W HI TCO M B SA FA R I D E SI GN E D BY JA M ES RO BE RT S O N
2 1 s t
K E N YA - 3 0 th JU N E 2 0 1 9
I T I N E R A R Y
O V E R V I E W
NAIROBI - MASAI MARA - LAIKPIA - BORANA - NAIROBI
21st June 2019: NAIROBI
On arrival at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport you will be met and transferred to Hog House, our home in the Giraffe Sanctuary on the outskirts of Nairobi for one night.
22nd - 26th June 2019: MAASAI MARA
After breakfast you will �ly, by privare charter, west, over the Great Rift Valley and on to perhaps the best known area in the World for Big Game - The Maasai Mara. You will be based at Mara Expeditions Camp for three nights.
25th - 27th June 2019; LAIKIPIA
Today you will �ly north, over the Aberdare Mtns to Laikipia. You will be based at Laikipia Wilderness Camp for three nights.
2 8 t h J u n e 2 0 1 9 : H E L I C O P T E R S A FA R I
Today we will bring in a helicopter to whiz you north on the most exhilarating day trip up to Lake Turkana, or the “Jade Sea” up on the Ethiopian Border. You’ll be stopping multiple times along the way to explore vast sand dunes in the Suguta Valley, the rock pinnacles of the Ndoto Mountains, ancient rock art in the Painted Valley, at lurid hot springs. You’ll be dropped at Lengishu at the end of the day.
28th & 29th June 2019: BORANA
For your last two nights we have booked Lengishu House on Borana Ranch - this stunning new property will be a luxurious end to the safari.
3 0 t h J u n e 2 0 1 9 : T R A V E L D AY
We will �ly you back to Nairobi in time for lunch and we will book day rooms for you to relax before two of you �ly down to Kilimanjaro, and the other two �ly home. We will transfer you to the international airport in time for your respective �lights.
R E G I O N S
W H I T C O M B FA M I LY S A FA R I This fabulous 10 day safari takes in some of Kenya’s most abundant and diverse wilderness areas. We have combined not only superb game viewing but also the opportunity to walk and explore on foot in superb scenery.
D AY 1
NAIROBI
HOG HOUSE
D AY 2 - 4
Lake Turkana
MASAI MARA
MARA EXPEDITIONS
Lake Logipi
D AY 5 - 7
LAIKIPIA
LAIKIPIA WILDERNESS D AY 8 & 9
BORANA
LENGISHU HOUSE D AY 1 0
NAIROBI
D AY R O O M S
On arrival we welcome you to our home, Hog House, for your �irst night. We will introduce you to your guide, Shaun Mousley before you head off by private charter. Your �irst safari destination is the Maasai Mara which is spectacular for wildlife at all times of year. The migration should be coming in from the Serengeti and the predators should be out in force.
Lake Baringo
Ewaso Nyiro River
Samburu
Shaba
Lake Bogoria
Lake Victoria
Equator
Mt. Kenya
Lake Nakuru Masai Mara
After three nights in the Mara we take you north to Laikipia. We have chosen Laikipia Wilderness camp for great northern wildlife: Reticulate giraffe, Grevy’s zebra and a good chance of African Wild Dogs - but also super walking at mid-altitude which will help you to acclimatise.
Lake Naivasha Nairobi Tana River
Lake Magadi Amboseli
Ts a v o Watamu
Mombasa
Lamu
We then have encouraged a knock-your-socks off helicopter trip up to Lake Turkana during which you will explore the wilderness to the north and the harsh Suguta and �lamingo fringed Logipi. For your last two days you’ll be Lengishu House on Borana, again a little higher and great for walking. Superb rhino here and a view across the north that is truly jaw-dropping.
We �ly you back to Nairobi where you will have dayrooms close to the airport for your respective onwards �lights.
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
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.”
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 .”
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
L A I K P I A
W I L D E R N E S S
L a i k p i a , m i l e s a n d m i l e s o f u n f e n c e d w i l d e r n e s s , b e a u t i f u l s c e n e r y,
wildlife that is on the increase and in greater numbers than anywhere else in Kenya except the Mara. Laikpia has a perfect climate, wonderful people still very close to their traditions and proud, and the freedom to explore this haven any way you can imagine. A small and personal bush camp with just 5 tents catering for 10 guests, ensuite open air bathrooms with hot and cold running water. The camp has beautiful views of Mt Kenya and the wilderness and blends sympathetically into this stunning area of true wilderness. The tents are each built on a platform with a private veranda and behind the tent an ensuite bathroom made of natural materials which is partially open to the skies allowing you to shower under the stars.
