A NNA M A ND F R I D E S JA M E S
AR I E D U N L A P E N D S SAFA R I I GN E D BY RO BE RT S O N
1 7 th
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K E N YA 3 1 s t OCTOBER 2 0 1 9
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I T I N E R A R Y
O V E R V I E W
H O G H O U S E - T O R T I L I S - S A R A R A - L E WA W I L D E R N E S S - TA N G U L I A - H O G H O U S E
N A I R O B I - A M B O S E L I - K E N YA’ S A R I D N O R T H - L A I K I P I A - M A A S A I M A R A - N A I R O B I 17th & 18th October 2019: Nairobi
On arrival you will be met and transferred to our home, Hog House located within the reknowned Giraffe Sanctuary. You will be here for two nights.
19th - 21st October 2019: Amboseli
After breakfast we will �ly you south, towards the Tanzanian border and into the shadows of Kilimanjaro to Amboseli. You will be based at Tortilis Camp for three nights.
22nd & 23rd October 2019: Kenya’s arid North
Today we �ly you north past Mt. Kenya to Sarara, one of James’ favourite places. You will have two nights here in some of Kenya’s most drammatic and wild scenery. You’ll be amongst the Samburu tribe and also have the opportunity to visit the Reteti Elephant Orphanage.
24th - 26th October 2019: Laikipia
We �ly you west to Lewa Downs at the foot of Mt. Kenya where you will have three nights at Lewa Wilderness.
27th - 29th October 2019: Maasai Mara
After breakfast you will �ly southwest over the Great Rift Valley and into perhaps the best known area in the World for Big Game - the Maasai Mara. We have selected Tangulia camp for you as it is close to the Mara Conservancy a much more private corner of the Reserve which typically at this time of year hosts the bulk of the migration.
30th October 2019: Nairobi.
We will �ly you back to Wilson Airport and transfer you to Hog House for one last night.
31st October 2019: Travel Day
We will transfer you to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport for your �light very early in the morning.
R E G I O N S
D U N L A P / W I L E Y / R E E D F I N A L S A FA R I I T I N E R A R Y This fabulous 14 day safari takes in and showcases four of Kenya’s best wildlife areas. We will show you not only wildlife in incredible abundance but also breaktaking and diverse scenery and introduce you to some interesting cultures.
D AY 1 & 2
NAIROBI
HOG HOUSE
D AY 3 - 5
TORTILIS
Lake Logipi
D AY 6 & 7
K E N YA’ S A R I D N O R T H SARARA
D AY 8 - 1 0
LAIKIPIA
L E WA W I L D E R N E S S D AY 1 1 - 1 3
MAASAI MARA TA N G U L I A D AY 1 4
NAIROBI
HOG HOUSE
After two nights at our home in the Giraffe Sanctuary you will head south to Amboseli where the elephant viewing is second to none against a backdrop of Kilimanjaro. You’ll also have time here with the colourful and proud Maasai people.
Lake Turkana
AMBOSELI
Lake Baringo
Ewaso Nyiro River
Samburu
Shaba
Lake Bogoria
Lake Victoria
Equator
Mt. Kenya
Lake Nakuru Masai Mara
Then north to stunning Sarara, nestled in a horseshoe of mountains and overlooking millions of acres of wilderness. Here you’ll see arid specialists like Reticulated giraffe and gerenuk and possibly lesser Kudu. And you’ll be able to spend time at the Singing Wells with the Samburu tribe. We highly recommend a visit to the new Reteti Elephant Orphanage. Great leopard here too.
Lake Naivasha Nairobi Tana River
Lake Magadi Amboseli
Ts a v o Watamu
Mombasa
Lamu
Next to Lewa Downs where you’ll see Grevy’s zebra and both Black and White Rhino. Here you can walk and ride horses if you wish.
Finally we take you to the Mara which at the end of October should full of wildebeest as the great migrating herds begin to head south. The predator viewing here is always incredible, lion, cheetah and leopard are all here.
We will �ly you back to Nairobi for one last night before transferring you to JKIA for your �light home.
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.”
