W I LCOX SAFA R I D ESI GN E D BY JA M E S RO BE RT S O N
TA N Z A N I A & K E N YA 1 5 th - 2 9 th MAY 2 0 2 0
I T I N E R A R Y
O V E R V I E W
L E G E N D A R Y L O D G E - N A M I R I P L A I N S - D U N I A - S A S A K WA - G A L D E S S A - H E M I N G WAY S
A R U S H A - E A S T E R N S E R E N G E T I - C E N T R A L S E R E N G E T I - G R U M E T I R E S E RV E S - T S AVO E A S T - N A I R O B I 1 5 t h M AY 2 0 2 0 ; A R U S H A
On arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport Paolo will meet you and you will be transferred to Legendary Lodge, on the outskirts of Arusha for one night.
1 6 t h - 1 8 t h M AY 2 0 2 0 ; E A S T E R N S E R E N G E T I
After an early breakfast you will �ly, by scheduled �light, to Seronero and then game drive to Namiri - set in the vastness of the Eastern Serengeti during the height of the Great Migration. You will be here for three nights.
1 9 t h - 2 1 s t M AY 2 0 2 0 ; C E N T R A L S E R E N G E T I
You will drive across the Eastern plains to the Central Serengeti and spend three nights based at Dunia Camp.
2 2 n d - 2 4 t h M AY 2 0 2 0 ; G R U M E T I R E S E R V E S
Today you will �ly West into the Grumeti Reserves which form part of the Western Corridor. You will be based at the magni�icent Sasakwa Lodge for three nights.
2 5 t h - 2 8 t h M AY 2 0 2 0 ; T S A V O E A S T
Today will be a very full day! You will �ly by private charter back to Kilimanjaro and then drive to the Kenya border town of Taveta. James will meet you here and you will explore the Lake Jipe area of Tsavo West. You will then drive into Tsave East and be based at Galdessa Camp on the Galana River for four nights.
2 9 t h M AY 2 0 2 0 ; N A I R O B I / T R A V E L D AY
You will �ly back to Nairobi by private charter and be based at Hemingways for the rest of the day. This smart hotel is close to lots of shopping. We will transfer you to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in time for your �light home.
T A N Z A N I A
A l a n d o f t r u l y i c o n i c n a m e s , Ta n z a n i a i s s t e e p e d i n r o m a n c e ; S e r e n g e t i , K i l i m a n j a r o a n d Z a n z i b a r. The African experience on a truly grand scale.
The United Republic of Tanzania is a country of exceptional geographic diversity, from the lofty heights of Mount Kilimanjaro, the tallest free standing mountain in the world, to the rolling plains of the Serengeti and the tropical beach paradise of Zanzibar, the spice island.
Two of Africa’s most celebrated wilderness areas – the Ngorogoro Crater and the Serengeti – are located within Northern Tanzania and boast some of the largest concentration of game on the continent. The latter acts as a stage for one of the world’s natural wonders as close to 2,000,000 wildebeest, zebra and gazelle migrate through the Serengeti ecosystem annually. Also located here are the famous soda lakes of the Great Rift Valley, notably Lake Natron and Lake Manyara, which attract a multitude of �lamingoes every year. The lesser known areas of the Selous, Katavi, Ruaha and Mahale �launt an abundance of animals in the wildest possible settings. These areas exude an aura of untrammelled wilderness, conserved by limited accessibility and truly belong to the animals.
Mahale is situated on the sandy shores of Lake Tanganyike, the second deepest lake in the world and offers an exceptional opportunity to trek with wild chimpanzees in a Robinson Crusoe setting.
Tanzania is also home to some of the earliest known human development, it was at Olduavi Gorge that the Leakey family made revelatory anthropological discoveries and at Gombe Stream that Jane Goodall began to unlock the secrets of our cousins and our evolution.
The population of Tanzania is about 37 million, united by a shared experience of nationhood and a common language. Culturally rich, the Tanzanians are famed for their warmth, dignity and hospitality, from the Maasai in the north to the distinctly middle-eastern inspired Swahili culture of coastal Zanzibar.
“For the serious wildlife enthusiast, Tanzania should feature high on their list. The great Serengti migration, walking safaris in the Selous Game Reserve and the best chimpanzee sightings in Africa.”
