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Our first Conservation, Eco-tourism Safari - Taking our supporters to projects past and present.

Our first  Eco-tourism Safari went to Kenya on October 4th to October 16, 2008, visiting Tsavo East National Park, Amboseli National Park, Lake Nakuru National Park and Maasai Mara. We also visited The Orphan Elephant Rehabilitation Program at Ithumba, Tsavo East National Park, the Maasai Community Village and Iviani Primary School at Voi.

We took a group of 8 people on safari spending the first 2 days of our 11 day stay at The Norfolk Hotel in Nairobi. While in Nairobi acclimating ourselves to the time change we visited The Giraffe Center, a sanctuary for Rothschild Giraffe and then onto the Karen Blixen Museum, which is the restored home of a pioneer coffee farmer. You step back in time and gain an insight into this remarkable woman's life. From the beautifully landscaped gardens you can view the Ngong Hills. On our way back to the hotel we stopped at the Kazuri Bead Factory, where we had a tour and learnt how the beads were made and how the factory was started. The women employed at the factory are mostly single mothers, the factory owners have set up their own health clinic for the women. The beaded jewelry made at the factory is now shipped to UK and USA.

We also visited the Ormakau Maasai Village which is one of the Community based projects that we have supported and continue to do so. We were able to see the footbridge that we raised funds to help build. This bridge connects the Maasai Village to The Nairobi National Park, bringing in visitors to learn about the Maasai people and buy crafts made by the villagers, thus enabling them to earn extra income. It was wonderful to see where our money was spent and how valuable this project was for the village! The villagers welcomed us with a traditional dance and we were given a tour of the village learnt about the people and their customs and also enjoyed a nature walk where our guide taught us about the vegetation and its uses.

The next three days were spent driving to and staying at Tsavo East National Park. This is one of East Africa's main wildlife strongholds, this is Kenya's largest national park, covering 8,034 square miles. Despite it being generally arid and rugged it offers a variety of habitats and ecosystems ranging from semi-dessert, savannah and open plains, to acacia woodland, thickets, mountain forest and riverside vegetation.

On our way to Tsavo East National Park we visited Tsavo Station where (Maneaters of Tsavo) a pair of lions went on a killing spree during the building of a railway bridge in 1898. The film 'Ghost and the Darkness' was based on this historical event. The station is still used but the buildlings still sit in the early 1900's.

Tsavo Station and Tsavo railway bridge

Please check back for more of our trip plus photos!