A M B O S E L I
Against the magni�icent backdrop of Mount Kilimanjaro lies Amboseli, a national park and ecosystem. Meaning the ‘salty earth’ in the language of the Maasai, Amboseli is aptly named after the alkaline volcanic ash that spewed from the now dormant volcano Kilimanjaro. The 1.2 million acre ecosystem lies on Kenya’s boarder with Tanzania and incorporates habitats of dry lake beds, savannah grasslands, woodland and swamps fed by springs emanating from Mount Kilimanjaro.
The area is home to grassland dwellers such as buffalo, wildebeest, zebra, giraffe, gazelle and warthog, while the resident predators include lion, cheetah and hyena. Amboseli is also a birding hotspot, with over 600 species recorded. The principal attraction at Amboseli however, is the large herds of free roaming elephants made famous by Dr. Joyce Poole who, through the Amboseli Elephant Research Project, put these intelligent giants on the map. Her long running large mammal research project in Africa combines 30 years of uninterrupted study and chronicles Amboseli’s elephant herds, from new born calves to 60 year old matriarchs and old bulls that carry some of the longest tusks in Africa. Contiguous with Amboseli National Park is the Kitirua Wildlife Conservancy, a partnership between a local Maasai community and the private sector.
Designed to protect wildlife, this private and exclusive conservancy enables both day and night drives, walking and an unparalleled opportunity to meet members of the Maasai community in a welcoming and culturally sensitive manner.
This is a quintessential African landscape of elephants and traditional tribes with the snow-capped peak of Mount Kilimanjaro rising above the clouds behind. Lake Turkana
Lake Victoria
Mt. Kenya N.P
Masai Mara
Nairobi
AMBOSELI N.P
Kilimanjaro N.P
Ts a v o N.P
T O R T I L I S
C A M P
To r t i l i s C a m p i s o n t h e e d g e o f A m b o s e l i N a t i o n a l P a r k a n d w i t h i n a c o m m u n i t y c o n s e r v a n c y,
surrounded by an Acacia tortilis woodland; the thorny umbrella tree from which the camp takes its name. An exclusive getaway, the camp is framed by the world’s highest freestanding mountain, the snow-capped and majestic Mt Kilimanjaro. Boasting over 300 bird species and over 1000 elephants, many of which are the largest in Africa, this particular mammal population is one of Amboseli’s most elite characteristics.
The 17 spacious tents with ensuite bath rooms and the palatial private house, with a dining area and stone laid �loors, are nestled amongst acacia trees along the side of Llimbarishi Hill. The decor is natural yet lavish, complimented with eclectic carpets and grass lamps. The main lodge offers elegantly thatched dining, bar and lounge areas as well as a sparkling pool. For further relaxation, guests may peruse the shop or indulge in a revitalising massage.
Cuisine is offered in the dining area overlooking the breathtaking surroundings, or in the form of a bush breakfast for
serene enjoyment. Game drives and bush walks, offered by the Maasai guides, within the Reserve and the almost 300,000 acre concession, provide a spectacular opportunity to view a variety of wildlife up close – dikdik, jackal, cheetah, leopard, lion, rhino, zebra and buffalo. However, the true wonder of Tortilis Camp lies in its setting, whether sipping sundowners in the bush surrounded by sounds of the wild, or enjoying an excursion to the Elephant Research centre.
“The natural beauty
and magni�icence of viewing the African elephant up close with
Mt. Kilimanjaro as a
b a c k d r o p i s u n s u r p a s s e d .”
K E N YA’ S
A RID
NO RT H
S a m b u r u , B u f f a l o S p r i n g s , M e r u a n d S h a b a a r e a l l w i l d l i f e r e s e r ve s w h i c h l i e i n a va s t a r e a o f o p e n , t h o r n b u s h c o u n t r y a n d d e s e r t t h a t s t r e t c h e s n o r t h f r o m M t . Ke n ya t o S u d a n a n d E t h i o p i a . I t i s t h e s t a r k c o n t r a s t between emptiness, wilderness and rising mountains that makes this area such a spectacular destination. The lifeblood of the North is the Ewaso Nyiro River and the crystal clear springs that empty into it. Its banks shaded by graceful doum palms, poplars and Acacia elatior trees, the Ewaso Nyiro attracts more and more wildlife as the dry season lengthens from June to October, although it is beautiful at any time of year.
