WO L F R A M FA M I LY SA FA R I I T I N E R ARY
K E N YA 1 4 th - 2 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
G I R A F F E M A N O R - K & D LUXU RY C A M P - G A L D E S S A - K & D LUXU RY C A M P - A R I J I J U - H O G H O U S E N A I R O B I - M A S A I M A R A - T S AVO E A S T - A M B O S E L I - L A I K I P I A - N A I R O B I
14th July 2018: NAIROBI
On arrival you will be met and transferred to Giraffe Manor, Nairobi’s most famous boutique hotel. You will be here for one night.
15th - 18th July 2018: MAASAI MARA
After sharing your breakfast with Rothschild’s giraffe you will be transferred to Wilson airport for your private charter �light west, across the Great Rift Valley, it’s lakes and volcanoes and on into perhaps the best known area in the World for Big Game - the Maasai Mara. You will be based in your very own private camp for four nights.
1 9 t h & 2 0 t h J u l y 2 0 1 8 : T S AVO E A S T
We will �ly you, again by private charter, south east to the wilds of Tsavo East and where the largest elephants in Africa can be seen. The Tsavo supertuskers carry over 100lbs ivory on each side. We will be based at the new camp, Galdessa on the banks of the Galana River for two nights.
21st -23rd July 2018: AMBOSELI
Today we �ly you south towards the Tanzanian border and into the shadows of our continent’s highest mountain - Kilimanjaro. Here you can spend time with the colourful and prough Kisoongo Maasai. Again you will be in your own private camp set up in our concession area on the edge of Amboseli NP. You will be here for three nights.
24th - 26th July 2018: LAIKIPIA
Your last safari destination is in the north, and Arijiju is located within Borana Ranch. Here you look across the vast tracts of the Northern Frontier and are at the foot of Mt. Kenya. Arijiju is luxurious and the perfect place to �inish up. You are here for three nights. It is also the perfect launch pad for.....
2 5 t h & 2 6 t h J u l y 2 0 1 8 : H E L I C O P T E R S A FA R I
We would love to encourage you, for the last couple of days to explore further by helicopter. You can reach areas otherwise completely inaccessible. Lake Turkana, the Jade Sea is up on the Ethiopian border - to get there you �ly over sand dunes, �lamingo fringed lakes and over volacnoes. We’d also suggest the following morning and quick trip up Mt. Kenya to the �ishing lakes high high up in the alpine zone with extraordinary plants and phenomincal scenery. Using these machine is an incredible way to enhance your trip.
27th July 2018: NAIROBI
On your �inal day we �ly you back to Nairobi and invite you to base at our home, Hog House for the rest of the day. We will transfer you to the airport in time for your �light home.
R E G I O N S
W O L F R A M FA M I LY S A FA R I I T I N E R A R Y This two week safari to Kenya takes in four of our very best wildlife areas and combines the most abundant game areas on the continent with incredible scenery and fascinating cultures.
D AY 1
NAIROBI
GIRAFFE MANOR
D AY 2 - 5
Lake Turkana
MAASAI MARA
K & D LUXU RY C A M P
Lake Logipi
D AY 6 & 7
T S AVO E A S T GALDESSA D AY 8 - 1 0
AMBOSELI
K & D LUXU RY C A M P D AY 1 1 - 1 3
LAIKIPIA ARIJIJU
D AY 1 4
NAIROBI
HOG HOUSE
We have chosen areas where the wildlife is centre stage and that are remote and also with the freedom for us to properly explore, be it in a specially adapted safari vehicle, on foot, horseback, or even by helicopter.
Lake Baringo
Ewaso Nyiro River
Samburu
Lake Bogoria
Lake Victoria
Equator
Mt. Kenya
Lake Nakuru Masai Mara
Your accommdations are a mix of stunningly traditional safari camping - canvas tents sumptuously out�itted with every possible comfort - to luxury lodges perched overlooking endless views across wildernesses that seem to go on forever.
Shaba
Lake Naivasha Nairobi Tana River
Lake Magadi Amboseli
Ts a v o Watamu
Mombasa
Lamu
This safari will be privately guided by the chairman of the oldest operating safari company, James Robertson. He will open your eyes to the deep and timeless beauty of Africa a continent with tribespeople still living out traditions of millenia ago. This a beautifully balanced safari to Africa’s most seductive country where you can expereience a very real adventure together as a family.
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.”
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
M O B I L E
C A M P
E x p e r i e n c e t o t a l f r e e d o m i n s o m e o f t h e m o s t b r e a t h t a k i n g a r e a s t h e M a r a R e s e r v e h a s t o o f f e r, where animals stroll right past the camp and you have the privilege to set the pace
Mara Mobile Camp is located within the Masai Mara National Reserve, which lies in the northern-most sector of the 373,000 acre Mara ecosystem. The mobility of the camp provides the ultimate advantage with regards to wildlife viewing, particularly of occurrences as unpredictable as the Great Migration. This freedom allows for the locating of the ideal vantage point for witnessing over a million wildebeest, 360,000 Thomson’s gazelle and 200,000 zebra descending on the Mara plains. Situated on vast grasslands and shaded by dense bush and �lat top acacias, the tented camp is equipped with all the necessities required for a comfortable getaway with its simplicity adding to the authentic African bush experience. The wildlife is abundant and birdlife is particularly proli�ic with over 450 bird species, 57 of which are birds of prey - this area is a bird lovers’ dream. The Mara is known for its high predator populations including lion, leopard, cheetah and hyena. A wide variety of other mammals may also be viewed including elephant, buffalo, hippo, topi and rhino.
of your own safari escape.
