It is an interesting exercise keeping our news on the web current. I am hoping it will inspire Ninian to start keeping a journal, his experiences are so incredible that I would like to be able to share them with Jamey when he is older; memory is a strange thing and I am constantly amazed at how quickly one forgets the details.

So before we do forget here are a few of the fabulous things we have seen and done on safari since January!

Our sister company in Tanzania has recently leased an area in the Serengeti, called Piyaya. It is nestled between the western edge of the Serengeti National Park and the northern edge of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, and is an exciting addition to our ever-increasing community conservation projects. At the beginning of the year (January – May) it is an ideal base from which to access the southern Serengeti’s short grass plains when the wildebeest are calving.

Ninian was there in February and came home excited at the prospect of going back with more of our guests. He says it was phenomenal to sit on top of the Kopjes and gaze out over the plains: bright green and covered wall to wall in wildebeest broken only by the occasional fat predator. The very special thing about Piyaya is the privacy. In three days they saw nobody else, yet had the ultimate Serengeti migration experience.

Over his half term break, we took Jamey to a lovely corner of the Mara where we stayed at the Cottars 1920’s camp. The Cottars family have been in Kenya for several generations and have created a wonderful atmosphere at the camp. The big white canvas tents filled with antiques from safaris gone by are incredibly romantic. With a view that stretches across the border into the Serengeti, it is an ideal retreat at the end of a hot days game viewing. Because the camp is outside the reserve you can take walks if you are energetic and I am told the masseuse is great for those who just want to unwind! The area is beautiful with the wide Sand River curling through the landscape. Its banks are dotted with giant Fig and, the wonderfully shaped, Sausage Trees. I of course got to enjoy many hours relaxing in the shade of these trees while Ninian and Jamey fished for Barbel and Catfish. Not far from the camp there is a gorge with huge rocks that look like Henry Moore statues and a waterfall where one can swim.

The Mara is still by far the best place to see wildlife. Ninian was there on a safari just a few days ago. In 24 hours they saw over 600 cape buffalo, 150 elephants, 50 giraffe, 50 lions in four different prides each with cubs of under 3 months, 6 cheetahs and a leopard as well as thousands of other animals such as hyenas, eland, hippos, Grants gazelle, Thompson’s gazelle, water buck, zebra, wildebeest, reedbuck, topi, kongoni…it makes me breathless just writing about it!

Until next time,

Lara, Ninian and Jamey Lowis
Nairobi, March 2004

If you are interested in a safari that visits either Piyaya or Cottars camp contact us for more details.Read more on our conservation initiatives.