A Safari to Kenya where 10% of the price you pay goes directly to benefit Conservation! Att: Artists, photographers and conservationists interested in traveling to Kenya in March or November 2021. We have 7 registered guests for March 2021 to date. Join internationally renowned artist; Gregory Wellman and Owner of Jackson’s African Safaris; Timothy Jackson, on an expedition and raise funds for two conservation organizations – Artists for Conservation Foundation and Soysambu Conservancy. This is AFC’s second safari fundraiser organized by Timothy Jackson from Jackson’s African Safaris to Kenya. Last year’s safari lead by artist Guy Combes helped raised funds for conservation and education, we raised US$6,800.00 from only 12 people! See your money at work, and leave Kenya in better shape than you found it! Join the expedition – contact us today!
Download the 2021 safari itinerary by clicking here now!
The stunning painting seen here is titled ‘Crater Kings’ by Karen Laurence-Rowe, based in Nairobi, Kenya. Karen was hoping to join us for 3 days of this adventure, currently this is no longer possible, she wanted to join us and share her passionate views on how important trips like this one are, clearly explainted in her statement: “Never Before has it been so important to capture the creatures of this planet that are disappearing before our very eyes! I am deeply concerned about the rapid slide to extinction that so many animals across the planet are facing – With the dust of Africa ingrained in my brush and ingrained in my blood, I am compelled to capture its precious remnants…. before mankind has destroyed it all!” – Karen Laurence-Rowe
We feel there is hope, and our trips like this one, are looking to set a new standard of 10% for Conservation, and we encourage all guests to make their trip carbon neutral with a plan we have in place.
#ArtSafari #ArtistsforConservation #SoysambuConservancy #BomaProject #JacksonsAfricanSafaris #KenyaSafari #WildlifeConservation
A Safari with renowned Artist & Conservationist Gregory Wellman
Your Tour Host: Timothy Jackson
NEW 2021 DATES:
March 2nd – 14th, 2021
November 15th – 27th, 2021
Gregory Wellman grew up in England, always fascinated by nature, roaming the countryside and investigating the rivers and rock pools in his hometown of Lyme Regis. His boyhood love of the wildlife of Africa was reignited in 2005 with his first visit to Kenya with fellow AFC artist Steve Burgess. The land, the birds, the animals and the Maasai people inspired drawings, paintings and exhibitions since then. After reaching the top of Kilimanjaro on his fortieth birthday, Gregory went on to have two solo exhibitions in Arusha, Tanzania, and was the first Artist in Residence at the Cultural Heritage Centre there. He continued to visit the region two to three times a year, running a number of workshops and demonstrations of his Wildlife and Maasai paintings, and was featured in International Artist Magazine. In 2013 Gregory finally realized his dream of running his own art safari, sharing his love of painting and sketching in the National Parks and private conservancies; teeming with elephant, giraffe, buffalo and all the other plains’ game of East Africa. As well as wildlife art, Gregory is a lover of portraiture. He produced a series of works on the Maasai people and was featured on TV’s Sky Arts Portrait Artist of the Year. A solo exhibition in the UK featured his Maasai paintings and tied in with a cultural visit by a touring group of Maasai from Kenya.
Gregory regularly runs workshops, gives talks and demonstrates his painting in the UK and Vancouver, Canada. His love of painting has taken him to many other places including the Hollywood Hills, New Zealand and Southwest France where he leads an annual summer art holiday.
He is a member of Artists For Conservation Foundation and has raised money for a variety of wildlife charities, as well as donating artwork to the annual Artists For Survival’s fundraising auction in London. Gregory hopes that his art, enthusiasm and joy for experiencing and painting the natural world will contribute in some way to protecting what we still have. To help promote meaningful projects that work for the benefit of all. And by being a host of this safari he also hopes to inspire others to do the same. “As a member of AFC, I aspire to share with you all the great work being achieved by our members; real projects and fundraising initiatives that actually do make a difference in the world today. And you can be a part of that movement with this safari, all are welcome, whether you are an artist, photographer or simply someone who wants to experience an unforgettable adventure whilst contributing to amazing conservation projects!” Thankyou for joining us on this journey of ACTION… in protecting Africa’s wildlife today!
