Lori Robinson's Blog, page 5

A Wanna-Be’s Guide to Being Jane Goodall

Jane Goodall’s birthday is April 3rd.  She will be 87.  By that time in life, most people have chosen to retire, slow down and live a more quiet life. But being Jane Goodall, she has done the opposite.

She has turned up the volume on her work to save the world’s wild ones and wild places. Most years she travels over 300 days giving lectures, attending meetings like CITIES, accepting honors, and visiting and inspiring hoards of school children who are members of her worldwide Roots & Shoots program.

If there is news about wildlife, Dr. Jane is among the first to give a comment or make a widely quoted statement. Most recently she has been speaking out about the wildlife trade (as it relates to the spread of viruses).

In every way, she is a model for a life well lived, with purpose.

In celebration of my friend Dr. Jane’s  birthday I’ve highlighted 14 characteristics I consider essential to being Jane Goodall.

I believe each of us can emulate some (or all) of these attributes to help us live our uniquely best purposeful life.

Dr. Jane has been my role model since I was about six years old.

Find your passion and do not waiver from it.  Since she was born (I am exaggerating but you get the gist) Jane Goodall knew she wanted to help animals. Imagine if you’ve spent 20, 40, 80 years focused on one thing. You would be an expert at it. And you would achieve a lot. Most of us get taken off our path because of impatience or because of family or cultural pressures.  Find your passion and stick with it.

Be Yourself. There is no doubt in anyone’s mind what Jane Goodall stands for. She follows her own calling and passion. That makes her both unique and highly effective. So be yourself. Everyone else is taken.Be disciplined. Jane has a mission-like attitude. Indeed she is on a mission, and you feel it from all of her actions. She gets the job done no matter how tired, or overworked she is. And she doesn’t complain.Surround yourself with influential friends. And do things for them. Jane sometimes lends her name for events her friends are doing.  She did a foreword for one of my books.  She is generous with her time and heart. And people want to be around her and give back to her as well.  Motivational teachers all tell us the same thing, “you are only as successful as the people you surround yourself with.” So surround yourself with people you want to emulate.Be determined. Did you know that Jane had to overcome her shyness in order to be a speaker?  She had to overcome many obstacles to be able to do field work in Gombe Stream, and late in life she changed her career focus from a scientist to a conservationist to better help animals. Determination will get you far along your path in life.Adopt a minimalist mindset. Although I doubt Jane cares about the label of minimalist, she has always lived simply, even before this lifestyle was popular. Her staff told me she lives out of one small piece of luggage.Dr. Jane’s bed at her house in Tanzania.MORE ON BEING JANE GOODALLWalk your talk. Knowing who you are, and what you are most passionate about, makes you believable to others. Because meat consumption is a huge contributor to climate change, and because of the abuse and suffering animals endure in factory farms, Jane is a vegan except when her grueling travel schedule only has vegetarian options. Take a stand for what you believe in and make sure you make all your lifestyle choices reflect your values and beliefs.Don’t give up. In the preface of my book, Saving Wild, Inspiration From Fifty Leading Conservationists , I tell a story. It’s about the time I asked Jane how she keeps going despite all the overwhelming bad news in the world. She fixed her green gold-specked eyes on mine and said, “I never give up.” At 85 Jane is probably doing more than ever to share her cause. The words, never give up, are simple. But they can be very difficult to put into action.Keep a sense of humor. Even though Dr. Jane works in a field that is challenging, and at times overwhelming and depressing, she seems to remain in good spirits.

 

Remain Hopeful. Despite the fact that conservation is one of the most difficult fields to work in, she does not seem to give up hope. In fact, she is famous for her lectures and many books full of reasons for hope.Give people your full attention. If you have ever met and had a conversation with Jane you know she looks you straight in the eyes making you feel there is no one else in the room.Say Yes. Jane graciously gives her name to causes that are in line with the mission of her Jane Goodall Institute. That selflessness has only served to expand her name and message across the world.Learn to speak well. Jane is one of the best public speakers I have ever heard. Every one of her lectures has a signature beginning that initially grabs the audience’s attention. Watch her signature opening on my YouTube channel here. She then touches people by telling stories and evoking emotion. I have been in the audience many times when she was speaking and I always notice people crying and laughing. Be humble. Dr. Jane Goodall is perhaps the best-known name in the world related to conservation and animals, yet she remains unpretentious, simple and gracious.

We need inspiration now more than ever. And Dr. Jane continues to provide it through her work, and who she is in the world. By simply being Jane Goodall.