Uganda Kenya Lake Victoria Rwanda Burundi
TANZANIA
Zanzibar
“ Q u i t e s i m p l y, i n c o m p a r a b l e ”
LE G ENDA RY
LO DG E
Set on a fragrant working coffee farm among lush tropical gardens on the outskirts of Arusha, L e g e n d a r y L o d g e o f f e r s l u x u r i o u s a c c o m m o d a t i o n t h a t f e e l s l i k e a ‘ h o m e f r o m h o m e ’.
Legendary Lodge is located in the city of Arusha, the ‘safari capital’ of Tanzania, providing the perfect hub from which to explore the many outstanding destinations in close proximity, such as the Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater and Lake Manyara. From its tranquil gardens, Mount Meru and its slopes covered by dense, fertile forest can be viewed in the distance. Set amidst manicured lawns and tropical garden foliage, the quaint and becoming wood and tiled A-frame lodge consists of 6 spacious split level cottages, each with a lounge and private veranda. In addition, there is a 2 bedroomed cottage with a lounge, kitchen and dining room and 2 further comfortable rooms in The Old Farmhouse. Each enjoys elegantly appointed ensuite bathrooms with both bath and shower and breathtaking garden or mountain views. The décor is warm yet elegant, from the chocolate brown leather, African masks and patterned lamps to the polished wood furniture, paneled ceilings and four-poster beds.
For additional indulgence, the Legendary Spa provides treatments in the privacy of your cottage, whilst the dining room serves excellent gourmet cuisine. Every meal is prepared to the guest’s satisfaction at �lexible times. The surrounding area offers various activities from a nearby gym to shopping in the city and of course coffee tours are available for the curious and those with a taste for the delectable hot beverage. Further a�ield, the opportunity for a day trip leads to the nearby Arusha National Park, where magni�icent wildlife may be witnessed from the back of an open air vehicle. Leopard, spotted hyena, herds of giraffe and buffalo, this is a unique highlight after a quiet suburban day.
“The perfect
A F R I C A N S A N C T UA RY
f r o m w h i c h t o v e n t u r e .”
S E R E N G ET I
SO UTH+EAST
Here in the south of the Serengeti, wildebeest congregate to give birth to their young. The predator action d u r i n g t h i s s e a s o n i s i n e v i t a b l y s p e c t a c u l a r, w i t h a n a b u n d a n c e o f c h e e t a h , h y e n a a n d w i l d d o g t o b e s e e n .
The landscape, originally formed by volcanic activity, has been sculpted further by climatic elements and in the south-east rise the great volcanic craters of the Ngorongoro highlands. On the periphery protrudes the Mountain of God, known to the local Maasai as Ol doinyo Lengai, an impressive active volcano (last erupting in 2009) and Tanzania’s third highest peak.
The South-central region of the Serengeti, between Seronera and Ndutu, is epic from January to May. It is here that the wildebeest movement comes into being and where this annual circumambulation ultimately ends. It is the place of conception following frenzied bouts of territorial conquests and mating and on these same short grass plains some 8 months later, the place of replenishment - a brief population explosion that calves around 8,000 ungulates daily, before their quest begins again.
The Serengeti offers arguably the most scintillating game drives in Africa, even when the migration is quiet, great herds of elephant, buffalo, eland, topi, kongoni, impala, giraffe and gazelle tempt opportunistic lion prides, prowling cheetah, hyena, jackal and the more calculating solitary leopard. This liberating golden expanse stretches eastwards into the Loliondo concession transforming into belts of thick acacia woodland, rich riverine forest, granite kopjes and wooded hills, framed dramatically by the distant Gol Mountains.