Kenya
*Please note; We have 7 confirmed paying guests as of October 2020 all on the fly-in option. We have more rooms on hold and the overland option is still available also.
March & November 2021
Day 1
Arrive Nairobi
On arrival into Nairobi you will be met by your guides/drivers and transferred to the Tamarind Hotel to rest and relax.
Tamarind Tree Hotel (No meals provided today as arrival times may vary – any meals pay direct)
http://tamarindtree-hotels.com/
Day 2
Nairobi
During breakfast this morning, with a meeting time established on arrival, Timothy Jackson & Gregory Wellman with your local driver guides support will give a short ‘Welcome to Kenya’ and provide you with any information needed for the day from their wealth of knowledge. After breakfast we will transfer to the David Sheldrick Elephant orphanage, for feeding time at 11am, followed by a visit to the Giraffe Center. Lunch today will be at the Talisman: http://www.thetalismanrestaurant.com/about/
After lunch, based on how much time we have, options will be given such as visiting the Karen Blixen Museum, The Beads Center, and any Langata link shops, for anything you may need before we leave Nairobi tomorrow. We will then take some time back at the hotel before we head out to dinner tonight at the Nyama Mama Restaurant:
https://akinyiadongo.wordpress.com/2017/01/17/nyama-mama-restaurant-nairobi-a-daring-reinvention-of-kenyan-food/
Tamarind Tree Hotel (BLD)
Days 3 – 5
3 nights in Samburu National Park
Approximate drive time – 5 hours OR choose fly-in option. We will arrive in time for lunch at your new home for the next three nights; Elephant Bedroom Camp. After lunch you will have time to settle in. Later we will meet for a cup of tea, before heading out to enjoy an afternoon game drive in the park. March and November are lower season, so fewer visitors are expected. March is before the long rains, November is during the lighter rains where excellent photography conditions generally exist, and only enough rain to make the experience generally more enjoyable. Only once in the last 5 years did rain become heavier than expected, and this simply resulted in longer drive times IF on the Overland option, and also resulted in stopping during a game drive for an hour or so while an exciting storm came through… the many benefits of traveling during this time of year, ‘generally’ out weigh this by far.
Samburu National Reserve: The Samburu National Reserve is located on the banks of the Ewaso Nyiro River, in the Samburu District of the Rift Valley Province. It is 165 km² in size and 350 kilometers from Nairobi. The Ewaso Nyiro River flows through doum palm groves and thick riverine forests which provide water, without which the game in the reserve could not survive in this arid country. Samburu Reserve was one of the two areas in which conservationists George Adamson and Joy Adamson raised Elsa the Lioness made famous in the bestselling book and award winning movie Born Free. Samburu Reserve is also the home of Kamunyak, a lioness famous for adopting Oryx calves.
Elephant Bedroom Camp: Set on the banks of the Ewaso Nyiro River in Samburu National Reserve surrounded by doum palms and other beautiful indigenous trees and shrubs sits this small and exclusive camp of 12 luxury tents – all furnished in rustic African style while offering all the comforts expected of a luxury Camp (hot & cold running water, electricity and herbal products). Dining is a culinary experience with al-fresco breakfast, 3 course lunch and 4 course candle lit gourmet dinner set either under the African sky or inside the well-appointed dining area.
Your itinerary in Samburu National Park
After an early morning wake-up call with tea and coffee at camp you will depart on a morning game drive. This is the best time to see the animals as the sun rises and the animals begin to emerge!
Return to the camp and enjoy a leisurely breakfast. Rest of the morning at leisure. After lunch at the camp, depart on an afternoon game drive. There will also be a nature walk and a visit to a local community during your stay. After your evening drives you will return to the camp and freshen up for dinner, you can also enjoy drinks around the fire as the sun sets over the plains and simply make yourself at home.