Send your wishes for Dr. Jane’s birthday in the comment section below.

For more on Jane Goodall check out my post, What you don’t know about Dr. Jane. 

The post A Wanna-Be’s Guide to Being Jane Goodall appeared first on Saving Wild.

How to Increase the ‘Wild Factor’ in Your Garden

 

It’s raining catepillars. I’ve just come inside from working in my garden and find four of the pin-sized butterflies-in-the-making hitching a ride on my clothing.

 

I’m thrilled.

 

Why?  Because although I’ve never been particularly drawn to caterpillars, I love birds. And as I recently learned, the majority of bird species rely on caterpillars (not seeds) for sustenance. Especially for feeding their babies.

Birds rely on caterpillars, not seeds, to feed their offspring.

 

Bird parents need hundreds of the wriggling creatures a day to feed a nest full of growing fledglings. Having alot of caterpillars in the garden means I will be able to help sustain the breeding birds. I put out bird seed in Winter, but my feathered visitors need the catepillars for their main source of nutrition.

 

If you too are a bird lover you may be asking yourself how to get more catepillars in your garden?

 

I will tell you after I step outside for a moment to gently remove the wriggling creatures from my shirt and pants and place them on some leaf mulch.

 

OK, I’m back.

 

So, how do you support catepillars in order to support birds in your garden?

 

The good news is that there is one main thing you can do to help birds thrive –

grow a keystone native tree in your garden.

 

A one hundred  year old oak embraces the back patio of my small California cottage. Its branches almost touch my bedroom sliding doors, comforting me when I sleep. Now that I’ve learned about the oak’s role as food and housing for over 400 species of catepillars my already immense respect and love for the resident tree has quadrupled.

 

Oaks (Quercus) are a keystone tree that will go a long way to helping your avian visitors and adding biodiversity to every garden. Keystone species for other areas include the cherry (Prunus), and willow (Salix). Those as well as birches, cottonwoods, and elms are the top woody producers in the USA.

Find native plant inspiration for your garden along your local hiking trails.If you are thinking I don’t have room for a tree in my garden, read on.

If you don’t have room for a tree, plant herbaceous natives. Goldenrods, asters, and sunflowers (top three to plant in the US) also provide shelter and food needed for insects that feed birds.

 

When keystone species are removed from an ecosystem (your garden is an ecosystem) the arch of that system falls down. The food web falls apart. And the wildlife suffer.

 

Adding only one, or a few, of these native plant powerhouses will go a long way towards helping our wild friends, making your garden more eco- friendly and increasing biodiversity on this planet.

96% of bird species rely on insects for their nutritional needs.

 

There is one more thing to consider in making the most of your plantings.

 

These keystone plants need to cared for in ways that enable the caterpillars to complete the four stages of their lifecycles. A catepillar’s egg and larval stages rely on the host plant.  Afterwards, the grown caterpillar falls to ground under the tree (or bush) to burrow into soil or spin a cocoon in the leaf litter. This is just one of a myriad of reasons why not planting a lawn under your tree or bushes, and not raking up all your leaf litter are good gardening practices.  Add ground cover, plant beds of compatible natives, or simply leave the leaves be. Your soil, tree, and wildlife will be better off.

 

To find out what keystone trees and herbaceous plants are good choices for your area visit the National Wildlife Federation’s Native Plant Finder website.

 

Saving Wild starts in any patch of earth (no matter how large or small) we have the privilege of stewarding. The wilder we allow (and encourage) our gardens to be, the better off our wild friends, the planet and we will be.

So go get yourself a new native caterpillar loving plant from your local nursery or botanical garden, and let me know what’s happening in your garden.

 

 

 

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Five NGO’s Helping Animals that deserve your 2021 donation

You have enough to do then spend your time researching which organizations deserve your donations. So let me help you.

Here are my favorite five non-governmental organizations helping animals.

I have personally vetted each of these, giving them a ‘thumbs up’ for their effectiveness, ethics, and ability to use your money wisely. They are all unique and probably ones you have not heard of.

If you want to help animals, you can’t go wrong donating to any, or all, of these wonderful organizations.

On the other hand, maybe you want to avoid sending out five separate donations, and being solicited from them in the future?

Then simply donate to SavingWild here:

[Note: Donations are processed through our non-profit umbrella, The Key Biscayne Foundation, and are fully tax-deductible.] 