Here you will �ind animals like the Grevy zebra, Beisa oryx, the Somali ostrich, reticulated giraffe, gerenuk and the tiny dik-dik; all species of northern Kenya which have adapted to the harsh arid conditions of the Northern Frontier District. With luck you will also �ind the 'big cats' staking out the favourite drinking places of their prey along the lovely palm-fringed banks of the Ewaso Nyiro River. Wherever you look mountains rise out of the plains in the blue distance, the conical ash cones of the Nyambenis to the south, Lolokwe and the rugged Mathews Range in the east and to the north the granite towers of Bodich, Kamanga and Tumtu that impose above the Ewaso Nyiro.
Samburu, Pokot, Turkana, Rendille, Gabbra – these are the tribes of the north. All are proud and tough. The Samburu are related to the Masai although they live just north of the equator where the foothills of Mount Kenya merge into the northern desert and slightly south of Lake Turkana in the Rift Valley Province of Kenya. The purported
bene�its of modern life are often undesirable to the Samburu. They remain much more traditional in life and attitude than their Maasai cousins. The Turkana, like the Samburu and Maasai, still maintain their undiluted traditional way of life. They are distinguished as being great survivors, living in harsh and inhospitable terrain. As with all other pastoralist tribes in Kenya, livestock, especially cattle, are at the core of Turkana culture, they live a nomadic life, always moving from one place to another depending on the availability of pasture and water for their animals. Lake Turkana
K E N YA’ S ARID NORTH Ewaso Nyiro River Equator
Lake Victoria Masai Mara
Mt. Kenya N.P Nairobi Amboseli N.P
Tana River Ts a v o N.P
S A R A R A
Within a cluster of mountains and hills known as the Mathews Range, north of the Samburu Game Reserve, the vicinity is characterised by valleys, ridges and several springs, its lush vegetation standing in contrast to the semi-arid bush in the greater area. Sarara Camp is located on the 185,300 acre Namunyak Community Group Ranch at the base of Kenya’s Northern Frontier District.
The 6 spacious tents, shaded by thorny acacias, each boast a veranda with comfortable table and chairs for savouring morning tea. Although the bathroom is separate to the tent, some facilities are still ensuite. The decor is an amalgamation of earthy simplicity and 1920’s safari Africa, embodied in the romanticised feel of the high ceilings, heavy wooden trunks and Persian carpets. Dining is �lexible and served at the whim of the guests, alfresco in a dry riverbed as a picnic or indoors amid decadent surroundings.
Sarara’s guests enjoy highly exclusive activities ranging from a private �light over the Mathews Range, a helicopter ride up Mount Kenya or a �ly camping experience with the stars as the ceiling. Bush walks and game drives offer the opportunity to view buffalo, leopard and elephant (now numbering 4000 in the Mathews Range), or
a relaxing afternoon spent in the rim �low pool frequently lends to sightings of herds which come to drink and spray themselves with water. Prey activity includes both the Greater and Lesser kudu and endemic species such as gerenuk and Reticulated giraffe.
The Singing Wells at Sarara allow guests to witness a timeless Samburu tradition. Naked warriors chant as they dig wells in the sand river passing buckets hand over hand to the surface where they �ill hand hewn troughs. They sing their stock in to drink. This intimate ritual is an absolute highlight.
“A d e e p l y p e r s o n a l a n d unique tented camp
experience, Sarara Camp displays the heart of A f r i c a .”
R E T E T I
S A N C T U A R Y
The Reteti Elephant Sanctuary is situated in the remote Mathews Range, among Kenya's second largest elephant population.
Reteti lies within a 975,000 acre swath of thorny scrubland in northern Kenya known as the Namunyak Wildlife Conservation Trust—part of the ancestral homeland of the Samburu people. It is the �irst community owned elephant orphanage in Africa, of�icially opened in 2016. It takes in orphaned and abandoned elephant calves with an aim to release them back into the wild herds adjoining the Sanctuary. The region includes the Turkana, Rendille, Borana, and Somali, as well as the Samburu—ethnic groups that have fought to the death over the land and its resources. Now they’re working together to strengthen their communities and protect the estimated 6,000 elephants they live, sometimes uneasily, alongside. The need for elephant orphanages like Reteti is a sad result of the decimation of herds by ivory poachers in recent decades, a pattern playing out widely in sub-Saharan Africa. Other causes for an orphaned or abandoned elephant include man made wells, drought, human-wildlife con�lict and natural mortality.