Elephant bedroom Camp (BLD)
https://www.atua-enkop.com/elephant-bedroom-camp
Days 6 – 8
3 nights Rift Valley Lakes Region – Soysambu Conservancy
Whether on the fly-in safari or the Overland, you will all have the chance to take a boat trip on Lake Naivasha, the largest freshwater lake in the area, the other lakes of Nakuru, Elmentaita (bordering Soysambu), and Bogaria are all soda lakes. Recently Lake Nakuru’s lake chemistry has been changing, and we will visit and see the changes for ourselves during our stay.
If Overland from Samburu, you will check out of the lodge and drive down through Nyahururu to the Great Rift Valley, Approximate drive time; 5 – 6 hours, if flying in you will be taken to the airstrip for the flight, on arrival you will be met and transferred to camp to settle in. This area combines a mixture of National Parks and conservancy’s; you will learn all about these and the history during your time here.
On arrival at your new camp; Mbweha camp, you will have lunch on arrival, then there will be time to relax and explore the immediate lodge surroundings. Mbweha is located in a forest of candelabra euphorbia that is frequented by a wide variety of birds and mammals. As the lodge is open to all wildlife movement, the staff will advise as to areas that are safe or otherwise. After gathering for tea and refreshments in the later afternoon, there will be a game viewing drive to an interesting location in the Conservancy where sundowners will be provided and then you will return to the lodge for dinner.
As Soysambu is in a private conservancy, there are no restrictions on doing night drives, and this will be an option after the meal. You may choose to skip the afternoon drive to have more energy and interest in the night drive. TBD. There are many nocturnal species in this area that one has a good chance of seeing. During your time here, you will also visit Lake Nakuru National Park & take a boat trip on Lake Naivasha. The timing of all these will be determined by our team.
Mbweha Camp (BLD) (Borders Soysambu Conservancy)
https://www.atua-enkop.com/mbweha-camp
Lake Nakuru & Elmentaita; Lake Nakuru National Park is one of East Africa’s famous soda lakes and it was originally the home to millions of blue-green algae, which attracted flamingoes to the lake in the thousands. The sight of the pink roseate mass of the flamingoes along the lake shore is a memory currently as the Lakes chemistry is changing. You currently only see a few, you will perhaps see more on Lake Elmentaita while staying at Soysambu. Lake Nakuru is also a Rhino Sanctuary with both ‘Black and White Rhinos’. The park also has a small number of lions and cheetah and there is also the opportunity to hopefully get a sighting of leopard. A diversity of Antelope are found here.
Mbweha Camp; Soysambu Conservancy and Rift Valley Lakes
Tucked away in the spectacular vastness of The Great Rift Valley on a private 6400 acre Congreve Conservancy, Mbweha Camp is nestled up against the southern border of Lake Nakuru National Park with beautiful views of the Eburu and Mau Ranges. 10 cottages built of lava stone and thatched makuti roof add glamour and style to its contemporary African ambience. Every cottage is surrounded by Candelabra Euphobia, yellow barked Acacia and other indigenous trees that provide a relaxed atmosphere as you listen to the African night sounds of a lion roar or the laughter of the hyena in the distance. Bush walks, night game drives, sundowners and bush breakfasts are many of the things you can enjoy enhancing your stay in what is truly a remarkable and authentic African setting. Timothy & Allen with their local guides will create a plan for your stay here, that gives you a full experience. We will adjust this tentative schedule based on what is happening on Soysambu and make the best plans possible.
Tentative plans include:
First day at Soysambu: There will be the option of a dawn viewing drive before breakfast, and after breakfast the whole group will head out to a section of the conservancy that is frequented by large numbers of wildlife. This will also be an opportunity to visit some sites where Predator conservation measures are being implemented with the “Boma Project” – See details at the end of this itinerary.
