Pictured left to right: Bush and Beyond’s private guide, Jackson Looseyia in traditional Maasai dress, Lyn Lavery, Samantha Barbitta, Tierney Craig, Anna Kohtz, and Josh Perrett of Ekorian’s Mugie Camp. Photo by Liz Bean, Bush and Beyond. A visit from Bush and Beyond’s Jackson, Josh and Liz to the Bushtracks office in Healdsburg, California on November 11 really got our week off to a great start. Jackson hails from Masai Mara Kenya and was able to share his insider secrets on how to make the most out of Kenya safaris in the Masai Mara’s famed wilderness. Josh, while less colorfully dressed, shared a wealth of information on Kenya’s Laikipia Plateau.
Tip: BYOB (Binoculars) On Safari
Born in the Masai Mara, Jackson learned the art of bushcraft from his father, and is an expert in how to get the best wildlife sightings in the Masai Mara Conservancies. His advice on getting the most out of Kenya safaris? “Everyone should bring their own pair of binoculars.” He has watched too many guests trying unsuccessfully to share one pair of binoculars across four people, and feels like it distracts from the moment, whereas your own up-close view is an incomparably wonderful experience. An expert guide, like Jackson, is your best source for African safaris away from the crowds, and literally off the beaten path in search of the best lion sightings, and we were thrilled to learn his insights about the conservancies of the Masai Mara.
Cutting-Edge Conservation in Laikipia
Josh introduced us to a new camp in the Laikipia Plateau, a region which is one of Kenya’s conservation success stories, where free-roaming game, spectacular scenery, and a traditional way of life co-exist. The Laikipia Plateau is home to a number of privately owned properties in secluded conservation areas, like Lewa House, Lewa Wilderness, Ol Malo Lodge, and The Sanctuary at Ol Lentille, to name a few. This area has always been at the forefront of Kenya’s wildlife conservation, and so we were interested to learn about two exciting developments. The first is the opportunity for guests to interact with bloodhounds who are trained to help with anti-poaching efforts. The second is the use of IBEIS (Image-Based Ecological Information System) that works like facial-recognition software for animals, detecting unique patterns in the markings of individual animals. The ultimate goal will be that guests’ photos of animals can be time-stamped and geo-tagged, enabling scientists and conservationists to understand the individual movements of animals across Africa.
The visit reminded us about everything that is exciting about Kenya where you can enjoy some of the best game viewing in Africa, and we can’t wait to share it with our guests.
Start Planning Your Kenya Safari
The first version of this article was posted on 13 Nov 2014 at 4:53 PM.