Wendt Family Final Safari Itinerary

W E N DT FA M I LY F I NA L SA FA R I I TIN E R ARY

8 t h

-

K E N YA 1 8 t h AU G U ST 2 0 1 9

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 H E E M A K O K O - S I R I K O I - R I C H A R D ’ S C A M P - K & D L U X U R Y P R I VA T E C A M P - H O G H O U S E N A I R O B I - L E WA W I L D L I F E C O N S E R VA N C Y - M A A S A I M A R A - A M B O S E L I - N A I R O B I

8th August 2019: NAIROBI

On arrival at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport you will be met and transferred to our home, Hog House where you will meet James. You will have the opportunity to visit the Giraffe Centre, shops and craft centres if you wish, and we have made a booking for you at the Sheldrick Elephnat Orphanage. You’ll be at Hog House for one night.

9 t h A u g u s t 2 0 1 9 : N A I R O B I N A T I O N A L PA R K

After a leisurely breakfast you will drive through Nairobi National Park, to the Emakoko - a lovely family run lodge on the edge of the park. You will be here for one night.

1 0 t h - 1 2 t h A u g u s t 2 0 1 9 : L E WA W I L D L I F E C O N S E R VA N C Y

After breakfast you will transfer to Wilson Airport where you will meet your two privately chartered aircraft and �ly north, over the Equator into the shadows of Mt. Kenya to Lewa Downs. You will have three nights at Sirikoi.

1 2 t h A u g u s t 2 0 1 9 : H E L I C O P T E R S A FA R I T O L A K E T U R K A N A

On your last day at Lewa we suggest a full day’s helicopter safari, this is a fabulous way to enhance your safari. You’ll �ly north into the Great Rift Valley and explore the spine of volcanoes and string of lakes in the Rift’s �loor. Stopping at many places en route from rockly pinacles to giant sand dunes, ancient rock art and lurid springs, �lamingo fringed lakes shores and �inally reaching the Jade Sea, Lake Turkana which extends up to the Ethiopian border. This exhilarating adventure would take months of planning and logistics to attempt by car as these areas are inaccesible.

13th - 15th August 2019; MAASAI MARA

We will �ly you south west across the Rift Valley to the probably the best known area in the World for Big Game, the Maasai Mara. You will have three nights at Richard’s Camp.

16th & 17th August 2019: AMBOSELI

Finally we �ly you southeast into the shadows of our continent’s highest mountain - Kilimanjaro where you will be camped in our private luxury camp on the edge of Amboseli National Park for three nights.

1 8 t h A u g u s t 2 0 1 9 : N A I R O B I A N D T R A V E L D AY

You will return to Nairobi again by private charter after lunch and we wecome you back to Hog House for the rest of the day. There will be a little time for some more shopping if you wish. We will transfer you to the international airport for your �light home.

R E G I O N S

W E N D T FA M I LY S A FA R I 2 0 1 9 I T I N E R A R Y 3 This 11 day safari takes in three of Kenya’s very best wildlife areas; Laikipia, the Maasai Mara and Amboseli.

We have selected these areas for the abundance of wildlife and also the contrast between arid and savannah.

D AY 1

NAIROBI

HOG HOUSE D AY 2

NAIROBI NP

T H E E M A KO KO

Lake Logipi

D AY 3 - 5

L E WA D O W N S S I R I KO I

D AY 6 - 8

MAASAI MARA

RICHARD’S CAMP D AY 9 & 1 0

AMBOSELI

K & D P R I VA T E LUXU RY C A M P D AY 1 1

NAIROBI

HOG HOUSE

You begin with us at Hog House for one night with a chance to explore the city before heading through Nairobi National park to The Emakoko for one night.

Lake Turkana

Lake Baringo

Ewaso Nyiro River

Samburu

Shaba

Lake Bogoria

Lake Victoria

On your last day at Lewa we suggest a breathtaking helicopter safari to the Jade Sea stopping many times along the way in places normally completely inaccessible. This adventure really highlights how diverse this extraordinary country is.

Equator

Mt. Kenya

Lake Nakuru Masai Mara

We take you north to Lewa which boasts not only all the Big Five but also arid species such as Reticulated giraffe and Grevy’s zebra. Here you are in a private conservancy and so there is masses to keep everyone happy from horseback riding, to superb walking and exploring at night too.

