Meet Your Kenya Safari Specialist

Jambo! I'm Your Kenya Safari Specialist

I was born in a hospital in Nairobi, Kenya. My dad, a Safari guide, got to say a quick hello before he had to rush off to guide a Safari for 7 days. That pretty much set the tone for my whole childhood. My mom worked in Safari aviation, managing bush flights, so between the two of them, I have lived and breathed Safaris since before I can remember. Being out in the bush - whether it’s on an early morning game drive watching the sunrise over the plains of the Masai Mara, on foot with a tracker deep in the forests of the Mathews range, or on horseback galloping over the dusty Laikipia plains, the feeling is just something you can’t describe and despite a whole lifetime of it, it never gets old.

I grew up in Arusha, Tanzania, the gateway to Tanzania’s Northern Safari Circuit, and moved to Kenya when I was about 11, where the rest of my family lived and where I am from. My childhood was spent camping and exploring Tarangire, Ngorongoro, Manyara, Lake Eyasi, and plenty of lesser traveled corners of Kenya and Tanzania. Kenya has been home ever since, and it's home again now. I love sharing the Kenya I know and cherish.

Kenya, From the Inside

Kenya holds 44 tribes within its borders, and that diversity is part of what makes the country so rich to travel through. The culture shifts as the landscape does, and understanding that texture, not just the wildlife, is a huge part of designing a Safari that actually reflects Kenya.

Nairobi. Before you even head out on Safari, Nairobi itself deserves a moment. It's a bustling, creative city with an exciting arts and music scene, galleries, live music, and a food culture that is often overlooked. I love weaving in an extra day or two here for guests who want to feel the pulse of the city before heading into the bush.

Northern Kenya. If you ask me where my heart is, it's here. This is my favorite place in the world to be on Safari. The landscapes are wilder and more varied than people expect, and the wildlife includes species you simply won't see further south, like the Grevy's zebra, reticulated giraffe, and Somali ostrich, all endemic to this part of the country. I spent the early part of this year on an extensive recce across Northern Kenya and the Masai Mara, staying at properties like Loisaba Galago, Ol Malo, Sarara Wilderness, Sarara Main, Sarara Treehouses, and Serian the Original, among others. When I recommend a camp here, it's because I've slept there, eaten there, and know exactly who will look after you.

The Kenyan Coast. After days on Safari, Lamu and Watamu offer something completely different: centuries-old Swahili architecture, dhow sailing, and warm Indian Ocean water. Lamu in particular feels like stepping back in time, with no cars on the island and a rhythm of life all its own. It's one of my favorite ways to close out a Kenya Safari. I wrote my dissertation on this region but I won’t bore you with that!

Who Is a Kenya Safari For?

Everyone. Truly.

Kenya is a wonderful fit for first-time Safari-goers. The infrastructure is excellent, flights connect easily, and the classic combination of the Masai Mara and a beach extension on the coast gives first-timers an easy, unforgettable introduction to Safari life without feeling overwhelming.

It's also a favorite for seasoned Safari travelers looking for something less crowded. If you've already done the Mara or the Serengeti and want wilder, quieter terrain with wildlife you won't see elsewhere, Northern Kenya's conservancies are where I send people who want to go deeper.

Families do wonderfully here. Many camps in Kenya are genuinely set up for kids, with dedicated family tents, junior ranger programs, and flexible, shorter game drives that suit different attention spans. It's one of the easiest Safari destinations to bring multiple generations of a family together. The conservancies in Northern Kenya and around the Masai Mara favor families - days on conservancies (versus national parks) allow for more freedom and variety in terms of activities - things like fishing, tubing,

Kenya suits active and adventurous travelers too. Between walking Safaris, camel trekking in the north, and dhow sailing off Lamu, there's a version of Kenya for guests who want to do more than sit in a game vehicle. These are the Safaris I love to plan. Mount Kenya - Africa’s Second Highest Peak is a great alternative to Kilimanjaro if you want a more remote, rugged mountain experience in Africa. I did it when I was 13 years old and it was magic.

And it's a strong choice for travelers who care about conservation and community impact. Many of the conservancies I work with in Northern Kenya were founded specifically to support both wildlife and the communities living alongside it, so your Safari fee is directly funding that work.

In short: whether this is your first Safari or your fifth, whether you're traveling with young kids or just the two of you, there's a way to build a Kenya Safari that fits. That's exactly what I help you figure out.

I also care deeply about the community and conservation side of Safari travel in Kenya, especially the work being done to support women and girls in conservation across the north of the country. If that's part of what draws you to Kenya, I’d love to help shape your Safari so you can connect with areas of the community and conservation that are important to you.

What I Bring to Your Safari

My background is in luxury travel sales, including working with the #1 Resort in Canada (The Four Seasons, Whistler), so alongside my knowledge and passion for Safaris, I also know what makes a great vacation and the small details worth getting right. To start with, I love to hear everything about your Safari dreams - it doesn’t matter how much or little you know about the Safari world or where you want to go, just tell me what you’re dreaming of and we will create the Safari of your dreams. All that we ask of you is that you go with curiosity and an open mind - Kenya will do the rest!

Twende Safari! Let's go on an adventure, together, to the place I still call home.

If you’re Houston-based then our founder Mefi would love to meet with you and start planning your Safari that way.

Ready to Start Planning?

I'd love to help you plan a Kenya Safari shaped by someone who grew up in the bush and still calls it home. Read when you are. if you want to know more about Journey to Africa Safaris and who we are, have a read.

Twende Safari - Let’s go on an adventure in Swahili!