Freeman Safaris
‘Yesterday’s Safaris Today’
My Safaris
I have a passionate interest in birds and animals, as well as the country and the people, and that is why I run specialist safaris using my own camps. This allows you to get really close to the wildlife and to spend long periods taking photographs or simply observing. The safaris run to an itinerary, which is totally flexible and can be altered to suit the activity of the day. We may decide to stay on at one of the camps if the game activity has been superb, or we want to see that elusive black rhino. After all it is your safari and as I say countless times; make the most of the opportunities as they arise, don't say, ”I wish we had….!”
Nature has no daily timetable other than survival, and I can say that I have seen and experienced the most interesting and unusual wildlife events in the midday sun, equal to any event seen at first or last light, although I cannot deny that the light conditions at either end of the day are unmatched.
The emphasis of my safaris is on seeing and participating and the time spent on game drives is about 130 hours, the equivalent of about 35 days 'safari' with most operators, and remember this does not include what we see in camp.
My game drives usually start before daybreak and end after dark before returning to camp where, around the campfire, you can sit with a beer or gin reviewing the day's adventure before hot showers and dinner. Days are also spent just soaking up the atmosphere of the camps, luxury tents spaced out in a glade or by a river under slender yellow acacia trees or dom palms. A variety of game, including zebra and impala graze the hillside opposite the camps, elephants daily enjoy the river, sometimes within metres of the tents. Numerous birds and monkeys inhabit the trees, while leopard and lion frequently pass through at night.
Now before I alarm you let me say that crossing the road in the UK is far more dangerous than being on safari with me.You don't believe me? My first concern is always your safety and as long as you obey the rules, I can guarantee that I will have you on the plane at the end of our time together having experienced the safari of a lifetime. I am pretty sure you will want to come back to enjoy more as most of our friends do (see the Testimonials section for guest comments and diary entries).
I have mentioned the words ‘camp’ and ' tents'. Let me explain, as I would hate you
to think that you would be camping UK style! It is very important for the environment
that the camps are not permanent and are off the beaten track. They are in very natural
surroundings which must remain protected as the areas do not belong to us, they belong
to the wild. I place a huge emphasis on looking after the environment, as I also
do on your comfort. Rather than explaining the food and facilities myself, I need
to thank Simon for allowing me to print an excerpt from his safari diary. "I think
we were all surprised how comfortable it all was, the tents are large, totally bug
proof and simply luxurious and I certainly wanted for nothing, all the amenities
were on hand without having to leave the tent, the loo a modern chemical porta potty,
a dressing unit with sink waste water to a bucket all nicely fitted out, electric
lights were powered from car batteries as was the shower pump. Hot water was always
ready and waiting morning and night in big flasks. At night when we returned to camp
we all looked forward to the hot water for the showers, they managed to judge the
temperature of the water to perfection. Whenever you used the flannels or towels
you would find some one had been in, without you ever knowing, tidying up after you,
clean towels were provided every day."
I run safaris in Kenya in areas that offer the best opportunities to experience the safari of a lifetime. A true safari is a combination of travelling in the bush, living and experiencing the wild and nature at first hand both day and night, as they did in yesteryears, but with all the convenience of modern living. I hope I have shown that, but you may ask, why Kenya? And why in particular the Mara, Nakuru and Samburu parks? I shall tell you why.
First of all I think it is very important to remember that in Kenya the game is wild, it is not owned or farmed by anyone and therefore is not fenced. The Government encourages the conservation of their most important resource and protects it. It is my duty to assist in this, to encourage the need to keep areas wide open to allow wild animals to roam. I do this by increasing the revenue of the Masai and Samburu by sharing it with you and paying them for that facility.
It is only by enabling the local people to benefit from the game on their land that we will provide the incentive to keep what is left for future generations. Make no mistake, Africa is changing, there are more and more demands on the land with increasing population and poverty.
Yes, I can take you to areas that are very remote, where we will encounter very few living creatures, and spend hours travelling, enduring the elements, and what will that achieve? Very little. Similarly, I can take you to parks where the vegetation is dense, roads are few and far between making life very frustrating.
A safari has to be the combination of the true definition, it has to be really enjoyable and absorbing, an exciting adventure of highs and lows, that achieves positive results and is a story from start to finish.
It is for that reason I have chosen the Mara, Nakuru and Samburu. The areas compliment each other, yet they each have their own uniqueness so if you miss a black rhino in the Mara you may see one in Nakuru. Even if that fails I will find you just as impressive a white rhino and more than likely with calf. It is only possible to find the big 5 in the Mara and on a good day I have done that and often, but you really have to work at it! Equally I have been out all day and returned to camp having really tried and seen very little, that is the lottery of the wild. You know there is nothing more exciting than spotting your own game, whether big or small.
I have visited every corner of East Africa many times and can find nothing better, that matches the expectations of my clients and friends, than the three areas I have chosen. What's more, despite visiting them many, many times, I never tire of returning as every safari is so full of its own special moments, the once in a lifetime occurrences, and they keep me talking for years!!
“Across the river more and more elephants arrive in the trees, stopping to eat on the move with no real rush for the water. At first I thought there were about 50, but as we watch even more appear. They move into the water in waves until I have lost count at over 200. The herd consisted of many small groups, all out on a social gathering. Some were crossing, some drinking, some playing and others splashing. Babies of all ages were playing and falling in with just their trunks poking out of the water. Others were running and trumpeting. The river was awash with elephants, some coming right up to Bluebell and eating dom nuts from the ground.It was just an amazing sight and it was difficult to keep up with the activity..
We were really enjoying the scene when suddenly a large crocodile immediately in front of us reared up with a huge splash frightening a baby elephant which took off in the opposite direction making a hell of a racket. I’m not sure who was more scared, the croc or the elephant! The rest of the elephants in the immediate area trumpeted and dashed forward, forcing the croc to move off up stream and out of the way”
Anne
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© Freemansafaris.com 2012