It is estimated between 5 and 10 elephant calves are rescued in North Kenya each year. The Sanctuary was established in response to demands from the local community, who recognise wildlife as an opportunity to improve livelihoods.
The elephant keepers all recruited from within the Conservancy, have perfected the skill of returning lost calves back to their family herds. The primary aim of the Sanctuary is to not hand raise any individuals – with elephants only being taken into care as a last resort. Feeding is a big part of the day’s work for the handlers. Half-gallon-size bottles of special formula are given every 3 hours around the clock, and drinking is a noisy, slurpy affair. Afterward the elephants fall into a deep stupor. By visiting the sanctuary you are helping these iconic animals and the communities that care for them.
“ Wa r r i o r s w h o o n c e fe a re d
e l e p h a n t s , n o w p r o t e c t t h e m .”
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 E W A
W I L D E R N E S S
Lewa Wilderness rests on the northern foothills of Mount Kenya,
the second tallest mountain in Africa with the Batian peaks standing at 17,057 feet. Lewa Wilderness is one of Kenya’s oldest and most private safari ventures.
Situated on Lewa Downs, the privately owned 62,000 acre Lewa Wildlife Conservancy is located on the Laikipia plateau, a 2 million acre amalgamation of semi-arid grassland, ridged escarpments, basalt hills, small kopjes and riverine forests.
The lodge has 9 exclusive rooms: 6 thatched cottages tucked into the hillside overlooking Lewa’s Eastern Marania Valley, and 3 thatched garden cottages set in the beautiful green lawns. Each cottage is tastefully decorated with antique and handmade furniture, giving rustic charm and the character of a ranch homestead. Canopied beds, patterned cushions, crisp white linen and wooden furnishings, comfort is at the heart of the decor.
Due to the private land ownership and minimal restrictions, a wide variety of activities are available, including camel rides to a nearby animal orphanage. The main lodge offers
a refreshing saltwater pool, tennis courts and an elegant dining area where organic cuisine may be enjoyed indoors or alfresco. Walking safaris with Maasai guides and night and day drives, offer views of endemic wild life such as gerenuk, reticulated giraffe, Lelwel hartebeest, Grevy’s zebra and Somali ostrich. With the highest concentration of rhino in East Africa, notable numbers of lion, cheetah and the reclusive leopard, wildlife sightings are sure to amaze. Or, accompanied by knowledgeable Maasai guides and with a red sun setting in the distance, experience the Kenyan bush on horseback.
“Lewa Wilderness Camp offers a doorway to rare wildlife and a
culturally rich people from the comfort
o f a n A f r i c a n s a n c t u a r 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
T A N G U L I A
M A R A
S i t u a t e d o n p r i v a t e l a n d o n t h e w e s t e r n b o u n d a r y o f t h e M a r a R e s e r v e , Ta n g u l i a a l l o w s f o r e a s y a c c e s s i n t o b o t h t h e T r i a n g l e a n d R e s e r v e p r o p e r. B o t h a r e a s h a v e a r i c h b i o d i v e r s i t y a n d o f f e r p r i m e w i l d l i f e viewing and, during the migration ready access to the main crossings.
This small and intimate camp is solely
open-fronted
owned”.
River. The camp has expansive views south
Maasai owned and aims to demonstrate that Community Conservation can be “home
It is a great alternative to the
traditional cattle-owning way of life of the
Maasai people and recognises the potential on their doorstep.
building,
overlooking
Olotulo Murt Salt Lick, frequented by wildlife, and which leads down to the Mara and eastward across the Mara.
With over twenty-�ive years of guiding visitors to the Mara the team at Tangulia are
more than quali�ied to give their guests a truly authentic insight into the Maasai Mara
and have a deep knowledge of the fauna and �lora here.
Game drives in the Mara Reserve or Triangle
are the main attraction but Tangulia also
offers uided walks on the slopes of the escarpment outside the Reserve.
TANGULIA MARA is a traditional safari
camp built on a rocky hill. The mess – living
room and dining area – is a thatched and
the
“A c a s u a l l y c o m f o r t a b l e
tented camp, combining EXCEPTIONAL wildlife with a contemporary e x p e r i e n c e .”
