Join Artist Guy Combes on Safari to his homeland of Kenya while supporting a fundraising opportunity for the Art for Conservation Organization - A Fleeting Glimpse by Guy Combes - Upmarket Luxury Adventure Your Art Host: Guy Combes Dates: August 10 th 22 nd, 2019 Designed & planned in detail by: www.jacksonsafricansafaris.com Guy Combes As a native of Kenya, Guy will be your Artist host for your time in Nairobi & Soysambu Conservancy, answering questions as best as he can about wildlife, culture and his love of Kenya. Each vehicle will have a professional local driver guide who will take care of any needs throughout the trip, and take care of all logistics, as Guy s focus is to spend quality time with you all and will rotate vehicles accordingly. Guy is very familiar with the land, and in particular; Soysambu, where he lived and acted as guide for many years before moving to the USA, and even since then has returned with groups of conservation biology students and artist friends. Guy's father, Simon, had a long and profound connection with Soysambu and Nakuru, and Guy will take you to many of the places that inspired his career as an artist. He will retrace his father's footsteps as a conservationist, and introduce you to the legacy that has paved the way for him to continue to champion the cause here at Soysambu Conservancy: http://www.soysambuconservancy.org/
Kenya Safari with Artist host Guy Combes April 2018: Leopard photographed by Timothy Jackson while with Guy Combes on Soysambu Conservancy, this delightful sighting resulted in Guys featured painting on this trips cover A Fleeting Glimpse by Guy Combes. Kenya Saturday, 10 th August, 2019 Arrival in Nairobi, Kenya Today, you will be met off your flight by your driver guides and taken to the Emakoko Lodge, on the border of Nairobi National Park, here to relax and unwind. Based on your time of arrival you will have the opportunity to see your first wildlife. This evening a small introduction and discussion about tomorrow s activities will take place with Guy Combes and the Emakoko team. The Emakoko (All meals included from arrival) https://emakoko.com/ Sunday, 11 th August, 2019 Nairobi Today, you will have a morning game drive and breakfast at camp, some may to choose to have a quiet morning instead, before taking in two activities in Nairobi; these will include the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust Orphanage where they have the Orphan Elephant 11am viewing and followed by a visit to the Giraffe Centre. Time permitting a couple of other optional activites may be possible such as the Beads Centre before an afternoon game drive and sundowner in Nairobi National Park. The Emakoko (BLD) Monday - Wednesday, 12 th 14 th, 2019 Nairobi Rift Valley Lakes (Lake Elmenteita) Tentative schedule Guy Combes has planned for your time in the Rift Valley: Monday: We will head North out of Nairobi towards the famous Lakes area of the Rift Valley, where you find Lake Naivasha, a freshwater lake, and the soda lakes of Nakuru & Elmenteita. We will stop on Naivasha for a boat ride via Crescent Island, where you will go for a walk and get some sighting of Zebra, antelope and giraffe by foot (hopefully) and we should see and hear the
African Fish Eagles calling & fishing over the lake. We will have a relaxing lunch at the Lake Naivasha Country Club located on the lake shore, before moving on to our home for the next 3 nights, the lovely Serena Elmenteita Camp, on Soysambu Conservancy. We will arrive with time to settle in and have a rest and for those that wish time to explore the immediate lodge surroundings. Serena Elmenteita is located in a forest of acacia xanthophloea 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 evening, there will be a game viewing drive to a location in the Conservancy where sundowners will be provided and then guests will return to the lodge for dinner. As Soysambu in a private conservancy, there are no restrictions on doing night drives, and this will be an option after the meal. There are many nocturnal species in this area that one has a good chance of seeing. Tuesday: 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. Wednesday: 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, the group will return to the camp in the early afternoon to relax. As before, there will be an evening viewing drive before returning to the lodge for dinner. Serena Elmentaita (BLD) http://www.serenahotels.com/serenaelmenteita/en/default.html Thursday Saturday, 15 th 17 th August, 2019 Rift Valley Lakes Lewa Conservancy And my favourite place in Africa is Lewa Downs. It is like dropping in on the Garden of Eden - Robert Bateman This morning after an early breakfast you will say your goodbyes to Guy Combes and head to the Loldia airstrip for your morning flight to Lewa Conservancy for your upcoming three nights stay at Lewa House. Here your hosts Calum & Sophie with their local guides will pay attention to all your needs and wishes. Robert Bateman donated a painting as a fundraiser for Lewa, here are his words describing Lewa Downs, and a link for information about this painting: Robert Bateman s description of this masterpiece is: "As an artist-naturalist my favourite place in the world to visit is Africa. And my favourite place in Africa is Lewa Downs. It is like dropping in on the Garden of Eden - the way the world used to be before modern man brought about wholesale destruction. Although many animals have been introduced, there is enough space for them to live their lives as they have always done in nature. This painting epitomizes this aspect of Lewa. The cheetah is an orphan cub that was raised to live wild and free and safe from human enemies. The landscape in the background is indicative of the great sense of endless, wide open space."