Although safari activities, especially walks, remain excellent in this area, the focus shifts slightly towards cultural interaction and the 6 vibrant Maasai communities that inhabit the area, offering a chance for visitors to spend time with their Maasai counterparts and glimpse at how life is lived in Africa. Within the context of splendid sunsets and awe-inspiring landscapes, the Serengeti presents an explicit illustration of the instinctual cycle of life; where the spectacle of predator versus prey dominates. Lake Vict oria
S ER ENGET I N. P Ngor o Ngor o
Lake Manyara N.P Lake Tang anyika
Kiliman jaro N.P Arusha Taran g ire N.P
Mahale Mount ains Kat avi N.P
Zanz i bar
Ruah a N.P
Selous G .R
Lake Nyasa
NA M IRI
PLAI NS
Fo r 2 0 ye a r s , t h e g ra s s l a n d s o f t h e E a s te r n S e re n g e t i we re c l o s e d to to u r i s t s to a l l ow t h e c h e e t a h p o p u l a t i o n t o r e p l e n i s h i t s e l f . To d a y, t h i s i s b i g - c a t t e r r i t o r y and undoubtedly offers East Africa’s best cheetah viewing opportunities. Namiri Plains is a relatively new property set in the remote eastern corner of the Serengeti where the southern short grass meets the acacia woodland. The Ngare Nanyuki underground river creates pockets of permanent water that support year-round game concentrations like big cats and accompanying carnivores. The plains are dotted with dramatic rocky outcrops and the sunrises over the magni�icent Barafu Kopjes to the east of the camp, never fail to impress. Namiri Plains camp was created for real safari enthusiasts wanting a high level of comfort in secluded surroundings and a deeper more intense wildlife experience. Tucked away in a corner of fever trees, this small and exclusive camp has terri�ic views over the endless sweeping plains that surround it. The standard of comfort you enjoy at Namiri Plains is nothing short of luxurious. The 8 traditional safari tents offer crisp linen, spacious verandas ensuite bathrooms
and super soaking bucket showers, snug beds and a well-stocked bar. All one could wish for.
You can expect the kind of cooking that when enjoyed under a glittering canopy of African stars, will remain with you forever. Explore the Namiri plains on daily game drives and enjoy alfresco breakfast picnics on top of Soil Le Motonyi rock or sundowners on top of a kopje.
“Expansive views, serious comfort,
exceptional privacy and U N R I VA L L E D s i g h t i n g s .”
D UNIA
CA M P
Tucked between the prime wildlife areas of central and southern Serengeti,
Dunia Camp combines elements of style and luxury with an incredible wildlife experience. The Great Migration passes through this area that is especially known for its abundance of lion, leopard and cheetah and the rare chance it offers to see the illustrious black rhino. The secluded setting in the Moru Kopjes is a retreat of tranquillity in the most scenic part of the Serengeti.
Dunia is a small, semi-permanent camp nestled away in a private location amongst the Moru Kopjes. Strategically placed, it allows access to some of the best game viewing areas available in the Serengeti. Each of the 7 spacious tents features an ensuite bathroom and private veranda overlooking the kopjes. The Moru Kopjes are arguably the most breathtaking scenery the Serengeti has to offer. Surreal rock formations protrude out from the plains and provide cats with a perfect viewpoint to overlook their territories. The Southern Serengeti is most famous for the period between December and March as the migration heads into this fertile grassland to give birth to the next generation of wildebeest and zebra. During these months, vast herds of migratory animals descend upon the Southern Plains – followed intently
by a range of predators. When the migration departs, attention shifts back to the Seronera Valley which is well known for its high numbers of resident game and quality game viewing. The Seronera River provides a constant water source and creates a forest region which follows the course of the river creating good cover for the elusive leopard. Strategically placed with easy access to both these regions, Dunia Camp is capable of offering superb game viewing throughout the year.
Game drives from Dunia Camp offer an excellent variety of habitats and combine Migration viewing with the search for big cats as well as the rhino - Moru Kopjes currently being the only area in the Serengeti where the illustrious animal can be viewed.
“The moment you arrive,
you will realise that you are s o m e w h e r e V E R Y s p e c i a l .�
G R U M E T I
Grumeti Reserve offers an unparalleled eco-safari teeming with magni�icent wildlife encounters
on the western corridor of the Serengeti. If it is solitude you seek then Grumeti Reserve is the place to be! This vast private concession comprises an exclusive trio of luxury lodges positioned ideally on the epic migratory route traversed annually by more than a million wildebeest.
The successes of conservation as well as diverse habitats have ensured that, since its inception in 2003, Singita Grumeti Reserve has a well-established resident game population that inhabit the area throughout the year. The famous Great Migration, since time immemorial, has been the dramatic backbone of this enormous wilderness. The wildebeest follow the rains. Every year they journey many thousands of kilometres. From December through to the end of May they are generally in the Eastern Serengeti. They calve on the short grass plains in February. During June, July and August they move West and North ultimately crossing the border into Kenya where they feed on the lush grass of the Maasai Mara until November when they start to head South again. In addition to the annual wildebeest migration some notable highlights include large breeding herds of buffalo, up to 400 strong, and herds of elephants number up to 450 – cocentrations seldom seen elsewhere in Africa. Large carnivore regulars such as lion, hyena, cheetah and leopard top the predator pile while the smaller carnivores top a total of about 70 mammal species found in the area.