Your money will be bundled with other donors and distributed among these five organizations helping animals. And we never send out solicitations!

Here are my Favorite five NGO’s Helping Animals

 

Retiti Elephant Sanctuary

I recently had the privilege of visiting this new sanctuary in Northern Kenya’s Samburu region. So many of the orphaned elephants in Kenya come from this area so it makes my heart sing to know that these traumatized babies can now be taken care of on the land they are familiar with, near elephant families they recognize, rather than flown or trucked hours away to be cared for in Nairobi.

 

Lion Recovery Fund

Created by the Wildlife Conservation Network in partnership with the Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation, the Lion Recovery Fund invests in projects in both Africa and in western donor countries committed to recovering lions and restoring their wild landscapes. The Fund’s goal is to operate until lions are on a clear path toward doubling their numbers across Africa.

 

Animal Defenders International

It seems like I receive news from ADI on a weekly basis about their efforts to rescue lions and tigers from life as a circus act. This organization is busy all over the world identifying abuse and providing rescue. I admire their work, but beware that once you are on their list, you will receive an overwhelming number of solicitations. 

Photos by safari client Henry Holdsworth @Wild by Nature Gallery

 

Great Plains Foundation

Great Plains Foundation supports the work of Great Plains Conservation which acquires and then converts hunting concessions into conservation areas in Africa. The Foundation arm creates and funds projects that will rehabilitate, enhance and save the wildlife in these protected areas. I support anything Dereck and Beverly Joubert are connected to, including using some of their wonderful Tented Camps in my safari itineraries. Visit my YouTube channel to get a feel for some of the camps I like. 

 

Northern Rangelands Trust

A model for the future of conservation around the globe, NRT empowers local people to build sustainable economies linked to conservation and the protection of wild spaces, and mend years of tribal conflict. NRT was founded by Ian Craig, one of the conservationist heroes in my book, Wild Lives. I often include this area of in Northern Kenya on my safari itineraries. It is full of the Big Five and my clients can learn about the amazing work they are doing. 

Make it Simple. Donate to SavingWild and we will bundle your donation with others and distribute it for you.

DONATE DIRECTLY TO SAVINGWILD USING THIS LINK:

[Donations are processed through our non-profit umbrella, The Key Biscayne Foundation, and are fully tax-deductible.] 

 

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Top Tips for a Better African Safari

During the fifteen years I’ve been planning and/or leading life-changing safaris for people the same questions come up over and over again. So I’ve decided to answer some of them, giving you my top tips for a better African safari.

 

1. BINOCULARS & CAMERAS                                                                                                                                                                    

Although some operators provide binoculars in their vehicles they are never as good as your favorite pair. And if you don’t own any binoculars you should consider getting them for your safari.

As for what camera to bring, I can’t tell you how many times clients have expressed regret that they did not put more thought into what camera would capture the memories they hope to bring home. Do the research, and bring the right camera for you to successfully capture your experience.

More details: Best Cameras and Binoculars for a Safari

2. LUGGAGE RESTRICTIONS

Your pre-trip safari packet will tell you that the small bush planes in Africa have weight restrictions. Take the weight restrictions seriously. It’s not like on a normal flight where you pay a fee if your luggage is overweight. On these small planes the pilot has the right – and I have seen them do it – to leave overweight luggage behind. Don’t let it be yours.

 

3. PACKING

Because of the weight restrictions, packing requires some thought. The best clothes to bring are light-weight-material hiking (safari) clothes. Not because you will look the part of the khaki clad safari tourist, but because they weigh the least and are fast drying. Laundry in the bush is hand washed and hung to dry.

More Details on my YouTube channel, Lori Saving Wild. 

 

4. SHOTS

Many doctors will tell you to get a variety of shots before your safari to Africa. The decision on what shots to get is up to you (and your doctor) but with a little research (and information from your operator) you will learn that there are many destinations where no shots at all are required.

Shot requirements depend on where you are travelling to and from. For instance if you are arriving in Kenya from the United States you do not need any shots. In the recent past, Tanzania was requiring yellow fever shots (but not checking to make sure the travelers had gotten them) and now they don’t require them. This can and does change so get the latest information directly from your tour operator.

 

5. FOOD

People I talk to always have concern about the food. I don’t blame them. Memories from experiences with montezumas revenge are not easily forgotten. Meals, like other parts of a safari, change drastically by price point. There is a lot of fresh fruit, and vegetables and local meat. But the way these perishables are stored, washed (or not), cooked and presented can be vastly different. The best (more expensive) hotels, lodges and camps wash all their food with filtered water before serving it, have great chefs and prepare some of the best meals I have ever had. In the case of having safe food the higher end safaris are your best bet.