Lake Naivasha Nairobi Tana River

Lake Magadi Amboseli

Ts a v o Watamu

Mombasa

Lamu

We then take you to the Maasai Mara which in August hosts the Great Migration. You will doubtless witness some of the largest accumulations of wildlife seen anywhere, hundreds of thousands of herbivores with of course attendant predators.

Finally to the emerald green glacial fed swamps of Amboseli where elephant viewing is fantastic and where you will have time with the Maasai.

We welcome you to our home in Nairobi on your �inal day to relax before we take you to the airport.

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.”

E L E P H A N T

O R P H A N A G E

Daphne Sheldrick was the �irst person in the entire world to successfully hand rear newborn fully

milk dependent African elephant orphans, something that spanned 28 years of trial and error to achieve.

Located on the edge of Nairobi National Park, the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust is home to some 20+ baby elephants. Ranging in age from a few weeks to several years, a visit here is a must for any animal lover.

To date, the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust has successfully hand-raised over 200 infant elephants, and 17 black rhinos. It has also accomplished its long-term conservation priority by effectively reintegrating over 100 orphans back into the wild herds of Tsavo. These hand-reared elephants are fully established and living free amongst their wild peers in Tsavo, some returning with wild born young to show their erstwhile human family. The older orphans are based within Tsavo East National Park at either of 2 established rehabilitation centres for the gradual process of the re-integration, with others in early infancy are at the Trust’s Nairobi National Park Elephant and Rhino Nursery.

The Trust has trained a team of competent elephant keepers who replace the orphans’ lost elephant family until such time as

the transition to the wild herds has been accomplished, something that can take up to

10 years, since elephant calves duplicate

their human counterparts in terms of development

through

age

progression.

Those that were orphaned too young to recall

their

dependent

elephant

longer,

but

family

all

the

remain

Trust’s

orphans eventually take their rightful place amongst their wild counterparts, including those orphaned on the day they were born.

“The world’s most emotionally h u m a n l a n d m a m m a l .”

Daphne Sheldrick

T H E

E M A K O K O

Uniquely positioned on the edge of the Nairobi National Park, this elegant lodge is a spectacular way to start or end your safari.

The Emakoko is a family-owned and run

offers a wealth of treasures all locally

Nairobi National Park. It is located a short

Take a game drive in one of the most unique

lodge, artfully built into the side of a valley

on the Mbagathi River which borders the 45 minute ride from both airports in Nairobi city.

5 rooms are located on the same level as the

airy main dining and lounge areas and a

further 5 rooms are at the top of the lodge, perched on the cliff overlooking the valley and with the most spectacular views. All

are ensuite and beautifully furnished with

contemporary African �lair in rich chocolate browns, creamy beiges and crisp white linens.

Deep, comfortable chairs nestle

around your own stone �ireplace.

Whether you are enjoying an Emakoko

cocktail in the viewing area or simply a

coffee by the pool overlooking the river, relaxation

is

assured.

The

Emakoko

crafted in Kenya.

game parks in the world, Nairobi National Park, or visit the community that borders it.

An excursion in the environs of Nairobi to visit the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust, the giraffe centre or the local shops may be more appealing.

“The park is home

to lion, leopard & rhino, all of which range

within spitting distance of camp, while hippo

and impala are known to frequent the

l o d g e ’ s g r o u n d s .”

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

S I R I K O I

Sirikoi is a spectacular game lodge situated on its own private estate in the centre of the Lewa Wildlife Conservancy on the northern slopes of Mount Kenya.

Lewa Downs, one of Kenya’s oldest ranches, is a 65,000 acre private game ranch and home to the Lewa Wildlife Conservancy.

Surrounded by an acacia grove and overlooking a natural waterhole fed from a mountain spring Sirikoi offers some of the best game viewing in East Africa, while Mount Kenya creates a wonderful backdrop for photography.

Sirikoi’s luxury tented rooms have been built spaciously and have fantastic views of the waterhole, so you can watch the passing game from your private verandah – your tent also has a �ireplace and an elegant bathroom, with a huge freestanding Victorian bath and a shower. The beautifully designed pool is also the perfect spot from which to watch game. There is also a 2 bedroom house, secluded from the main lodge, which is ideal for families or those guests wanting utter exclusivity. The front of each room enjoys a picture window almost the width of the room itself, which can be fully opened during the day.

Whether game viewing by vehicle, foot or horseback, you are sure to see an array of wildlife. Lewa is home to many of Northern Kenya’s dry country adapted species and also numerous endangered white and black rhino.