Extra special year round highlights on the Grumeti River include the beautiful black and white colobus monkey. Continuing the special primate theme there is a chance to spot the world’s fasted primate – the rare patas monkey, out in the open woodlands. A herd of roan antelope can be seen as well. For birders special endemic highlights include the grey crested helmet-shrike, Fischer’s Lovebird, rufus-tailed weaver, Karamoja apalis and the grey-breasted spurfowl. They head up an impressive bird list of 400 species on the concession. Lake Victoria
GR UMET I R
Sereng et i N.P Kilimanjaro N.P Ngoro Ngor o
Lake Tang an yika
Taran g ire
Ar usha
Mahale Moun t ains
Kat avi N.P
Z anz i bar
Ruah a N.P
Selous G .R
Lake Nyasa
SASA KWA
Singita Sasakwa is colonial elegance from which one of nature’s greatest spectacles may be observed – both the lodge and its surrounds are beauty to behold.
In the far north located within the Grumeti, Tamzania’s largest private game reserve covering an enormous 350,000 acres, is the magni�icent Singita Sasakwa. This enormous concession is part of the mighty Serengeti, one of the world’s most renowned conservation areas, and every year during the great migration in�inite numbers of zebra, wildebeest and various antelope move through the Grumeti where the perfectly situated Sasakwa Lodge provides some of the best views imaginable of this wildlife marvel. The lodge is comprised of 9 cottages and 1 private retreat with stone walls, high ceilings and grand verandas exuding an ambience of yester-year; charming and stately. Each cottage is set on an escarpment overlooking the open Serengeti plains, and combines the best of old world pleasures and the height of modern convenience, from the welcoming comfort of a four-poster bed to the spacious ensuite bathroom. The living arrangements are completed by a heated plunge pool and personal bar; this lodge ful�ils every desire.
For further mental and physical revitalisation a gym, yoga centre and spa render opportunities for spiritual ful�ilment and pampered relaxation.
Stepping forth from the luxury of the cottages, game drives are enjoyed amidst some of the most unspoilt wilderness in the world. This area has excellent year round game viewing and is ideally placed for the intense viewing of the great migration and its accompanying drama and tragedy. Other activities include horseback safaris, archery, croquet, and aerial excursions over the endless and beautiful plains. Set in this enchanted and unspoilt wilderness, Sasakwa Lodge provides the luxury of an old Edwardian-style manor house.
“The view from the lodge is almost ENDLESS over the majestic
S e r e n g e t i p l a i n s b e l o w.”
K E N YA
‘ S A FA R I ’ i s t h e S w a h i l i w o r d f o r ‘ a j o u r n e y ’ a n d K e n y a e v o k e s n o s t a l g i a f o r t h e e a r l i e s t o r i g i n s
of the African safari. Romance and adventure are plentiful in the classic stories told in ‘Out of Africa’ a n d ‘ B o r n F r e e ’, i l l u s t r a t i n g K e n y a ’ s s c e n e r y, w i l d l i f e a n d p e o p l e , w h i c h h a v e e n d u r i n g a p p e a l .
Kenya is a sovereign state achieving political independence from the British in 1963. Since, anxious times have been de�ied, mainly due to its dynamic people who are amongst the most colourful in East Africa. Friendly and hospitable, the Kenyan people rely heavily on tourism.
Located on the east coast of Africa, the Equator bisects the country resulting in a tropical climate, although diverse geography provokes wide variations in temperature, rainfall and humidity. In relation to size, the assorted landscape is unparalleled and the multitude of national parks and reserves all have their own unique attractions. Marine reserves boast coral reef gardens with palm fringed beaches and turquoise oceans, while the savannah grasslands exhibit quintessential depictions of imagined Africa, harsh trackless expanses, solitary �lat - topped acacias and incredible concentrations of plains game.
Kenya remains one of the best places in Africa to see great wildlife – lions, elephants, leopards and of course the annual ‘wildebeest migration’ streaming into the Masai Mara from Tanzania. The East African Rift Valley runs through the country from top to bottom and provides stunning landscapes of giant volcanoes, hot springs and �lamingo sprinkled lakes.