Lunch with fresh greens from the garden at one of my favorite safari camps.

6. WATER

Do not drink the water, or brush your teeth with it. The best safari operators provide bottled water throughout your trip.

I hope you found my top tips for a better African safari useful. Let me know in the comments below what other questions you have.

 

 

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Helping Africa Survive COVID 19

COVID 19’s effect on the world is unprecedented. Every industry is experiencing its impact. As a safari planning specialist for the past 2 decades, I have intimate insight into the devastation caused by Covid 19 on the African safari business in particular.

On my beach walk this morning I stopped to chat with a philanthropist friend who shares my passion for Africa. “There is a massive need there right now, and I don’t know how to help,” she said.

I told her what I am going to tell you.

What I think is the most effective way to help Africa’s people, its wild places, and its animals. How to best protect rhino and elephant from poachers, to convert areas from hunting with guns to hunting with cameras, and support the local communities that are protecting those animals.

To truly have an impact.

The best remedy is to go on an African safari.

Why?

Because the money you pay for your African safari trickles down. It goes from the lodge to the staff who cook, clean, and care for your every need, to the driver/guide- your teacher and protector in the bush, to the local man selling produce to the lodge for your lunch, to the anti-poaching rangers protecting rhino, elephant, pangolin, and lions. In many areas, your money also pays a lease fee to the local community, like the Masai in Kenya’s Masai Mara Reserve. Those funds then help support every man, woman, and child in that area. That support in turn acts as an incentive to those same local people to protect the wild places and wild beings that tourists pay to experience. It comes full circle.

It’s a win-win for everyone involved.

Of course, this trickle-down effect works in the opposite direction as well. Africa is experiencing that right now from COVID 19. Every safari trip I’ve booked for clients in 2020 have been or will be, rescheduled for 2021. That means there is no safari money circulating through that complex, wonderfully supportive system this year, except for deposits the clients had paid pre-COVID 19.

The good news is that most people are postponing their safari plans, and not outright canceling them. Deposits from those trips, as well as money from new bookings, are providing much-needed confidence and funds to the safari industry during this critical time. It enables African safari operators and lodges to keep local people employed and conservation projects afloat while waiting for things to return to ‘normal’.

A Surprising Way Safaris Helps protect Wildlife

Tourists roaming around the Parks looking at wildlife is a great deterrent to poachers. COVID 19 restrictions are leaving Parks empty and more vulnerable. One bit of good news though from COVID as it relates to poaching is that travel bans are preventing the products – horn, tusk, skin, etc. – from export.

Going on a safari is also a great choice if you want a vacation but are now squeamish about booking a cruise, sightseeing in places with huge crowds, or standing in long lines at museums and entertainment parks. An African safari has always been a place for people wanting space, privacy, and remoteness. Now more than ever, it’s an ideal choice for a special destination.

I would love to help you figure out the perfect itinerary for your safari. If you want to go to Africa within the next year or two don’t delay in starting to make your safari arrangements. My favorite camps are almost completely booked for 2021 because of adding all of the 2020 guests to the booking schedules. It’s not too early to make your bookings for 2022. Contact me to get the conversation started.

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How Touching Whales Helped Me Get A Divorce

When one of the largest animals in the world surfaces within two feet of my kyak, and people scream from the upper deck of a nearby Santa Barbara, California whale- watching boat, “Watch out, you’re going to be capsized,” a normal reaction would be to paddle away from there as fast as humanly possible.

 

Instead, I rest my oar on my lap and smile widely to the well-meaning crowd. I don’t want to miss this close encounter with a whale.

 

If this were a month earlier I wouldn’t have been this relaxed. But I’ve just returned from three days surrounded by gray whales in Mexico, and I’m now confident the 40-ton animal swimming next to me has no interest in capsizing my tiny kyak.

 

“Other animals sometimes seem to recognize in us a kind of kindred consciousness that we often fail to recognize in them.”  From the book Beyond Words by Carl Safina.

                                              ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I want to touch a whale. That had been on my bucket list for as long as I can remember.

 

When I finally realized that wish I was feeling  stuck and unhappy in a marriage that wasn’t working for either of us.

Being in Nature is always my antidote for big life issues. And my marital situation qualified. 

 

So I took a trip to meet whales in Mexico.