There are roughly equal numbers of black and white rhino - the latest count numbers 106. The world's largest concentration of the endangered Grevy zebra resides on Lewa as well as elephant, buffalo, greater kudu, oryx, lion, leopard and cheetah amongst others. The Conservancy is teeming with birdlife with over 350 species across the diverse topography which includes rolling open plains, hills and kopjes, thick forest, valleys, escarpments, wetlands and rivers.

Evening sundowners with incredible views of distant mountains, are an absolute highlight, preceding exquisite meals served under the stars or next to the roaring �ire.

“The lodge also has a 20 foot hide,

which is a great spot for

viewing the diverse landscape, having sundowners and S TA R G A Z I N G .”

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

H E L I C O P T E R

S A F A R I S

The possibilities are endless...wilderness, wildlife and

nomadic tribal communities of the untouched north of Kenya.

MAGADO CRATER Magado is an incredible volcanic crater in which salt deposits at the base are used by local Meru and Boran tribes people. This is a wild spot where we plan to explore and picnic on one of the days.

We could spend a day and go north to Lake Turkana – the Jade Sea – far up towards the Ethiopian border – and a place where very very few people ever go….

LAKE TURKANA This lake formerly known as Lake Rudolf, is the largest of Kenya’s Rift Valley lakes, with its far northern end crossing into Ethiopia.

It is the world's largest permanent desert lake and the world's largest alkaline lake.

Blue-green algae give the water a greenish tint and when you see it you will understand why it is also known as the “Jade Sea”. It is surrounded by volcanoes at its southern end, and Central Island is still active.

SUGUTA VALLEY We may �ly north over the eastern edge of the Great Rift Valley and into the Suguta Valley where the river is lined with doum and barassus palms. The river snakes its way in slow meanders but is trapped by the walls of the Great Rift. Its headwaters lie south of Lake Turkana in a land dominated by sand dunes.

LOGIPI Just south of Lake Turkana and separated from it by a volcanic barrier, lies Logipi – a shallow lake which is home to many thousands of �lamingos and other water birds. This part of Kenya is incredibly remote, very few people have ever seen this lake.

The helicopter allows unbeatable views of the birdlife.

We do hope to maximize your safari by using the helicopter – certainly it will give you the very best view, enable us to spot game from the air, and appreciate the enormous diversity of this country – from snow capped mountains, to dusty deserts, plains covered with game and lush river valleys.

L A KE

T URKA NA

I n t h e n o r t h e r n m o s t p a r t o f t h e K e n y a n G r e a t R i f t Va l l e y i s L a k e T u r k a n a .

It is widely known as the Jade Sea due to the remarkable greenish-blue colour of its waters, an ethereal mirage immerging from the sweltering arid desert surrounds.

Lake Turkana is the largest alkaline desert lake in the world, 300 kilometres long and 50 kilometres wide with the main tributary, the River Omo, entering from the north and contributing more than 90% of the total water in�lux.

The lake lies at the heart of the Sibiloi National Park, established originally to protect some of the world’s most important paleontological and archaeological sites.

Turkana has one of the longest living histories and is regarded by many as the birthplace of humanity; the humanoid fossils unearthed by the Leakey family in the 1960’s are around 2.5 million years old.

Lake Turkana offers a cultural glimpse at colourful tribes unaffected by the 21st century, utterly reliant on the lake as the only permanent water source in the area.

Sibiloi National Park has excellent game-viewing, a refuge for a number of dry country species including gerenuk, oryx, Lesser kudu, Grant’s gazelle and Grevy’s zebra. Along the shorelines an abundance of topi and Burchell’s zebra entice the resident predators, including lion, cheetah, side-striped jackal, spotted hyena and the rare striped hyena.

Three South Island from

volcanic islands in Lake Turkana – Island, Central Island and North – provide incredible vantage points which to experience the rich

lacustrine wildlife supported by the lake itself. Central Island, with its stunning scenery and three crater lakes, is a breeding ground for the world’s biggest population of Nile crocodiles. There is proli�ic birdlife and at certain times of the year, well over 300 species can be observed as African and Palaearctic migrants break their northward journeys.

Scenic beyond belief, surrounded by cliffs, gentle beaches, desert and volcanic rock outcrops, Lake Turkana is certainly one of East Africa’s best kept secrets.

