Storm clouds swept across our Great Plains reserves this month. From the south to the east, each bringing vibrancy and anticipation, a flurry of births and new life, as well as predation and action.
I flew across the land today, drifting into my own thoughts about the Africa that lay beneath me, so robust, resilient, and yet so fragile and vulnerable.
Long lines of erosion carved from millions of cattle remind me that today the plant’s land biomass consists of 36% by humans, 60% by our livestock, and only 4% by anything wild.
And yet, in some small and remote places on the direct route from Shompole to Mara Toto Tree Camp, I saw a herd of elephants below and a small pride of lions existing in those spaces we most love.
These exciting forests and savannahs are where we select our camps to be built, and where, as a cross-section, this week’s assembly of uncut guides’ and guests’ images from their safaris all took place.
We provide all our guests in our Réserve-Collection safari camps with a Canon camera for their complimentary use while they are with us, because, of course, a picture speaks a thousand words. But each image also acts as an ambassador, silently advocating to the global audience they reach when they return home.
The message is that Africa is a beautiful land, well worth visiting and investing in, with wildlife and people who will become friends for life, even just as those memories across a flickering campfire under crystalline skies.