One of Kenya’s leading raptor experts has a camp at Soysambu and if he is not out in the field, he will be happy to give an educational tour of his camp, where he cares for several rescued birds. There will also be an opportunity to visit a community school that is funded by the conservancy, where children are educated about wildlife and the importance of conservation. After lunch at the lodge, guests will have some time to relax before another late afternoon viewing drive culminating in, as before, a sundowner, and then back to the lodge for dinner.
Mbweha Camp (BLD)
Second Day at Soysambu: After pre-dawn tea, guests will gather and drive to the nearby entrance of Lake Nakuru National Park in time for it to open, entering the park at optimum viewing time. A packed brunch will be brought along, and after some viewing, the group will stop for a picnic brunch al fresco. After further viewing, we will return to the lodge in the early afternoon to relax. As before, there will be an evening viewing drive before returning to the lodge for dinner.
Mbweha Camp (BLD)
Days 9 – 12
4 nights Maasai Mara Game Reserve (Pay for three, fourth night free – thankyou Atua Enkop!)
After breakfast this morning, if on the overland version, you will check out and drive to the Maasai Mara Game reserve, arriving at the camp in time for a late lunch. Expect a rough drive for the last 3 hours or so, of a 6-hour drive, if any rain has fallen, it can take longer…. Those on the fly-in option will arrive in time for lunch having arrived at a nearby airstrip. We will take time to settle in, with a relaxing lunch, then once ready we will depart for an afternoon game drive in this diverse and rich park.
Mara Ngenche Safari Camp (BLD)
https://www.atua-enkop.com/mara-ngenche-safari-camp
Note: The 2019 AFC fundraiser safari stayed at Atua-Enkop`s Tipilikwani Camp, this camp is in a good location, but not the prime location of the Mara Ngenche Camp. Mara Ngenche is located on the confluence of the Mara & Talek River. The benefits are you don`t need to enter and exit the reserve each day like we did this past July. The cost difference is about US$650.00 more to stay at Mara Ngenche. Camp, AND we have kindly been given pay 3 nights stay 4, which you would never get in high season. The whole group according to Guy Combes generally felt having done the trip they wished they had spent the extra money on hindsight.
Maasai Mara Game Reserve: A world famous game reserve boasting an abundance of wildlife. This is the northern extension of the Serengeti. The reserve is gentle rolling grasslands teeming with a plethora of animals and bird life. Besides the big five this amazing reserve hosts a huge variety of plains game e.g., Thomson and Grant gazelles, Topi, Eland, Zebra, Waterbucks, Giraffe, Hippo and Wildebeest, Warthogs, Crocodiles, Ostrich Vultures etc and over 450 bird species with over 50 birds of prey.
Mara Ngenche Camp: In a spectacular location in the heart of the Masai Mara, lies this small, intimate, luxurious and elegant Camp. Well hidden in the beautiful panaroma of riverine forest, Mara Ngenche Safari Camp offers Superb views over the confluence of the Mara and Talek Rivers Overlooking a hippo pool that is always busy with these beautiful Large animals with crocodiles always in close proximity. The 12 Spacious well-appointed tents are en-suite and decorated with an amazing fusion of modern African decor with old world charm. Each tent is partially enclosed in it’s own “Boma”, has a large four poster king size bed or two queen size beds, offers wonderful view on the River and is equipped with a large bath tub and outside shower. Mara Ngenche Safari Camp is unfenced and is designed to allow the exciting movement of animals through the grounds offering an elegant yet relaxed atmosphere for experiencing the full adventure of the African bush. In addition, each tent has its own private plunge pool.
Your Itinerary: Three Full Days in the Maasai Mara Game Reserve
We wish to thank Atua Enkop for giving us for the 2020 safari one more full night free of charge.
After an early morning wake-up call with tea and coffee at camp you will depart on a morning game drive. This is the best time to see the animals as the sun rises over the plains and the animals begin to emerge. Return to the camp and enjoy a leisurely brunch/breakfast. You will have time to enjoy the surrounds around camp in between your drives. After an afternoon tea & snack, you will head out again for your second game drive exploring the vast rolling plains of the Maasai Mara.
