Embracing responsible tourism

The chance to travel to remote reaches of the planet is one of modern life’s great privileges. Escaping for a week or two to immerse yourself in places and cultures which are a world away from your own is a unique experience which may be relaxing, invigorating, educational, or even spiritual.
 

Responsible tourism is about
treading lightly.

But there is an increasing awareness that alongside these profound benefits, tourism can also come at a cost to local communities and to the environment. This concern is behind the rising trend towards more ethical forms of tourism.

Being a responsible traveller entails making an effort to minimise the negative impacts of your holiday – both socially and environmentally. It is about interacting meaningfully with the people and places you visit, treading lightly and developing a respect for and an understanding of the cultures and environments you encounter.

More than just business

Small, bespoke travel operators like us at Africa House Safaris have ethical principles embedded in the way we operate. For a start, we’re based in East Africa, so the places to which we take our guests are home to us. And our relationships with our guides and with the owners of the lodges and camps we use are personal, lasting friendships – rather than just business arrangements based purely on profit and gain.

The camps we use are friendly and personal,
allowing guests to get to know their hosts.

One of the ways we like to foster a connection between our guests and local communities is through arranging stays at the homes of some of our friends here in East Africa. These occasions afford an intimate insight into the culture and lifestyle of people who live and work here — and are a far cry from the custom of package holiday tourists descending on communities en masse to scrutinize them. In home stays, the onus is on authenticity and mutually respectful connections.

Sustainable destinations

At Africa House, we’re keen to take guests to lodges and attractions which are run with sustainability in mind. A great example of this is the Ol Malo Trust, a private game sanctuary in Kenya. Ol Malo is engaged in a number of projects aimed at empowering the Samburu people in terms of education, employment, sustainable environment practices and health. Notably, the Trust has enhanced the lives of hundreds of local families by treating and helping to prevent trachoma, an eye disease which is common in the region.


A guest at Ol Malo, Kenya, a game sanctuary
with positive social and environmental aims.

Our forthcoming special tours also feature visits to important social and environmental projects. For example, guests on next month’s Spring Break Safari will pay a visit to Daphne Sheldrick’s Elephant Orphange. In late June, our Painting Safari will include a trip to the Lumo Community Wildlife Sanctuary, which is doing valuable work in protecting its rich biodiversity. Going to places like these serves the dual purpose of providing a valuable insight into the cultural and natural heritage present in East Africa, and in supporting the very projects which help to protect it.



Eco credentials

For guests who’d like the full eco-experience, we can incorporate accommodation with the very highest green credentials when we design your safari itinerary. A striking example of this is Lemarti’s Camp, in Laikipia, which we featured in last month’s newsletter. With its use of locally-sourced, eco-friendly products and materials, natural construction and low energy demands, it’s hard to imagine a more sustainably run camp.

Guests enjoy opportunities for cultural insights
through spending time with tribespeople.

Even with the best intentions to travel with ethical principles, one sadly inevitable impact for most people visiting Africa is that of air travel. At Africa House, we do what we can to offset the contribution to climate change caused through aviation emissions through our tree planting pledge. To help reduce our carbon footprint we are planting ten trees for every guest we take on safari this year.

Travelling to somewhere as beautiful as East Africa can never be enjoyed without some impacts. But at Africa House we believe we minimise these effects through the choices we make in supporting the people and places which are run sensitively and sustainably. We think that the opportunities for mutual understanding brought by the interaction between our guests and the communities and natural wonders they visit can even be a force for good.

Focus on forests

The United Nations has declared 2011 the International Year of Forests to raise awareness of the issues that face these crucially important ecosystems. So at Africa House, we are proud to be continuing our pledge to plant ten trees for every guest we take on safari this year.

East Africa's forests support a multitude of wildlife

Forests are an immeasurably important part of the global environment, helping to moderate the global climate, regulate water cycles and stablise soils. Trees are also relied upon by countless species for which they provide a habitat. And, of course, forests provide people with a wealth of resources, and for many, a livelihood.