The large mess tent is the central reception area with dining room, sitting room and library. Outside there is an open veranda on a wooden deck where we gather at night. There is a viewing point with a camp�ire where we often eat under the stars.
Each day is made an adventure, from game drives to walking safaris which can be focussed on speci�ic interests such as photography, tracking game on foot, following speci�ic species and watching animal behaviour. Amidst this scenery there are large numbers of elephants in smaller herds than in some parts of the country, a sign of being unstressed. Reticulated giraffe, Grevy’s zebra, hippos, buffalo, warthog, lions, hyenas, bat-eared foxes and lots of antelope species are all commonly seen. Of the more exciting and interesting species you may not �ind elsewhere we are lucky to have excellent leopard sightings, striped hyena, aardwolf, aardvark and not least, some of the best wild dog sightings in Africa.
“Laikpia is like nowhere e l s e i n A F R I C A .”
H E L I C O P T E R
S A F A R I S
The possibilities are endless...wilderness, wildlife and
nomadic tribal communities of the untouched north of Kenya.
MAGADO CRATER Magado is an incredible volcanic crater in which salt deposits at the base are used by local Meru and Boran tribes people. This is a wild spot where we plan to explore and picnic on one of the days.
We could spend a day and go north to Lake Turkana – the Jade Sea – far up towards the Ethiopian border – and a place where very very few people ever go…. LAKE TURKANA This lake formerly known as Lake Rudolf, is the largest of Kenya’s Rift Valley lakes, with its far northern end crossing into Ethiopia. It is the world's largest permanent desert lake and the world's largest alkaline lake. Blue-green algae give the water a greenish tint and when you see it you will understand why it is also known as the “Jade Sea”. It is surrounded by volcanoes at its southern end, and Central Island is still active.
SUGUTA VALLEY We may �ly north over the eastern edge of the Great Rift Valley and into the Suguta Valley where the river is lined with doum and barassus palms. The river snakes its way in slow meanders but is trapped by the walls of the Great Rift. Its headwaters lie south of Lake Turkana in a land dominated by sand dunes.
LOGIPI Just south of Lake Turkana and separated from it by a volcanic barrier, lies Logipi – a shallow lake which is home to many thousands of �lamingos and other water birds. This part of Kenya is incredibly remote, very few people have ever seen this lake. The helicopter allows unbeatable views of the birdlife. We do hope to maximize your safari by using the helicopter – certainly it will give you the very best view, enable us to spot game from the air, and appreciate the enormous diversity of this country – from snow capped mountains, to dusty deserts, plains covered with game and lush river valleys.
L A KE
T URKA NA
I n t h e n o r t h e r n m o s t p a r t o f t h e K e n y a n G r e a t R i f t Va l l e y i s L a k e T u r k a n a . It is widely known as the Jade Sea due to the remarkable greenish-blue colour of its waters, an ethereal mirage immerging from the sweltering arid desert surrounds. Lake Turkana is the largest alkaline desert lake in the world, 300 kilometres long and 50 kilometres wide with the main tributary, the River Omo, entering from the north and contributing more than 90% of the total water in�lux.
The lake lies at the heart of the Sibiloi National Park, established originally to protect some of the world’s most important paleontological and archaeological sites. Turkana has one of the longest living histories and is regarded by many as the birthplace of humanity; the humanoid fossils unearthed by the Leakey family in the 1960’s are around 2.5 million years old. Lake Turkana offers a cultural glimpse at colourful tribes unaffected by the 21st century, utterly reliant on the lake as the only permanent water source in the area. Sibiloi National Park has excellent game-viewing, a refuge for a number of dry country species including gerenuk, oryx, lesser kudu, Grant’s gazelle and Grevy’s zebra. Along the shorelines an abundance of topi and Burchell’s zebra entice the resident predators, including lion, cheetah, side-striped jackal, spotted hyena and the rare striped hyena. Three South Island from
volcanic islands in Lake Turkana – Island, Central Island and North – provide incredible vantage points which to experience the rich
lacustrine wildlife supported by the lake itself. Central Island, with its stunning scenery and three crater lakes, is a breeding ground for the world’s biggest population of Nile crocodiles. There is proli�ic birdlife and at certain times of the year, well over 300 species can be observed as African and Palaearctic migrants break their northward journeys. Scenic beyond belief, surrounded by cliffs, gentle beaches, desert and volcanic rock outcrops, Lake Turkana is certainly one of East Africa’s best kept secrets. 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
B O R A N A
B o r a n a i s n o t j u s t a g a m e r e s e r v e , b u t a l s o a w o r k i n g c a t t l e r a n c h o n t h e e d g e o f t h e S a m a n g u a V a l l e y, with panoramic views of Mount Kenya.
