’s parks. At close to 3.4 million acres, it is nine times larger than the Masai Mara National Reserve and consists mostly of dry, �lat thorn bush scrub, occasionally broken by the verdant vegetation of seasonal rivers. Tsavo East is most famous for its huge herds of elephants, more than 10,000 of them bulldoze their way around this vast �lat plain of sandy soil, split by the shallow trough of the Galana River. The �ine ochre soils give the Tsavo elephants a red tinge as they bathe in the dust in this dry arid expanse. Tsavo East has another big draw: you can set off on a game drive across the seemingly empty wilderness and return to camp 3 hours later without having seen a single other vehicle. The Galana, is one of Kenya’s biggest rivers. Its valley – rocky in much of its western course, sandy and doum-palm fringed further east – is one of Tsavo East National Park’s de�ining physical features. The Yatta Plateau is a 300 kilometre ancient lava �low that stretches along the east and north bank of the Athi-Galana. Its geomagnetic qualities are believed to play a role in guiding migratory birds and large numbers of Palearctic migrants can be seen in the area. Lugard Falls are a series of short falls and steep rapids on the Galana River
where relatively harder rock has created a bottleneck in the valley and impedes the river’s progress. Crocodile Point, where the big reptiles can often be seen basking in the sun, is just downstream from here. The immense park encourages complete immersion into its enormous animal kingdom proffering opportunities to see lesser kudu and fringe-eared oryx as well as buffalo, zebra, giraffe, lion, cheetah, leopard and wild dog. Lake Turkana
Laikipia Lake Victoria
Mt. Kenya N.P
Masai Mara
Nairobi Amboseli N.P
Kilimanjaro N.P
TSAVO 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.”
“A l l i w a n t e d t o d o w a s t o g e t b a c k t o A f r i c a . We h a d n o t l e f t i t y e t , b u t w h e n i w o u l d w a k e i n t h e n i g h t i w o u l d l i e , l i s t e n i n g , h o m e s i c k f o r i t a l r e a d y.” Ernest Hemingway
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.
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 R S 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