Unfortunately, forests have been under increasing threat from destruction and degradation from human activities. This is resulting in the extinction of many species, an impact on those whose livelihoods depend on them, and a contribution to climate change.

East Africa, although perhaps better known for its open savannahs, is home to a range of ecologically and economically important forest areas. For example, Kenya and Uganda contain signifcant areas of lowland rainforest. Swamp forests and mangroves can also be found around the coasts of each of the East African countries – these are a important source of timber and other resources for local people.

The Kenya Forest Service (KFS) is one example of an organisation set up to help protect forests from pressure and to balance competing interests from those who use the forests. The removal of forest has altered climates locally, reducing the flow of rivers and damaging agricultural yields. The KFS is attempting to address these problems by taking steps such as regulating the historically damaging charcoal industry by enforcing sustainable practices.

A luxury camp with heart and soul

As seasoned safari designers, we have seen more than our fair share of African accommodation. So if a camp we choose for own holiday leaves us impressed, you can safely assume that it must be something special. Lemarti’s Camp is thoroughly deserving of this description, if our recent stay there is anything to go by. The camp is situated on the bank of a river in a remote reach of Laikipia, Kenya, nestling in a serene spot below a palm grove and an imposing fig tree.



The tent in which we stayed



Having just returned from a late December break there, we are full of praise for Lemarti’s. It’s the ideal place for those seeking relaxation from an African safari holiday - somewhere to fully unwind and de-stress, in true style. It also offers the freedom to choose how you spend your time - with no set schedule as such, the day is yours to do as little or as much as you like.

The sense of tranquillity here is undoubtedly due in no small part to the stunning look of the camp. And style is what you’d expect when the design and furnishings are by fashion designer Anna Trzebinski, co-owner and founder of Lemarti’s. Through the use of understated but beautiful textiles and furnishings she has succeeded in creating an atmosphere of relaxed elegance. The style is unpretentious and welcoming, its rich textures and warm hues providing the ideal complement to the beauty of the area surrounding it with no attempt to upstage it.


The view from the Lemarti's mess tent

There’s a distinct feeling of authenticity about everything at this camp. This has much to do with the fact that Loyapan Lemarti, the camp’s other owner and Anna’s husband, is a genuine Samburu tribesman with roots firmly in this beautiful patch of Africa. For Anna and Loyapan, who met in the African bush, the camp has been a labour of love. With the help and support of the local community, the couple have poured their passion into the project at every stage from conceiving the idea to looking after the guests on a daily basis.

Every aspect, from the bed linen to the napkins, has been either sourced locally by the couple or designed by Anna herself – it’s this attention to detail that helps make a stay at Lemarti’s not only exquisitely comfortable but also inspirational. And in keeping with the exceptional standards on offer here, the food is sensational.



The mess area at Lemarti's

Loyapan, along with some help from his close friend and colleague Boniface, provides a rich insight into Samburu culture. The pair entertain, educate and inspire guests with their natural charisma and infectious energy. Their presence is especially loved by children, who are invariably keen to get involved in tribal activities. This is one of the reasons why Lemarti’s is so well suited to families. During our stay there was also a family on camp, with two boys aged 11 and 9 and a daughter of 4 - the mum and dad were thrilled that the children were entertained by the Samburu staff in camp, giving them 'down time' too. There is the river and its sandy beach just below the camp, where the kids spent endless hours swinging from a rope attached to the branches of the huge fig tree.

The view from the sundowner spot

While Lemarti's is great for families, its versatile layout also affords the privacy sought by honeymooners and other couples on safari. The camp's series of more secluded tents, each with its own veranda overlooking the river, means that couples can take in the atmosphere of this magical setting and enjoy the perfect romantic safari holiday.

Anyone wanting to experience the best in luxury camping on safari need look no further. After our stay at Lemarti’s, we are proud to endorse it as the most exceptionally beautiful, authentic wilderness camp we have seen. With so much love and care invested in Lemarti’s, you’d be hard pressed to find a camp which better captures the heart and soul of Africa.