LAKE TURKANA

Buffalo Springs N.P Lake Victoria Masai Mara

Shaba N.P Mt. Kenya N.P

Nairobi Amboseli N.P

Ts a v o N.P

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

R I C H A R D ’ S

C A M P

Located north-west of the Maasai Mara Reserve, on conservation land owned and managed by the Maasai, Richard's Camp comes with a reputation steeped in the history of a family that has lived among wild animals for the best part of 60 years.

A small, private and intimate camp from

There

viewing in admits breathtaking scenery. At

comfortable safari style and each tent has

which to discover and experience the ‘real Africa’ and days of heart-stopping game Richard’s

Camp,

traditional

African

hospitality meets understated luxury. Set

amongst a grove of enormous African olive

trees, Richard’s Camp overlooks the open plains which are so characteristic of the Mara and many species of wildlife visit the camp regularly. Days can be as relaxed or as

exciting as you wish them to be. The knowledgable and engaging guides lead bush walks as well as game drives and can

take you to the local Masai homesteads or out to the plains for a sundowner.

In the evenings you may wish to dine in the bush alongside hippo pools and then head back to camp on a night game drive with the

chance to spot the elusive zorilla, honey badger or genet cat.

are

just

7

tents

which

makes

Richard’s Camp both secluded and intimate.

The 24

spacious

hour

tents

solar

are

lighting

furnished and

in

ensuite

bathrooms with �lushing loos and hot safari showers.

An

open

Victorian

bath

surrounded by �lickering candles and the sounds of the bush is the perfect indulgence

after a day on game drives. After this, cocktails around the open camp �ire precede

a delicious three course meal under a canopy of stars

“A c a s u a l l y l u x u r i o u s

tented camp, combining EXCEPTIONAL wildlife with a contemporary

‘ O u t o f A f r i c a ’ e x p e r i e n c e .”

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

A M B O S E L I

M O B I L E

C A M P

The raw beauty of this diverse landscape and astounding ecosystem complete with the backdrop of Africa’s highest mountain, is unsurpassed.

Amboseli Mobile is located on a 30,000 acre private conservancy belonging to the Kisongo Maasai people. Lying in the Amboseli area and adjacent to the National Park, the mobile camp has undisturbed views of Mount Kilimanjaro. The Amboseli eco- system comprises open grasslands, woodlands and swamps, which are watered by mountain springs.

The purpose of Amboseli Mobile is to forge a temporary, yet ideal base from which to explore the surrounding area. The tented camp is equipped with all the necessities required for a unique getaway, its simplicity adding to the experience. The presence of the mobile camp supports the conservancy, the local community and the conservation of the Amboseli ecosystem. When the camp leaves, it leaves nothing behind, the land being left to the wildlife and their Maasai custodians. Being a mobile camp, all activities, be that on safari or choosing when to eat, are completely �lexible.

Generally the day revolves around an early m o r n i n g g a m e d r ive , fo l l o we d by a l a te morning drive after breakfast. There is a healthy population of lion in the area with

the chance of spotting cheetah, as well as good numbers of general game.

It is also possible to walk, and a late afternoon stroll as the sun sets across the plains towards Kilimanjaro is spectacular.

Another unique opportunity is to be able to spend time with the Kitirua community and learn about their rich culture.

Ker & Downey has nurtured a relationship over 30 years with the Kisongo Maasai, as a result, respect and trust have developed for one another making trips to the local school and homesteads possible.

One of the highlights of the Amboseli Mobile however, is the opportunity to view large herds of magni�icent elephant, many of the bulls still carrying some of the longest tusks on the African continent.

“A m b o s e l i M o b i l e C a m p

is a natural gateway to the w i l d A f r i c a n b u s h .”

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.

M O B I L E

C A M P

C U I S I N E

Fo o d h a s b e c o m e a l m o s t a re l i g i o n fo r a va s t n u m b e r o f p e o p l e a ro u n d t h e wo rl d .

It is a reason to travel and explore. It is about fashion, passion and inspiration; all these components make the kitchen an intrinsic part your mobile camp experience.

The cuisine is an integral part of your safari

The kitchen is extremely mobile, so you will

vibrant and packed full of �lavour. All our

We also offer a 'Bitings' evening, which is

with us. We believe that the food has to match food

is

your

experience.

light,

fresh,

It's

organic

colourful,

ingredients are locally sourced.

and

the

The food is a fusion of cuisines from around the globe with an African twist. It is a combination

of

Mediterranean,

Middle

eastern, Pan Asian, Moroccan and Swahili.