An additional pleasure of a mobile camp is the �lexible time frame in which dining, relaxing and activities may be enjoyed. The mobile camp focuses on exclusivity and privacy. Away from commonly visited areas and free from schedules, an ambience of pure enjoyment is created. A true highlight occurs after evening dining, where a crackling camp�ire and star scattered Kenyan sky keep company with the calls of hyena and grunting hippo. The format of the mobile camp also aids in the conservation of the Mara - Serengeti ecosystem, with the land being left as untouched as it was before, once the experience comes to an end.
“A s o n e o f t h e
wonders of the natural world, the Migration is a sight to behold and one
which is perfectly
catered for at the unique M a r a M o b i l e C a m 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
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
M A A S A I
T h e M a a s a i t r i b e s p e o p l e o f s o u t h e r n K e n y a a n d n o r t h e r n Ta n z a n i a
are a Nilotic ethnic group who arrived in this area about 300 years ago from the North. They are among the best known, and most distinctive tribes living in the semi arid lands along and beside the Great Rift Valley and close to many well known national parks and reserves. Their cousins North of the Equator are the Samburu, with whom they share many customs. The Maasai occupy a total land area of 39.5 million acres and number around 1.5million. They are semi-nomadic herding cattle over large areas of communally owned land. Their family encampments are comprised of a circular boma (fence) of Acacia to protect livestock from predators. Inside the boma they build small loafshaped houses made of mud, sticks, grass and cow dung. The women are responsible for building houses, supplying water, collecting �irewood, milking cattle and cooking. The young men or warriors (Moran) enforce security while boys are responsible for herding livestock. The elders are directors and advisors of day-to-day activities and make decisions for the whole community. On the western boundary of National Park lies Kitirua – concession shared between Downey and the local Kisongo
Amboseli a private Ker and clan. We
have nurtured a relationship over 35 years such that we are welcomed into their homes to learn something of their traditional way of life. By the same token we welcome them into camp thereby creating a unique opportunity for guests to interact. K&D sponsors two local schools in the area. The Ngararambuni Nursery school is on the edge of Kitirua Conservancy and caters to children between 4 & 10 years old. It is still set up underneath a large spreading Acacia tortilis and has three dedicated Maasai teachers. We helped to set this little school up in 2003, before this the children would have to walk 7km through an area rich in big game to get to school.
Whilst in Amboseli we encourage as much interaction with local people as possible. Even though we do not share a language it is extraordinary to watch our children play with theirs as the common language of fun transgresses these boundaries. Learning to throw spears and how to use bows and arrows, digging for water, and donning traditional garb are all a part of being with these colourful, friendly, fun and fascinating people.
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
A R I J I J U
Arijiju 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, Arijiju is a private sanctuary that offers world-class wildlife, adventure and wellness facilities in surroundings of exceptional beauty and serenity. Arijiju lies low on the land. The building behaves as though it has always been on that warm Kenyan hillside with living grassed roofs that move with the air and connect it into the earth and forest. Partly sculpted into the rock-bed, its subtle entrance opens into a fragrant, greened space with generous Swahili curves and an air of monastic calm. Walls of stone built on stone create vaulted walkways that lure you into cool shade and lead you along earth paths towards a simply luxurious gym, spa and hammam, dappled suntraps and Lamu daybeds.
The retreat consists of 5 bedroom suites, ideal for up to 10 guests. The main residence contains 3 double bedroom suites and 2 additional guest cottage suites linked to
to the main house, providing separate but linked accommodation. The main shared spaces include a main living room/dining room, bar lounge, library, media/cinema room and roof terraces that all open out into a central courtyard.
Tennis and squash courts, fully equipped gym, 20 metre lap pool, running tracks, hamman and spa are all part of Arijiju’s extensive wellness facilities that take advantage of its ideal, high-altitude training location at over 6,000 feet.
“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 .”
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.
M T.
K E N YA
BY
HEL I CO P T E R
This early morning helicopter excursion takes you over the peaks and majestic wilderness of Mt. Kenya, s t o p p i n g f o r a p i c n i c b r e a k f a s t o n t h e s h o r e s o f a r e m o t e a l p i n e l a k e w i t h e x t r a o r d i n a r y m o n t a n e s c e n e r y, with a chance to �ish for rainbow trout. This really is one of the most privileged ways to feel the diversity and grandness of Kenya’s highest mountain. The focus is on landscapes and wildlife, and are tailored to your interests. In the hands of these highly experienced and exceptional pilot-guides, our heli-trips promise to be an unforgettable experience.
Iconic in shape and size, Mount Kenya is situated in the heart of Kenya, on the equator - its highest peak ‘Batian’ stands at 17,057 feet. The snowy peaks can be seen on clear days from as far as Mount Kilimanjaro some 300 kilometers away. The vast and desolate nature of Mount Kenya with its towering summit, sheer cliffs and glaciers become apparent as we circle above the peaks of Batian and Nelion. The jagged peaks are the remnants of the tubes that once carried huge volumes of lava to the surface and travelling by helicopter, you will land at one of the many spectacular lakes and tarns that dot the upper slopes. Lake Michelson is one of our favourite spots that few have ever been lucky enough to visit. Almost inaccessible by foot, and well off the beaten track, the lake is located in a deep crater which falls away to a spectacular valley.
We land on the shore for a picnic breakfast, surrounded by beautiful views and unique mountain �lora. Spend the next few hours �ly-�ishing for rainbow trout from the lakeshore.
The mountain has a great diversity of geographical features, vegetation zones and climate bands - these become apparent as we descend 9,842 feet from the peaks to the foothills in just 35 kilometers. There is no better way to appreciate this contrast than by helicopter. To experience the mountain at its best, visits are scheduled in the early morning, so you will be on the mountain by 07:30 a.m.
“Soar over Kenya’s 3 million year
old mountain...
A N D T H E N L A N D O N I T.”
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.”
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 . . .”
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.
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