On my first night there, tucked in a canvas tent, on the moon-scape sandy edge of San Ignacio lagoon, I lay awake for hours excitedly listening to hundreds of whales breaching and slapping the water with their flukes. What are they saying to each other?  What are they saying to me?

 

In the morning our panga driver motors five tourists, me, and Chris, our naturalist guide, around the lagoon hoping for an ‘encounter.’

 

Every year gray whales migrate south from their feeding areas in the frigid waters of the Bering and Chukchi Seas, to mate and give birth in the relatively calm warm water ‘nursery’ of Magdalena Bay in Baja California and this place, San Ignacio lagoon in Mexico.  Their 10,000-mile round-trip journey is the longest migration of any mammal.

 

Salty spray sprinkles our faces as we bounce over the waves. “There,” Chris points to a ‘footprint’, a smooth oval shape created when whales propel themselves deeper underwater. Our driver idles the engine, an invitation that we are available for a visit if and when the whales are ready.

 

We lean over the side of the boat to slap the surface of the water.  “It calls the whales in,” Chris tells us. “They are very curious beings.” As I slap, I’m silently begging the whales: Pick our boat. We’re friendly. We love you.

 

Within minutes an animal the length of our skiff appears just below the surface a few feet away.

Our first close encounter is about to happen.

It’s a baby.

I stretch out over the side of the boat, reaching, reaching, reaching. Then mom swims under and lifts her baby so the top curve of its spine is out of the water and I make skin to skin contact. Slowly I glide my hand across the rubbery soft dark gray skin, trying to avoid the mottled white patches of sharply edged barnacles that have taken up permanent residence.

Contact.

Time stands still.

Then the baby swims out of the way as the 40-foot long mother maneuvers sideways until I am looking straight into her left eye. As I write this I can feel the tears wanting to flow again. I remember ‘knowing’ something I did not then ‘understand.’ This female whale is initiating contact with us humans. Every cell in my body can feel her connecting to me.

In her presence, I sense a vast pool of peacefulness, understanding and wisdom. She knows things I can never know – about the planet – about the earth, about her water world, and about me. 

I feel completely present and ‘in the moment’ and as if I am enveloped by the purest love I have ever known.

I wanted to touch every whale we saw, and there were hundreds.

For the next three days, each time I ‘meet’ a whale I feel as if I’m being blessed by an ancient soul. As if I am in a loving mothers womb, protected and supported. Each encounter leaves me clearer and stronger.

When I return home to Santa Barbara it is those whales that continue, during the following year, to give me the courage and fortitude needed to finalize my divorce.  

 

                  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~                                  

If touching whales is on your bucket list, January through April are the best months to go.  There are many tour operators you can use, or you can plan it on your own. San Ignacio Lagoon and Magdalena Bay are the top two spots for touching whales. But be warned, touching whales may drastically change your life. 

LvL

*Photos by Chris Peterson  

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Instead of the Kruger National Park, go here…

The Kruger National Park is to South Africa what the Masai Mara is to Kenya. It’s this countries most popular wildlife safari destination.

But Kruger is crowded, with paved roads that feel like you are on a highway rather than in the wild. And a safari in Kruger can feel more like you are on a tour rather than really connecting to the land and the animals.

To solve that problem, I have some advice.

Rather than staying directly in Kruger, consider staying in areas outside the Park, in what’s called the Greater Kruger National Park (GKNP).  This area consists of over 20 private reserves of 180,000 hectares of unfenced land on the West side of the Kruger National Park. The wildlife moves freely through this total area of 20,000,000 hectares (49,400,000 acres) and the reserves offer benefits you don’t find inside Kruger National Park.

Staying in one of the private reserves will cost you more money. But what you get in return is worth it.

You will have a more wild experience. You will have fewer vehicles at a sighting, and sometimes maybe yours will be the only truck at a sighting. You will have exclusivity – no self drivers are allowed in this area.  And you will get the wisdom from some of South Africa’s top guides and trackers.

Probably the best known of the private reserves is Sabi Sands.

Sabi Sands is known as the area for honeymooners. Many of the lodges have special package deals for the newlyweds which include Cape Town, and a 3 or 4-night safari, before heading off to an exotic island. In fact, at every lodge I visited in this private reserve I met at least one couple on their honeymoon.