*Here is the details of this painting auctioned back in 2011: http://www.lewa.org/stayconnected/news-on-lewa/news-on-lewa/article/a-generous-gift-from-wildlife-artist-robertbateman *We ideally want a minimum of 8 guests to run this trip, this will allow us to purchase a Boma valued at US$2,500.00 for the Soysambu Boma Project. If we get 10 full paying clients, the camps have agreed free room and board, plus activities for one couple; this means only paying park fees and internal flights for one couple, the DIFFERENCE between this cost and the tour price will be donated in FULL to AFC if we get 10 full paying clients on this trip! That is over US$12,000.00 going directly to Conservation! Lewa Conservancy Organization The Lewa Wildlife Conservancy works as a model and catalyst for the conservation of wildlife and its habitat. It does this through the protection and management of species, the initiation and support of community conservation and development programmes, and the education of Gerenuk on Lewa Conservancy, also known as giraffe gazelle, photographed by Timothy Jackson in March 2016. Wonderful to observe and photograph. neighbouring areas in the value of wildlife. For local communities, Lewa represents much more than the wildlife it protects. Learn more about Lewa here on their organizations website: http://www.lewa.org/who-we-are/about-lewa/ Lioness on Lewa Conservancy, photographed by Timothy Jackson in March 2016. *Spot the ticks! Sophie was born and raised on Lewa Conservancy, and now with her husband Calum they own and operate Lewa House; you will enjoy dinner time discussions about times past and present and what the future holds. The hope is that upon your return home, through your art and social life we can bring more people to learn and spread the word about conservation in Africa, and how important it is to the world, AND US, supporting organizations like Lewa Conservancy & Art for Conservation does make a difference. For each day you stay at Lewa House US$115.00 goes towards the Lewa Conservancy Organization, this is the daily conservation fee. While staying at Lewa you will learn a little about how much money is needed to keep this leading conservancy running and protecting the Rhino and other unique species here. Lewa House (BLD) https://www.lewahouse.com/
Sunday Wednesday, 18 th 21 st August, 2019 Lewa Conservancy Maasai Mara Game Reserve & Mara Triangle Today, after saying your farewells at Lewa House you will take your flight to the Maasai Mara, on arrival you will be met by your guides; Jackson Looseyia one of the top twenty guides in Africa and his team, to be taken to camp to settle in and prepare for your upcoming days of exploration, collecting images of this stunning environment, it s wildlife & people, to take home and bring into life through art and more. Jackson Looseyia will rotate as your private guide for the duration you are in the Mara. Here is some detailed information on Jackson and more on his camp below: https://www.bush-and-beyond.com/jackson-looseyia-4-facts-newest-guide/#.wzz1nlgny2w Tangulia Mara Tangulia Mara Camp is situated on private land on the western boundary of the Mara Reserve, allowing easy access to game drive around the Musiara Marsh, the short grass plains, and Rhino Ridge, in the reserve or across the Mara River bridge into the Mara Triangle west of the river. Both areas have rich biodiversity and offer prime wildlife and big cat viewing; and, during the migration (August), ready access to some of the main river-crossing places. Guided walks on the slopes of the escarpment outside the reserve, and experiencing the warmth and hospitality of the nearby village are great attractions for guests. Jackson will decide with you what the best plan will be over the days your together. You could not be in better hands. Please remember in the Mara Game Reserve there are not the same rules as found in the Mara Triangle. The Mara Triangle only allows 5 vehicles max. at a sighting. The Mara Game Reserve has little control, but Jackson will as your guide give you the best experience by staying away from any congestion and he knows how to do things well. He will ask your top wishes for your stay with him, and then I say. Let him go to work! Tangulia Mara Camp (BLD) http://tanguliamara.com/ Thursday, 22 nd August, 2019 Maasai Mara - Nairobi Today is your final morning in the Mara, you will have a relaxing breakfast at Tangulia Mara, before driving to the airstrip for your flight to Wilson in Nairobi. Upon arrival you will head for lunch payable direct and have the afternoon for various activity options, that perhaps some you did not have time for on arrival. Later you will have dinner payable direct and then a transfer to the JKIA Nairobi International Airport for your onward departure flights. End of Services Cost of Kenya Adventure (based on Minimum 8 paying people) US$10,350.00 per person sharing REMEMBER: *We ideally want a minimum of 8 guests to run this trip, this will allow us to purchase a Boma valued at US$2,500.00 for the Soysambu Boma Project. If we get 10 full paying clients, the camps have agreed free room and board, plus activities for one couple; this means only paying park fees and internal flights for one couple, the DIFFERENCE between this cost and the tour price will be donated in FULL to AFC if we get 10 full paying clients on this trip! That is over US$12,000.00 going directly to Conservation!
Includes Accommodation as stated above All land and domestic air transfers as stated in the itinerary Game activities during the safari portions of the trip All meals while staying at safari camps unless otherwise stated (BLD) Water, Soft drinks and local alcoholic beverages while at safari camps ONLY Laundry at safari camps (Except Elmentaita) Excludes International flights Travel Insurance Optional Activities in Nairobi paid direct Items of a personal nature Staff Gratuities Premium Drinks Visa fees for Kenya Elephant testing their strength on Lewa Conservancy, Photographed by Timothy Jackson in March 2016. The Boma Project 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 millenia, 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 familiarised 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 fertilised with manure; predators are less likely to familiarise 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. Black Rhino on Lewa Conservancy, Photographed by Timothy Jackson in March 2016. Contact Timothy Jackson for more information or for booking your place on this adventure Timothy Jackson: +1-250-509-1039 info@jacksonsafricansafaris.com