Getting there

There are four options for reaching Lemarti’s once you arrive in Kenya:

• A private charter to the Kimanju airstrip, then collection by the camp's 4 x 4 vehicle
• A schedule flight to Loisaba airstrip, then collection by the camp’s vehicle
• A scenic drive from Nanyuki
• A helicopter journey to the camp’s doorstep. Some guests drop in by this method just for afternoon tea and a massage!

If you'd like Lemarti's to be part of your next safari, we'd be delighted to include a stay here in the itinerary we design for you.

Looking ahead to a sensational year of safaris

Whatever time of the year you visit East Africa, there’s always something amazing to see. With a consistently warm, tropical climate, and abundant and continuous wildlife viewing opportunities, Kenya and its neighbours are genuine year-round destinations. But each season offers something unique too so it’s worth thinking about which time of year might best suit your needs – booking and travelling with expert operators like us can help you make this decision, and also ensures that you’ll enjoy the best seasonal experiences on offer when you’re on safari. Here’s a brief guide to some of the highlights set to excite safari-goers in 2011:

January, February, March

It’s a bright and busy start to the year in East Africa, with recent rains meaning grasslands are shown in their lushest, greenest glory and rivers are in full flow. This relatively dry, hot period is a great time of the year for spotting wildlife, with many baby animals around to provide the cute factor.

Elephant Pepper Camp, on our Spring Break Safari

Our Spring Break Safari, the first of this year’s special tours, starts on March 8th. This luxurious 10-day safari will show off the best of Kenya’s attractions. Guests will get to enjoy the game-rich plains of Amboseli, against the park’s stunning backdrop of Mount Kilimanjaro. The wildlife-watching will continue as we visit the strikingly scenic Samburu and the world-famous Masai Mara. If you like the sound of this springtime safari, there’s still time to book your place. You can see the full details of the safari on our website by clicking here.

April, May, June



The onset of rainy weather during this quarter of the year leaves many would-be tourists looking elsewhere in their calendar. However, some savvy travellers rightly realise that these months are the most under-rated times to visit East Africa. For one thing, the very fact that it’s the low season means that those who do take safaris now can enjoy the parks and attractions with far fewer other tourists around. It’s also a more affordable time of the year to stay at camps and lodges.

Stunning Laikipia, on our Painting Safari

And there’s plenty which is special about this season to more than compensate for a bit of rain. The unique landscape and botany of East Africa are particularly picturesque now, with the crystal clear air displaying the landscape vividly and blooming wildflowers in abundance. It’s also a great time for watching birds, of which there are over 1200 species in Kenya alone.

This natural beauty is sure to present the perfect subject matter for our special Painting Safari, which starts on June 23rd and runs for 12 days. This tour is guided by celebrated wildlife artist, Martin Aveling, and Terry Brownbill, our own highly experienced guide and bush expert. Guests will have the opportunity to see landscapes and wildlife in a diverse array of settings, including the magical Laikipia, where there’s a chance to wander freely in search of the perfect spot from which to paint animals at close quarters. You can see full details of the tour by clicking here. Give us a call to book a place or to get further information.

July, August, September

The spectacular wildebeest migration

A trip to Kenya’s Masai Mara is a must around this time of the year, as the great annual wildebeest migration crosses from the Serengeti in one of the greatest wildlife spectacles on Earth. Countless hordes of wildebeest, along with zebras and gazelle, flood onto Kenya’s grassy plains in search of fresh pastures, while under attack from crocodiles in the river and by lions, cheetahs and hyenas on land.

This dry period offers the perfect conditions for game spotting as fewer drinking spots mean that wildlife tend to congregate around scarcer water sources. The climate is particularly comfortable at this time of the year, with warm days being followed by cool nights, which allow the perfect excuse for guests themselves to congregate – around a glowing camp fire.