Antonia Stogdale trained as a chef at Leith’s

school of Food and Wine. She has published

her own cookbook and teaches cookery courses all over East Africa. You can join Antonia and her team and learn how to bake

fresh bread & pastries or how to make the

dine in a variety of locations with exquisite

views to match the food you'll be enjoying.

African Tapas under the stars by the camp �ire.

Our food is very healthy and we are happy to

cater for all dietary requirements. Fresh fruits, vegetables and salads feature greatly

on our menus, as well as organic meats and

cheeses. All breads and pastries are freshly made in camp every day. Food safety is of

the upmost importance to us and all chef 's

and food handlers have completed one of Antonia's food safety & hygiene courses.

perfect egg benedict in the bush. It's a great

We also carry a large selection of �ine wines,

tin trunk oven!

water is provided in camp.

activity for the kids: they can learn to make

pizza or brownies over an open �ire & in a

beer, spirits, sodas, soft drinks, freshly made juices, coffee, tea, herbal teas and mineral

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 . . .”

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.

H E N R Y

H E N L E Y

Henry joined Ker & Downey in the early 1970’s and as such is one of the company’s most experienced guides.

H i s p a s s i o n f o r � i s h i n g , e s p e c i a l l y p e l a g i c g a m e � i s h o n � l y, i s u n p a r a l l e l e d

Henry was born in Nairobi in the early part of the 1950’s and lived in the Kenya Highlands on his grandfather’s farm. It is here, at a young age that Henry was taught by his father, Tony in the ways of the bush, birds, animals, guns and �ishing which to this day are a major part of Henry’s life.

After leaving school Henry joined Ker & Downey Safaris Ltd as an apprentice to professional hunter, John Sutton. During these few years as an apprentice he was fortunate enough to visit and

hunt in countries such as Sudan, Ethiopia, Tanzania and Kenya. Henry then quali�ied for a full professional hunters’ licence and conducted his own hunting safaris for Ker & Downey Safaris.

In 1977 Kenya banned game hunting and Henry took a job as a professional deep sea �ishing skipper at the Pemba Channel Fishing Club. In 1979 Henry married Jessica Prettejohn and not long after were asked to run the safari business from a small lodge on Galana Game and Ranching.

The ranch was one and a half million acres in size, Henry conducted photographic and some bird shooting safaris here for 10 years until the Kenya Government took over the ranch in 1989.

Henry, Jessica and their two young children moved up country, between Mt. Kenya and the Aberdare mountain range.

Henry has been asked to represent Kenya for the International Game �ishing Association. He holds a current professional hunters’ licence to conduct game bird shooting safaris in Kenya, and is also a silver level member of the Kenya Professional Guides Association.

When not on safari Henry helps in the running of the Sangare Conservancy and pursues his love

for �ishing, game bird shooting, gun dogs, ornithology and painting. He and his family have lived on Sangare for the last 22 years.

S H A U N

M O U S L E Y

Shaun is a born and bred Kenyan, who lives for adventure, fun, wildlife and people.

His enthusiasm for the bush is completely infectious, and his �luent Swahili and friendly manners makes it easy for him to seamlessly guide you into some of the most remote parts of East Africa.

Shaun Mousley was born in Kenya and grew up on a 24,000 acre tea farm in Kericho, Western Kenya. With neighbors far and few between he spent most of his time �ly �ishing the rivers and

dams, going on long treks through the Mao forest satisfying his love for the outdoors. The Maasai

Mara being on his doorstep, many a weekend was spent camping there with the family which is where the love of the bush was born.

By the age of �ive he spoke more Swahili then English. Shaun went to prep school in Kenya then

onto senior school in the UK. He took 2 years off after school which gave him the chance to travel Africa and work as a white water rafting guide in Kenya and Uganda.

During these years Shaun discovered his need and love for new and stimulating adventures and

being immersed in different cultures with people sharing their unique life stories. It was then

that he chose to pursue the industry of hospitality where he completed his studies at the International Hotel School in South Africa. Whilst in South Africa Shaun was able to work and

gain experience in game reserves close to Zulu Land, Kwa Zulu Natal. From then onwards many exciting opportunities arose where he then moved to the oceanside of Seychelles to ful�ill one of his other passions and love for the sea.

Finally, the longing of African soils under his feet lead Shaun back home to Kenya, where he was

able to combine his hospitality experience and love for the bush. For the last four years he has been the general manager for two Great Plains Conservation properties in Kenya, ol Donyo Lodge & Mara Plains. This has enabled him to spend more time in the bush and share this knowledge with guests.

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