Family News
Fiona’s real estate and relocation business, Fastrack, continues to grow in leaps and bounds. She and her partner have quickly been recognized as the people to call if one is looking to settle in the up-market suburbs of Nairobi.  International companies with incoming employees who need assistance settling in Nairobi have quickly found that Fastrack facilitates this tremendously.

 

Zoe is now nearly 3 years old. She is of course the tallest girl amongst her friends - can’t think where she gets those long legs from! After her 3rd visit to the Mara she is very familiar with all the wildlife and can easily tell the difference between a Thompson’s Gazelle and an Impala – unlike some other visitors I have had this year!!

 

Oscar just celebrated his first birthday which was quite a chocolaty affair – chocolate ending up on just about everything. He is just taking his first steps, but being a rather chunky lad, tends to fall quite heavily! Zoe and Oscar both spend a great deal of time with Gran and Babu, it is wonderful to have grandparents so close by.

 

 

 

 

Kenya News
The tourism industry in Kenya has experienced a 30% growth in the past 2 years which is extraordinary. This has followed several years of peace and security in the country. The democratic nature of the country was revealed again in a recent national referendum on establishing a new constitution. The government suffered a resounding defeat, but the country of Kenya was certainly the winner. This was an incredibly well run affair, and emotions were running high, but the decision of the people has been accepted without question.

 

Personal News and Views
I have been away a great deal on safaris this year with groups from St Louis (including the Zoo itself), Detroit, Washington DC, England, Mexico and even Dubai. Tourism growth is certainly the saviour for wildlife. Pressure on the wildlife areas from population growth in the country continues to increase every year. We need greater wildlife based revenue earnings to compensate for these increased pressures to continue to protect these fabulous habitats. I continue to be actively involved with Campfire Conservation, designed to increase the benefits realized by the Masai communities living with wildlife along the boundary of the Masai Mara. I also sit on the examination committee of the Kenya Professional Safari Guides Association, widely recognized as the bench mark for guiding standards in Kenya, and even East Africa.

 

Safari News
Favourite safari destinations for myself and Onsafari continue to be Shaba and Samburu in the north; Lewa Downs in Laikipia; Lake Nakuru and Chui Lodge in the Rift Valley; Amboseli in the south; and the Mara in the west. There have also been visits outside Kenya to Tanzania and Rwanda. Tanzania’s northern circuit including Ngorongoro Crater and the Serengeti continues to attract a good deal of interest. Rwanda has become the place to see the endangered Mountain Gorilla in the Virunga Mountains. Rwanda has emerged from the terrible genocide of 1994 with all its 5 habituated gorilla groups intact. There are 8 people allowed to visit each group a day under carefully controlled circumstances, for a total of 40 permits a day available – and it is sold out every single day!!

 

 

	Wildlife encounters and other experiences through the year continue to capture the imagination of myself and all my visitors, here are just a few…	Breakfast with the elephants, Samburu Magnificent leopard, Buffalo Springs Camping with the Wildebeest, Masai Mara Watching a Cheetah hunting, Masai Mara
Masai in the shadow of Kilimanjaro, Amboseli Hyenas that hunt flamingos, L Nakuru Mountain gorilla silverback, Virunga Mountains