J A M E S
R O B E R T S O N
T h i r t y - � i v e y e a r s a f t e r l e a d i n g h i s � i r s t e x p e d i t i o n , J a m e s i s c h a i r m a n o f t h e b o a r d a t K e r & D o w n e y, and an in�luential leader of the new movement in community-led conservation.
Like the safari industry itself, James Robertson was born and raised in Kenya, where his appetite for adventure has earned him a reputation as one of the modern pioneers of the global safari business.
James’ dependability for never following the same itinerary twice, and for continually searching out new experiences for his clients, has won him admirers across the industry, as well as an army of repeat guests (including two families who have each travelled with him 26 times!). Among his long-standing Kenyan crew, he’s known as “Ndorobo” after the fabled hunter-gathers of northern Kenya – a tribe renowned for their resourceful bushcraft, and their complete absence of fear for wild animals. Although James’ �irst love and main base is Kenya, he is an “all-Africa guide” and just as likely to be found travelling through the game-rich parks, reserves and conservancies of eastern and southern Africa. In recent years, he has been supporting a number of Maasai and Samburu communities that have turned part of their grazing lands over to conservation – giving guests a chance to see some rarer wildlife species, and to experience an absolutely authentic immersion in two of the world’s oldest tribal cultures. In 2001, James was a founder of The Mara Conservancy, a ground-breaking and widely-admired partnership between conservationists and the county government, which established a new public-private template to protect the critical wildlife dispersal areas north of the Maasai Mara Reserve. He sits on the board of the (removed the MMWCT) Kenya Wildlife Trust , and his unrivalled contacts enable his guests to meet some of the leading conservationists and wildlife researchers in the world.
Having been raised on the edge of Kenya's largest National Park, Tsavo is close to James’ heart. His most recent focus is on protecting the last remaining Great Tuskers of which there are around 10 bulls each carrying in excess of 100lbs of ivory per side. He is working closely with the Tsavo Trust to protect these valuable elephants.
James and Abigail live within a wildlife sanctuary on the outskirts of Nairobi, where they host most of their guests personally. They work together as much as possible out on safari where their shared passions are apparent to anyone travelling with them.
K E N YA
WILD LIFE
T RU ST
Fo u n d e d by a g ro u p o f Ke r & D ow n ey g u i d e s , Ke nya W i l d l i fe Tr u s t
is here to protect the country’s predators through a network of high-impact conservation initiatives In 2007, a small group of private guides decided to form a Trust, as a way to raise funds through their safaris for grassroots conservation projects around Kenya. The result of that pioneering and entrepreneurial spirit is Kenya Wildlife Trust.
Our long-term partnership with Ker & Downey re�lects the fact that the best private guides have conservation in their DNA. What we offer to both guides and visitors is a trustworthy pair of hands, focused on putting the right boots on the ground rather than into big of�ices. Remaining close to a range of safari partners, we are uniquely positioned to connect visitors from abroad to effective, grassroots conservation. Over the years, our team has developed a curated portfolio of high-impact conservation initiatives, with a strong focus on big cats. Since 2013, our two �lagship projects - the Mara Cheetah Project and Mara Lion Project - have been monitoring big cats with the long-term aim of stabilising the populations of both cheetah and lion. During your safari, you will spend time with both of our project teams at the Tony Lapham Predator Hub in the heart of the Masai Mara, learning about their focus, methods and �indings.
By raising funds through safaris, we can award grants to those projects (and people) achieving meaningful results across the three ‘pillars’ of Predator Conservation, Community Development and Conservation Education. Undertaking robust monitoring and evaluation of all our grants, we are the donor’s eyes and ears on the ground, ensuring every penny ends up where it should. Our team understands the importance of balancing scienti�ic research with community engagement, as well as the value of investing in people who live near wildlife. After all, conservation is really about people. “By donating to Kenya Wildlife Trust through their UK charity, I know and trust that my money is going straight to the cause.” Donor to The Friends of Kenya Wildlife Trust
Thanks to a sma ll number of donors who c o ver our c ore c osts, 100 % o f e v e r y d o n a t i o n g o e s d i r e ct l y t o o u r p r o g ra ms .
Moreo ver, for e ver y £1
we spend on c ore c osts, w e ra is e a t l e a s t £ 4 .
F R O M 2 0 0 7 T O 2 0 1 7 - C E L E B R AT I N G
1 0 Y E A R S O F C O N S E R VA T I O N I M PA C T.
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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