Borana lies at the foot of Mount Kenya, just 26 kilometres from the equator and 6,500 feet above sea level. It is located within the vast area of the Ewaso ecosystem on the Laikipia Plateau, with a view of the peaks and the glaciers of Mount Kenya to the south, and a panorama of mountains and desert to the north. This location provides an idyllic setting for any African experience. This area is home to more than 50 indigenous tree families, and more than 300 bird species. Laikipia is an area of exceptional beauty. It enjoys some of Kenya’s most proli�ic wildlife, as well as the highest populations of endangered species in Kenya.
Borana is adjacent to the Lewa Wildlife Conservancy. Its unique geographical location makes the 32,000 acre ranch a haven for a wide diversity of wildlife: buffalo, eland, Jackson’s hartebeest and herds of Grant’s gazelle, impala and plains zebra. Reticulated giraffe are commonly seen nibbling the acacias, while the cooler forests shelter bush buck, colobus and elephant. Olive baboons, vervet monkeys and the endangered patas monkey are also resident. Predators are also found here, but
not in large numbers.
The black rhino has roamed the earth for 5 million years, yet it is now facing the greatest threat in its history – from poaching. 2013 saw the largest decline both nationally and globally of rhino due to poaching. In response to this crisis that same year, Borana Conservancy introduced 21 black rhino to its rolling hills from Lewa Wildlife Conservancy and Lake Nakuru National Park. Within the grounds, anti-poaching teams and more than 100 highly trained rangers fend off commercial poachers and help maintain animal populations. The Borana Conservancy is a non-pro�it conservation organisation dedicated to the sustainable conservation of critical habitat and wildlife.
“A s t h i s i s a p r i v a t e r a n c h with plentiful game,
it offers some of the
b e s t w a l k i n g i n K e n y a .”
L E N G I S H U
Lengishu is an anomaly - a beautiful, private home on 32,000 acres in the game-rich, Kenyan Highlands with rare, truly wild luxuries.
Located on the vastness of the Laikipia plateau looking out over the plains towards Mount Kenya, Lengishu is located on Borana Ranch a private sanctuary that offers world-class wildlife, adventure and wellness facilities in surroundings of exceptional beauty and serenity.
Lengishu is built entirely of sustainable materials. The stones have been excavated from the site itself, sourced when the foundations were laid. The wooden beams and panels are made of teak and gum poles from Kenya, the walls are rammed earth and the �loors are stone and wood. This unique family home was built to blend into its surroundings. The main house is central to the design with a large entrance hall leading to a study and a vaulted sitting and dining room which is warmed by two large �ireplaces with glorious views. A covered veranda with a pizza oven allows for outdoor luncheons or evening entertaining.
The Master bedroom and Room 1 stand away from the main house with a further two family cottages set into the hillside below. A U-shaped pool, with views to the West, is surrounded by a lunch pavilion, a gym and a games room with a sundowner bar.
“The climate,
c l e a n a i r, a n d o r g a n i c food make incredible foundations for a trip that will
t r u l y R E S T O R E y o u .”
S H A U N
M O U S L E Y
Shaun is a born and bred Kenyan, who lives for adventure, fun, wildlife and people. His enthusiasm for the bush is completely infectious, and his �luent Swahili and friendly manners makes it easy for him to seamlessly guide you into some of the most remote parts of East Africa. Shaun Mousley was born in Kenya and grew up on a 24,000 acre tea farm in Kericho, Western Kenya. With neighbors far and few between he spent most of his time �ly �ishing the rivers and
dams, going on long treks through the Mao forest satisfying his love for the outdoors. The Maasai
Mara being on his doorstep, many a weekend was spent camping there with the family which is where the love of the bush was born.
By the age of �ive he spoke more Swahili then English. Shaun went to prep school in Kenya then
onto senior school in the UK. He took 2 years off after school which gave him the chance to travel Africa and work as a white water rafting guide in Kenya and Uganda.
During these years Shaun discovered his need and love for new and stimulating adventures and
being immersed in different cultures with people sharing their unique life stories. It was then
that he chose to pursue the industry of hospitality where he completed his studies at the International Hotel School in South Africa. Whilst in South Africa Shaun was able to work and
gain experience in game reserves close to Zulu Land, Kwa Zulu Natal. From then onwards many exciting opportunities arose where he then moved to the oceanside of Seychelles to ful�ill one of his other passions and love for the sea.
Finally, the longing of African soils under his feet lead Shaun back home to Kenya, where he was
able to combine his hospitality experience and love for the bush. For the last four years he has been the general manager for two Great Plains Conservation properties in Kenya, ol Donyo Lodge & Mara Plains. This has enabled him to spend more time in the bush and share this knowledge with guests.
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 (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