October, November, December



Our Photo Safari offers close wildlife encounters

This quarter heralds the arrival of a special tour which we’re very excited about – our special Photographic Safari, which runs from the 1st - 10th October. Guided by Bob Demchuk, an accomplished photographer and movie-maker, guests can sharpen their photographic talents in some of the world’s most inspiring settings. The Samburu Reserve will lure landscape lovers with its acacia woodland and volcanic rock cones, while the Masai Mara will provide plenty of action to capture on camera, especially as the visit coincides with the culmination of the Kenyan stage of the magnificent wildebeest migration. Click here for the full details.

All in all, 2011 promises to be an exciting year for safaris in East Africa. If you’d like to get in on the action this year, we’d love to chat with you about the kind of safari we can design for you. Or perhaps you like the sound of one of the special tours we have planned. Either way, feel free to give us a call on +254 722 512 588 and make it a year to remember!

Can the words family and safari really go together?

Choosing the perfect family holiday can be a tall order. It’s usually a balance between providing fun and stimulation for the children while giving the adults as much freedom and relaxation as is realistically possible. Many people would place an African safari firmly in the adult holiday category, but can it also be a viable option for families?

The potential appeal of Africa to children is clearly strong. It offers an amazing chance to give kids all the awe-inspiring experiences which Africa promises – the chance to interact with people from a culture so vastly different from their own; and to be immersed in a place which, for so many reasons, is nothing short of a wonderland. And of course, a safari is one choice which doesn’t require the parents in question to sacrifice their own yearning for a proper adventure holiday.

There are plenty of fun activities for children in the African bush

Many parents, however, understandably have reservations about the idea of taking the more intrepid option for their family holiday. There will be the inevitable concerns about the children’s safety and about whether long, bumpy trips in 4x4s will prove more exhausting than exhilarating. And you might have doubts about whether kids will be welcome at lodges, by the staff or other guests. And whether the activities will be appropriate for the youngsters.

Undoubtedly the best way to allay these worries is to book through a travel operator which provides bespoke safaris, with itineraries that are tailored to your needs. Using the services of local travel experts, like us here at Africa House, means that every aspect of your holiday will be planned with your family requirements in mind. So, for instance, while the kids might not tolerate walking for miles, a camel ride is likely to be greeted with enthusiasm, as it makes the journey less tiring, offers a great viewpoint, and is a lot of fun besides. Bespoke operators also know the best places for you to stay, understanding that comfort and appropriate children’s facilities are high on the agenda.

One shining example of the family-friendly accommodation which we use is that provided by Heritage Hotels. Their Samburu Intrepids and Mara Intrepids camps are thoroughly geared towards welcoming children, with Adventurer’s Clubs which boast masses of activities to keep young hands and minds occupied. Kids get the chance to learn tracking skills, study local wildlife, and have a go at throwing spears, using bow and arrows and starting fires. They also get the very special chance to see first-hand what life is like for Samburu or Maasai people, and a wonderful opportunity to play and exchange ideas with children from these tribes. Lodges like these also allow the grown-ups some welcome time to themselves to relax, knowing their children are safe and happy.

There is also plenty for older children to enjoy. Both the Samburu Intrepids and Mara Intrepids camps run a Young Rangers club for the over-12s. Here they get to engage in local cultural activities at a more advanced level. From bush orienteering and nature studies to dancing, games and local craftwork, there is enough varied and exciting stuff to do to keep even the hardest-to-impress teenager happy. Many parents discover that a safari with children at these older ages is particularly rewarding. With all the distractions present in the frenzy of modern Western life, families find that the quality time they are able to spend together out in the African wilderness can really help to bridge the gap that typifies relationships between parents and their teenage kids.

So a safari planned with the children’s needs considered from the start can be the perfect choice for a family holiday. Of course, as a parent you might feel that taking very young children on safari (or on any other foreign holiday for that matter) might not be worth the trouble. Waiting for them to reach an age at which they can genuinely enjoy and appreciate exploring Africa is a sensible approach. But rest assured that when you and your children are ready for a safari, then Africa is ready for you. When designed in the right way, a safari holiday can be a magical and enriching experience for any child with a keen sense of adventure - and for the parents too.