Dominated by Lake Turkana, the ancient source of the Nile, the Rift Valley lakes are some of the most picturesque in Africa. The formation of the Rift created Mt Kenya, the second highest peak in Africa, some three millions years ago. “The spiritual home of safari, Kenya is where it all began. From the big cats of the Mara to the elephants of Amboseli, combined with traditional tribes, real tented camps and an unparalleled physical diversity, Kenya has it all. ”
Uganda
KENYA Lake Victoria Rwanda Burundi
Tanzania
Zanzibar
“A c o n t i n e n t i n o n e c o u n t r y ” Sandor Carter
T 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
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
G A L D E S S A
M A I N
Galdessa is the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust’s newest property o f f e r i n g g u e s t s t h e c h a n c e t o e x p l o r e a p r i s t i n e c o r n e r o f Ts a v o , w i t h t h e a b i l i t y t o a c c e s s t h e D S W T ’ s Vo i R e h a b i l i t a t i o n S t o c k a d e s . With a commanding view across the mightly Galana River, Galdessa is ideally and beautifully positioned to catch cooling breezes and observe wildlife crossing.
Galdessa Main offers 5 spacious tented bedrooms, sleeping up to 10 guests. These tents, surrounded by doum palms with beautiful views over the river, are a combination of twins and doubles. Each unit has an ensuite indoor shower and loo. Each tent has a Balinese style deck overlooking the river where you can relax and unwind. The large and airy thatched mess area offers a combined living and dining room area with commanding views down river and an in�inity pool. Tsavo East National Park is the largest protected area in Kenya; 13.747 square kms of pristine wilderness with a greater biodiversity than any other Park in the world, since it is here that the Northern and Southern forms of fauna meet. David Sheldrick was the founding Warden of this giant National Park from 1949 –1976.
The Southern Area of Tsavo East is renowned for its elephant herds with Tsavo being home to the largest elephant population in Kenya. The open plains of the southern sector of the Park host numerous grazing species, with massive buffalo herds, giraffe, eland, Oryx and zebra, just some of what you are likely to see. This quiet corner is also home to the infamous Tsavo lions and leopards, both plentiful in these parts. The main lifeline for Tsavo East is the picturesque Galana River and Galdessa is situated on its banks, facing the landmark Yatta Plateau, the longest lava �low in the world, which dissects Tsavo East’s southern and northern areas. By staying at Galdessa, you have a wonderful opportunity to spend time with the Voi elephant orphans at the stockades that are located about an hour’s drive from the camp. The routine of the keepers and their charges varies from day to day but roughly goes as follows:
11am mud bath 5pm stockades
T S A V O
T R U S T
Ts a v o T r u s t i s a n a c t i o n o r i e n t a t e d , � i e l d - b a s e d , K e n y a n n o t - f o r - p r o � i t c o n s e r v a t i o n o r g a n i s a t i o n t h a t w o r k s t o g i v e t h e w i l d l i f e a n d p e o p l e o f Ts a v o t h e r i g h t t o a f u t u r e .
Tsavo is the best place in the world to see the super tuskers - bull elephants with enormous ivory. Not only do these huge animals derive from an important “large ivory” gene pool, but they also determine the future of both wildlife and people in the wider Tsavo region. These giants among giants represent a signi�icant economic asset to Tsavo and to Kenya, and the ultimate goal of the Tsavo Trust team is to help ensure the survival, security, ecological integrity and revenue-earning potential of this ecosystem for generations to come.
CEO, Richard Moller, formerly of Lewa Wildlife Conservancy, runs the Big Tusker Project, with a particular focus on the area’s famous ‘hundred pounders’ – huge bull elephants, bearing ivory weighing in excess of 45kg (100lbs) per tusk. Richard’s day starts before dawn to ensure a �irst-light take-off, casting its benevolent shadow over Tsavo, �lying alongside Kenya Wildlife Service on their biodiversity protection and research and monitoring missions. Early successes of the project include poachers being apprehended, �irearms recovered, and locating carcasses of elephants dead from natural causes, thereby enabling KWS to recover the ivory before passing poachers gained an easy prize. Where KWS takes a lead role in Wildlife Conservation
in the area, Tsavo Trust provides support through meaningful engagement with communities in the wider Tsavo region, including their Wildlife Conservation Program, Community Conservancy Program, and Animal Welfare Program. By supporting the development of a network of community owned, community managed conservancies, that bene�it local people, using wildlife conservation as the catalyst for increased security and economic stability, it is a game-changer.