The area is also known for leopard sightings. The lodges in Sabi Sands have worked hard to habituate these big cats to trucks and tourists. Spending limited amounts of time with newborn cubs, then slowing increasing exposure until the cats are so comfortable, they will eventually walk nonchalantly within inches of the trucks full of tourists. Considering how shy and elusive these cats are in other areas of Africa, to be this close to leopards is a special privilege. So, if leopards are your thing, then Sabi Sands is your place.

 

 

Accommodation in the GKNP is more exclusive, with smaller camps, great service, and more luxurious amenities. I spent almost 2 weeks visiting 11 lodges in Sabi Sands recently and want to share my favorites with you.

Here are my top choices for your Greater Kruger National Park area lodges:

 

Boulders. The décor is inspired by the five elements – earth, wind, fire, air, and water -and the place has a sexy, modern, upbeat vibe. They have a workout gym, and spa, excellent management, staff, trackers, and guides. Monkeys are climbing on the rafters in the lounge, “it’s their place as much as it is ours,” is the attitude here. Boulders is one of my all-time favorite lodges I have ever stayed at. To see why, watch my video of Boulders Lodge, here.

 

Dulini River Lodge. The Dulini Collection has three lodges and also a connection to Savanna Lodge. I loved them all. But the beauty of the River Lodge is it’s light, sunny and airy aesthetic. It is simply exquisite. Take a video tour of their main lodge here to get a feel for what I’m talking about. Set among towering trees alongside a river, leopards are often seen around the camp. The staff has to put the cushions from the outdoor furniture away at night because the leopards have been known to chew them to bits.

 

Londolozi Varty Camp. A great choice if you are looking for a family safari or a safari/vaca combo. There is a state-of-the-art wellness center on-site with a Himalayan salt cave/freeze pool treatment that took away all the aches and pains I had from bouncing around in safari trucks for 2 months. They hold daily yoga classes before lunch and offer retreats in the bush with some re-known life coaches. They are known for having world-class trackers. And, the food is of superb quality with greens from their own garden.

Lunch with fresh greens from the garden.

 

Let me help create a life-changing South Africa safari adventure for you that will be much better than going to the Kruger National Park.

Contact me to get started.

 

 

 

 

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10 Reasons Kenya offers an Amazing African Safari Experience

There are nine countries in Africa that offer an amazing African safari experience. All for different reasons.

I’ve been traveling all over Africa for 34 years, yet I continually choose Kenya (and Tanzania) for clients, especially if it’s their first safari.

Here’s why Kenya is my top choice for an Amazing African Safari Experience:

 

LARGE NUMBERS OF ANIMALS                              [To see what I am talking about check out the videos of my safari travels on FaceBook  and Instagram ]

The Masai Mara in Kenya and the Serengeti in Tanzania form The Greater Serengeti Ecosystem. One of the largest protected ecosystems on Earth, its 40,000 square kilometers (25,000 square miles) is home to the big five (elephant, lion, leopard, buffalo, and rhino).

Every year a million wildebeest, half a million gazelle and 200,000 zebra follow the rains and fresh grass in a continual semi-predictable circle within these two areas. So if you time it right, and go to the right camps, you will witness the largest migration on earth.

Although the Mara is the most popular reserve in Kenya, there are other gems as well. Tsavo and Amboseli have huge numbers of elephants including the big tuskers. The Samburu region is home to endemic endangered animals such as grevy’s zebra, reticulated giraffe, and hirola.

 

PREDATORS

Where there is prey, there are predators. The Mara is the location for shows like the Big Cat Diaries. Discovery Channel and Animal Planet film many of their African wildlife segments here. Why?  Because the Masai Mara offers quintessential Africa scenery and experiences. The wide-open plains make it easy to find lots of wildlife.

There are lots of African big cats in the Mara, like this cheetah mom.

 

CULTURAL INTERACTIONS

The Maasai Mara is owned by the Maasai people and managed in partnership with the Kenyan Government and the lodge companies. The camps and lodges have lease agreements with the Maasai people so that everyone benefits. This is a model duplicated across Kenya. Your visit benefits the local people. Depending on where you are in Kenya, The Maasai and Samburu people work at the lodges, and your stay can include a visit to a traditional Maasai or Samburu village.

Our Masai guide, Daniel, and I fooling around with my group of women.

 

FRIENDLINESS

My safari clients consistently comment on how friendly the local people are. From the passport control, hotel staff, safari operators and people working at the camps where you stay, everyone is smiling and welcoming.  One of my clients, comparing the friendliness here to the famous “aloha” attitude of the Hawaiian people, said Kenya wins.