Day 13
Maasai Mara – Nairobi
After breakfast we will vacate our rooms and ensure bags are packed ready for the flight back to Nairobi. Based on final booking numbers, and confirmed flight times, we will most likely have lunch in the Mara, and take an afternoon flight back to Nairobi, after saying our goodbyes to the camp staff & our guides. On arrival at Wilson airport, we will be collected as a group, where we will head based on time available, to an activity not done at the safari start, payable direct, and then to our farewell dinner at The Carnivore Restaurant, that is included, followed by a transfer to the Airport for your onward flights home.
End of Services
Overland & Fly-in Safari Options
NEW 2021 DATES: March 2nd – 14th, 2021 November 15th – 27th, 2021
*Options available to extend your trip to visit the Migration in the Serengeti/Tanzania
Land Cruiser Overland: US$8,150.00 per person sharing, Fly-in US$9,395.00 per person sharing
Single Supplement is US$1,695.00
Includes
Accommodation as stated above
All those on the Overland option will travel in Toyota Land Cruisers with pop-up roofs, you will fly OUT of the Mara to end. If on Fly-in option all Domestic Air included & your game drive vehicles will be in OPEN Land Cruisers.
Game activities during the safari portions of the trip as stated
Village visit in Samburu
*Optional village visit in the Mara will cost generally US$30.00 per person paid direct to the village
All meals unless otherwise stated (BLD)
Water, Soft drinks and local alcoholic beverages while at safari camps ONLY
*PLEASE NOTE: The drinks package while at the 3 safari camps was reduced to include water and soft drinks, a sundowner drink, that can include a local beer/wine or local spirit such as a Gin ‘n’ Tonic, and at dinner a local beer, a glass or two of wine maximum is included. Anyone wanting more than a drink or two will be asked to pay for extras.
Laundry at the 3 safari camps ONLY
All Guides & Staff Tips
Excludes
International flights
Travel Insurance
Activities not mentioned
Items of a personal nature
Visa for Kenya
Laundry and Drinks while in Nairobi, Premium Drinks, and Drinks beyond specification above
The Boma Project: During your safari you will learn first-hand about Soysambu Conservancy and the Boma Project, learn more about Soysambu here: http://www.soysambuconservancy.org/
The Boma project was started by Guy Combes, Kat Combes, and Guys friend Jamie Kirkaldy who set up the manufacturing workshop. A boma is a traditional cattle enclosure, used for centuries by the Maasai, and consists of a circular enclosure of impenetrable thorn and scrub branches secured to the ground. The cattle are moved in at night and kept watch by a herdsman. It’s a tried and tested method that has been successful for millennia, but now with modern technology and materials, we have found a way to improve on it.
The cons of a traditional boma are that they cause a scar on the landscape that can take decades to heal. The soil within the boma becomes so denuded with overuse, that it remains visible long after the pastoralists are gone. Predators also become familiarized with them being in the same place, and the risk is greater of attack.
Our solution is a mobile boma, made of several steel and mesh gates, which can be staked into the ground in any suitable location; their size can be modified to suit the size of the herd (the cattle need to be packed in tight, because if they are loose and panic, the risk of injury is greater); they can be moved to a new location before the soil is denuded AND after it has been richly fertilized with manure; predators are less likely to familiarize themselves with the location. They are an all-round win win solution to the situation.
Each boma costs US$2500 to produce, and our goal is to have around 40 to accommodate the roughly 5000 head of cattle on Soysambu. We have 20 so far with the funds raised from quickdraws and donations, so we are halfway to our goal. The boma project is one of many at Soysambu that urgently require funding. Profits raised from this safari will buy at least one Boma for Soysambu and other projects directed by Art for Conservation.
#KenyaSafari #WildlifeConservation