A Novel Device for Travellers

For many people, the thought of going on holiday evokes the image of lying back in some sunny idyll with a book in hand. So holidaymakers must be among the prime targets for e-book readers like the Amazon Kindle.

Does this mean a new era for the great holiday read? For many people, it certainly will. The advantages of an e-book are pretty irresistible. First and foremost, a Kindle enables you to transport a lot more books than you could possibly squeeze into your suitcase and hand luggage in one slim, lightweight object. In fact, the latest version of the Kindle lets you store up to 3500 books – which should be just about keep you topped up with reading material between game drives.

What’s more, wherever you get a wireless network service, you can access newspapers at a few touches of a screen – and read them while travelling, without your elbows invading the personal space of the person next to you.

Another feature that will please tourists is the Kindle’s claim that its battery can last for a month after charging, so it shouldn’t go blank half way through your flight home. On another technical note, the Kindle has been praised for its screen quality. The Kindle display’s high contrast makes for clear reading, and, unlike an LCD screen, the Kindle’s screen easily readable in bright sunlight – ideal for taking in the latest blockbuster whilst lazing under the African sun.

But despite all its winning qualities, many loyalists of the traditional book will remain unconvinced by the e-book reader. For some, there’s something special about flicking through the pages of a book which makes a holiday complete.

And whether it’s pure and simple nostalgia or trusting a tried-and-tested low-tech solution to a yearning for entertainment, the printed book is by no means a historical artefact yet. Whatever the future holds, we can be pretty sure that a good read will continue to be a treasured element of a good holiday – whether the book consists of ink on paper or light on a screen.

The Amazon Kindle can be bought here. (For fans of the printed story, Amazon also sells books!)

Spectacles and celebrity spots

The Masai Mara reserve is always a safe bet for great African wildlife spotting, but this year’s migration season has been impressive, even by the usual standards.

Over the past few weeks, much of our safari activity has been focused on the awesome spectacle of the great migration in which massive numbers of wildebeest, zebras and gazelle cross the Mara River from the Serengeti onto Kenyan soil. This year’s generous rains have not only brought a lush landscape for our guests to enjoy, but also seem to have attracted more wildebeest to the region than we’ve seen in recent years.


Migrating wildebeest, gathering to make the treacherous river crossing.



The crocodiles which prey on these migrating grazers as they cross the Mara River have been more than adequately supplied with food during this migration. At one stage we witnessed the bizarre sight of wildebeest using the crocodiles beneath them as stepping stones to traverse the river. The indifference of these well-fed predators combined with the vigorous flow of a river which was swelling due to the generous rainfall actually made this the safest option for some of the travelling animals.

It has also been a bumper season for big cat appearances. Our guests have been treated to abundant sightings of lions, some being lucky enough to see large prides with their cubs in tow. A further cause for excitement has been the frequent showing of leopards, which are far less numerous than lions in the Masai Mara.

We’ve been delighted to see Zawadi, one of Kenya’s resident ‘celebrity’ leopards, identifiable by a distinctive line of spots under her right eye. Her photogenic looks and relative ease with human attention have earned her worldwide renown amongst wildlife lovers. She has even been one of the stars of a BBC’s ‘Big Cat Diaries’ documentary series, in which she goes by the name of Shadow. Click here to see a video of her employing her stealth and speed to hunt her prey.

Zawadi, aka Shadow, who has become known around the world.

As if that wasn’t enough animal activity for our guests to witness, the elephants have been getting in on the action too. At Africa House we’re renowned for the excellent service we provide, so if dinner is delayed there must be a good reason for it. When a family of elephants decided to investigate our guests’ eating area at Little Governor’s Camp recently, we got a more intimate wildlife encounter than anyone had bargained for. With an experience like that to take home, it’s no surprise that nobody minded waiting for their meal!