“Kirubu” which means welcome in the local KiSwahili language, is one of the most commonly used words in Kenya. Not only are the people friendly but the country wants tourists and foreigners. They love us. “They help our economy,” is how my taxi driver describes it. And almost everyone speaks English.

 

LEADING EDGE CONSERVATION

Kenya is the only safari country that has had a consistent no-hunting policy (in place since 1977). A couple of years ago the government added a ‘shoot to kill policy’ to combat poaching.

Kenya is also home to some of the top conservation NGO’s in the world.  Lewa Wildlife Conservancy helped build the first elephant corridor, an underground tunnel that allows elephants to cross under the busy Meru/ Nanyuki highway. Ol Pejeta Conservancy is a sanctuary for the last two Northern White Rhinos left in the world. And the gold standard for successfully raising orphaned baby elephants originated here in Kenya.

Ol Pejeta sanctuary has the last two Northern White rhino left in the world, a mother and daughter. The daughter and I share an emotional moment.

 

IDEAL WEATHER

British expats talk about the sunshine as one reason they love it here.  But this is not the hot African sun of your imagination. Most of where you go on safari in Kenya is at an altitude of 3,000-5,000 feet. This keeps the temperatures cooler than many other places on the continent. The hottest months here are January and February, but most of the year expect temperate day time temperatures and cool nights.

 

EASE OF GETTING AROUND

Tourism is the number one contributor to the economy here. That means the country is very accommodating to its foreign visitors. Wilson is a small Nairobi airport dedicated to flying khaki-clad safari bound tourists. And there is a train that goes from Nairobi to the coast. English is spoken in the cities and at all the safari destinations.

 

WIDE VARIETY OF OPTIONS FOR AN AMAZING SAFARI EXPERIENCE

Safari packages range from rustic to luxurious. That means no matter what your budget you can experience at least a basic safari experience. Nairobi is the only city in the world that has a National Park (lions, giraffe, zebra … ) within its boundaries. So you don’t need to go far to see a few of the ‘big five’ animals.

 

NAIROBI’S WORLD FAMOUS ATTRACTIONS

Giraffe Center/Manor

Daphne Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage

Karen Blixen Museum

The Maasai Market and other craft stores

 

A KENYAN SAFARI NEVER DISAPPOINTS (but see my caveat below)

For all of the nine reasons mentioned above, Kenya gives safari travelers a life-changing journey full of wildlife encounters and cultural experiences in a friendly comfortable setting.

Caveat:  Despite all of this, you still need to know when to travel to Kenya and where the best parks and camps are in order to get all that Kenya has to offer.

Contact me to get started on creating an amazing African safari experience.

 

 

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Great African Safaris are Not Tours

It’s finally time to turn your dreams of going on an African safari into reality!

I’m leading three new great African safaris in 2020 to Botswana, Tanzania, and Kenya.

Typical style small tented camps in my itineraries.

Each itinerary includes the best spots in each country for maximum wildlife, and are all-inclusive from start to finish. The accommodations are small chic camps intimately connected to Nature. We listen to lions roaring and animals walking by our tents at night. The food is fresh, organic and wonderful, the driver/guides and services are top notch throughout.  Each group is a maximum of six people with like-minded interests. All you need to do is relax, unwind, and enjoy while I take care of everything.

Great African safaris are not tours. They are experiences.

My safaris are known for having very close encounters with wildlife, and non-touristy activities available from my wide network in Africa.

There are many reasons why you shouldn’t wait to go on a safari. You can read about it HERE.

I’ve been leading Great African Safaris since 2004, am the author of two books on wildlife conservation, and worked for Jane Goodall for many years.

Read what Jane Goodall and others have to say about going on safari with me HERE.

 

Which of these Great African Safaris is perfect for you?

 

Botswana   –  January 20 – 28, 2020

January is Botswana’s green season. This special journey includes three uniquely different areas. We will travel from the Kalahari desert, where we meet the San Bushmen, our oldest living relatives, on to the Okavango Delta, where we traverse land and water, in jeeps and dug out canoes, among some of the widest varieties of wildlife in the world.

Email me to request a brochure with all the details.

 

Tanzania   –  January 31- February 8, 2020

This journey includes the Ngorongoro Crater (one of the 7 Wonders of the World), the infamous Serengeti, and Olduvai Gorge (the Cradle of Mankind). We will visit a Maasai village, Manyara National Park, and the wonderful Gibbs Farm. This time of year we are also most likely to see the wildebeest migration. This is a perfect safari for first-time travelers to Africa. 