Between 2013 - 2017, the Trust played a signi�icant role alongside KWS in reducing elephant poaching by over 50% in the Tsavo Conservation Area. In 2017 alone, 867 hours were �lown by Tsavo Trust, covering 103,777 km. Supported by 4 joint Tsavo Trust/KWS ground teams, this accounted for: 241 tusks recovered (nearly all natural causes of death). Big bull named elephants observed 150 times, cows 73 times. 43 fresh and recent poacher’s camps found, 101 arrests made, several of these were ivory dealers and poachers, others bushmeat, illegal livestock, charcoaling etc. 1,008 snares recovered – 41 for big game, 208 for medium and 759 for small game and 8 responses to assist KWS in armed contacts.
H E M I N G W A Y S
Hemingways Nairobi is a luxury hotel with opulent design and levels of comfort;
as well as lovely views over the scenic Ngong Hills, just minutes away from Karen Blixen’s farm house. This plantation-style property harking back to the days when its namesake writer explored East Africa, has 45 spacious suites, spread out overlooking the garden to the iconic Ngong Hills in the distance, designed in such a way as to give the hotel a much smaller, more intimate atmosphere than the number of rooms might suggest.
All of the rooms are �itted with mod cons, even a �lat screen TV cleverly hidden in a blanket box at the end of the bed and modern and very spacious double size bathrooms. The dining is considered some of the best in Kenya, with their famous steaks perfectly grilled over an imported charcoal "josper " oven, but wine and taster evenings allow for a more relaxed experience, if the private dining room (and its superb wine list) is not quite your thing. Better still, take a long lazy lunch on the shady veranda looking out across the grounds, with fresh produce and local specialities washed down with a cold beer
or glass of wine. You can then head to the small pool to relax, or choose any number of treatments in their spa.
There is no denying that Hemingway’s is one of the grandest properties in town, but amazingly is fantastic value. From the sweeping staircase that greets you on arrival, the relaxed but polished lobby and bar, to the beautifully manicured gardens bursting with colour it is very much the place to enjoy a few luxuries. There is no denying this hotel is slick in every way, but the staff and managers, give it a personality and warmth that elevates it above many of the other hotels in the area. Somewhere to go and be indulged.
“Set in the leafy suburbs
of Karen, the elegant grounds
make for a luxurious stopover b e t w e e n d u s t y s a f a r i s .”
P A O L O
P A R A Z Z I
I n 2 0 1 4 , P a o l o w a s s i g n e d u p a s a p a r t n e r o f A f r i c a ’ s o l d e s t e x i s t i n g s a f a r i c o m p a n y, K e r & D o w n e y.
It was a testament to the level of professionalism that he went straight from a junior guide to partner – bypassing what is usually a long and arduous process of quali�ication and mentoring.
For a young guide in his early 30s, Paolo Parazzi has a surprising number of strings to his bow. A trained accountant, seasoned scuba diver and boat skipper, this third-generation Kenyan is equally at home running safaris in remote and rugged bushland as he is leading long-distance kitesur�ing expeditions, tagging turtles, or free diving with reef sharks. For visitors to Africa who hanker for a balanced blend of ‘beach and bush’, there are few more quali�ied guides.
Paolo grew up in Watamu on Kenya’s north coast, the son of an Ethiopia-born Italian businessman and a Sri Lanka-born English environmentalist. His mother’s strong conservation ethic was imbued in him from an early age, as he accompanied her to dozens of villages promoting sustainable �ishing practices and turtle conservation for her Local Ocean Trust. He also spent much of his youth on safari in the Kenyan bush, staying with family friends who own some of the country’s leading luxury properties – a connection that adds an intimate ‘homecoming feel’ for many of his current guests. In 2011, Paolo co-founded the pioneering guide training school, EcoTraining East Africa, which has put more than 250 guides through professional courses and delivered conservation training at most of Kenya’s major safari properties. His unmatched knowledge of Africa’s east coast has established him as one of the region’s leading ocean-based guides, regularly sought out by professional water sportsmen, marine biologists and game �ishermen. Having travelled and guided throughout East Africa, Paolo is now widely recognised as one of the top wildlife guides of his generation. Together with his business partner, Sam Stogdale, Paolo continues to broaden his wilderness repertoire – leading recent safaris to Rwanda, Botswana, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Madagascar, Zambia and Mozambique. In the process, the pair have developed close ties with a number of celebrated conservationists, as well as strong friendships within several traditional Maasai communities – connections that add yet another compelling dimension to their safaris.
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
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