Email me to request a brochure with all the details.

 

 

Kenya  –  September 24 – October 3, 2020

We will visit three completely different Parks – Lewa, the Masai Mara, and the Samburu area in Northern Kenya. Jam-packed with wildlife, this trip guarantees rhino sightings, and the wildebeest migration. We will also take a behind the scenes tour of a new elephant orphanage, visit the singing wells, and meet with anti-poaching rangers. This is a perfect choice for first-time safari travelers as well as people who would like a mix of wildlife and cultural experiences.

Email me to request a brochure with all the details.

 

Take the first step in making your dream a reality. Contact me to request a brochure or set up a time to talk. Don’t see what you are looking for. Let me help custom design your perfect safari.

Contact me now: LoriSavingWild@gmail.com

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Lori Robinson’s Ultimate Guide to Planning an African Safari

If you’ve begun researching and planning an African Safari you know it’s a daunting task. The internet offers hundreds, if not thousands, of different answers for each of your safari queries.

But in the case of traveling to Africa, the best safari experiences absolutely do depend on when, where and how you go. Time your trip correctly, chose the top country, and the best parks and camps within that country, and use an operator who is well versed in Africa and you will have the trip of a lifetime.

Seeing lions swim across water is a highlight on a Botswana African safari.

I’m Lori Robinson, a safari specialist who has been traveling to Africa for 34 years and designing safaris for families, couples, and celebrities including Jane Goodall, and non-profit organizations since 2004.

Here are my top tips for planning an African Safari.

Planning an African safari is very different than planning a trip to Europe, or Australia for instance. Unless you’re doing a self-drive, ground-camping excursion (definitely not recommended for foreigners or people who are not experienced Africa travelers) you will need a ‘safari operator’ to put your trip together for you. You can’t get around this. The whole safari industry is based on using safari operators as the go-between the tourist and the lodges and guides. I have used all of the top operators and can recommend which one is right for you.

 

Choose an operator who specializes in Africa. Travel agencies who offer trips all over the world are not specialists, and rarely do their agents ever visit Africa. These agencies offer cookie-cutter safari itineraries with little ability to personally design your trip. Skip those in favor of an operator that is intimately familiar with Africa and able to help you sort through all the options to custom design an itinerary that fits your specific needs. There are hundreds of operators to choose from and I have worked with many of them. I’m happy to guide you to the right one for your specific needs.

 

Get clear on your dream. Do you want to see as many different animals as possible, or do you want to focus on one species like elephants? Do you want a cultural element like visiting indigenous tribes, or to add an activity or famous landmark into your itinerary – like taking a helicopter ride over Victoria Falls, hiking to see gorillas, going down into the Ngorongoro Crater, or trekking with an organization working to save rhinos? Do you want to include a charitable component? What is it that you picture yourself doing? This is your dream and you need to make sure you fulfill it.

 

Accept the fact that this will be an expensive trip. The best places to stay on safari are located in the areas with the most wildlife. These places are exclusive and expensive. The lodgings I recommend are called Tented Camps. These camps host smaller groups and provide first-class amenities, guides, service, and food. These smaller camps are always my client’s favorite. You can hear the lions roaring at night, and have to be escorted back to your tent after dinner because of animals wandering around. It’s definitely an experience that adds to the allure and adventure of your safari.

Typical style small tented camps in my itineraries.

The most popular countries for safaris are Kenya and Tanzania in East Africa, and Botswana, South Africa, and Zimbabwe in Southern Africa. My first choice for first-time safari travelers is East Africa for the sheer numbers of animals (the wildebeest migration happens there) as well as cultural options such as visiting a traditional Maasai village and being guided by Maasai warriors. Set up a phone call with me to talk you through the differences of going on safari in each country.

 

Choosing the right time of year for the country you will visit maximizes your wildlife experiences. If you have to travel within a range of set dates, make sure you choose the Parks that offer the best experience for those dates. If you are flexible with your dates of travel then choose the country and time of year that offers you what you dream of doing.

 

Don’t let the excuse that you have always wanted to go to Africa but can’t find anyone to travel with, stop you. If you want to go on safari but don’t want to travel on your own, ask me about the safari’s I personally lead each year for small groups of like-minded travelers.

 

If you want more tips, email me, lorisavingwild@gmail.com, to set up a time to talk directly to get all your questions answered. I look forward to hearing from you and helping you create a life-changing African safari.

 

 

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