Precious Caroll
The third dispatch from East Africa is as epic as ever. For those of you who work with us in Africa, you know that our team is very deliberate in how we design safaris that stray from the conventional “rinse and repeat” itineraries. Well, this dispatch puts an exclamation point on this.
Let me start with a moment during the flight from Ol Pejeta to the Masai Mara that really stuck with me. Our amazing group was seated just behind a pair of women who were traveling independently, not part of our group. As we helped them figure out where to get off the plane, we learned that they were visiting seven more camps, averaging two nights at each. While some travelers may enjoy this type of itinerary, it’s not for everyone. I found myself wondering what it would be like to visit so many camps with a similar experience at every stop. I shuttered at the thought. A truly successful safari is built on three key components: landscape, culture, and of course wildlife. Prioritizing these elements thoughtfully is the foundation for an exceptional experience.
After an amazing stint at Ol Pejeta, we headed to the Masai Mara, specifically the Naboisho Conservancy, which boasts some of the best resident game this time of year. With my 600mm lens (my new toy as an ambitious photographer), I captured epic images of leopards, lions, and so much more, all guided by the expert tracking of Kisemei, our Maasai guide who is part of the community benefiting from the Big Five conservancy model. After three unforgettable nights there, with giraffes, zebras, and lions often just outside our camp, we thought, “What could possibly top this?” The answer? Heading into the heart of the migration in the central and southern Serengeti, where millions of wildebeest have gathered for calving season as they prepare for their northward journey over the next 7 to 9 months.
We spent hours on my favorite hidden road in the southern Serengeti, with only the sounds of a million wildebeest, thousands of zebras, impalas, and even witnessing a live birth! The day was topped off with an incredible leopard sighting, though the real highlight was staying at a newly rebuilt, women-run camp in Tanzania, one of the very few in Africa. From the camp manager to our guide Leivian, every aspect of the camp was run by women, and it was nothing short of amazing. The fact that I knew the camp manager from her previous role made this experience even more special.
As we mentioned before, of course, we also had a few incredible game drives. The group that arrived in East Africa as one version of themselves left as completely transformed individuals. That’s what a safari is all about. That’s #bigfivin.
Enjoy the video and part III of our East Africa dispatch!
This dispatch highlights our journey across the equator and northward, and I must begin by saying that this has been much more than just a safari. This year’s adventure started in Nairobi before heading to Ol Pejeta Conservancy, the home of the last two Northern White Rhinos in existence. I had a specific reason for making this trip this year.
This was the area I frequented as a child, long before the conservancy existed, riding shotgun in my father’s Mitsubishi Sapporo—a car that I believe sparked my passion for automobiles. When the conservancy was established, I remember returning several more times, this time with the first driver guide hired by Big Five, John Kimani. To me and many others, John was a hero, not just because of his infectious laugh, but because he could drive anything with four wheels anywhere it seemed impossible. It all began with taking one of our old microbuses through the muddy trails of Ol Pejeta, back before 4WDs were available, and managing to make it through even with two flat tires that had to be changed. But the achievement that truly earned him a place in my personal hall of fame was when he drove a beat-up Toyota Corolla across a semi-dry lake in central Kenya.
What unfolded during this visit was entirely unplanned. It began with the camp manager at Ol Pejeta Bush Camp. It’s rare to meet someone and, within the first few minutes, realize that you’d crossed paths decades ago and immediately pick up right where you left off. Sushil, the camp manager, has since become a highly regarded photographer, with his work showcased in numerous public forums. As we caught up on family and life, we discovered that our shared passion for authentic safaris and conservation had brought us back together. It felt like reconnecting with an old childhood friend.
One of my favorite experiences during this trip was taking a group of incredible advisors and clients to Reteti Elephant Sanctuary, one of the few truly community-run sanctuaries in Africa, and one of the most successful examples of elephant conservation through the local Samburu communities. It’s a shining example of the conservancy model that Big Five has championed from the start. Now, I know there’s a popular orphanage in Nairobi, and anyone who has traveled with me or knows me understands how I feel about it, especially after the founder, whom I admired as a teenager, passed away a few years ago. When it comes to conservation, though, another revelation occurred that I truly believe was my father’s influence at work. While visiting the holding area of the last two Northern White Rhinos, our guide Zacharia began talking about his career, which spans over 20 years. As I began to connect the dates and events with him, it hit me. When the center first opened, I was here with my father, visiting with Zacharia’s father who was our guide! How do you even plan something like that?
Oh, and of course, we also had some incredible game drives. Stay tuned for the next dispatch and enjoy this one!
Every year around Big Five’s anniversary which is today, February 12, I head off to East Africa. Fifty-two years ago today, Big Five was started by pioneers, including my father, with nothing but dreams and the little money they had. It’s especially meaningful this year, as it’s my first trip back to Kenya since my father passed away in 2024. As I do every year, I’m returning with a few wonderful travel advisors and their clients.
We’ll begin in Nairobi before heading out on safari, so stay tuned for some incredible adventures ahead. And yes, we might just spot a few animals along the way. What makes this safari particularly special is that I’ll be visiting some deeply significant places in my family’s history, including the hotel where my parents first met in Nairobi, and the Norfolk Hotel, where my father worked at the front desk before founding Big Five. I always laugh when I see the pool at the Norfolk because it’s where I learned to swim. I love sharing that story with the Fairmont team, jokingly reminding them every year that I was there long before they were, and thanking them for my freestyle swimming skills.
Dinner in Nairobi at my favorite street food spot is also a must. It’s a tradition I enjoy, hosting friends and colleagues for a night of delicious fusion food—combining local Kenyan and Indian dishes. There’s no better way to showcase culture than through food. Another highlight of Nairobi is visiting my childhood friends, especially one who has been in my life since we were 3 years old. I often say the team on the ground is like family to me, and in East Africa, that feels even more literal—some of these people even changed my diapers!
Stay tuned for more in this multipart dispatch.
The Next Letter
We started off the year sharing my father’s work, an alphabet he was working on at the time of his passing. At the end of 2024, we found his complete work and are releasing each letter throughout the year. This week, we share the next letter.
C – Courage: Conquer our fears and pursue our dreams
In the beginning there is no big difference between the coward and the courageous person. Both have fear. The difference is, the coward listens to his fears and follows them. The courageous person puts them aside and goes ahead. The fears are there, he knows them, but the courageous person goes into the unknown in spite of all the fears. Courage does not mean fearlessness, but going into the unknown in spite of all the fears. When we go into the uncharted sea, like Columbus did, there is fear, immense fear, because one never knows what is going to happen and we are leaving the shore of safety. We were perfectly okay, in a way; only one thing was missing – adventure. Going into the unknown gives us a thrill. The heart starts pulsating; again, we are alive, fully alive. Every fiber of our being is alive because we have accepted the challenge of the unknown.
To accept the challenge of the unknown is courage. The fears are there, but if we go on accepting the challenge again and again, slowly, slowly those fears disappear. The joy that the unknown brings, the great ecstasy that starts happening with the unknown, makes us strong enough, gives us a certain integrity, makes our intelligence sharp. We start feeling that life is not just a boredom. Life is an adventure. Slowly, slowly fears disappear and we go on seeking and searching for new adventures.
Courage is risking the known for the unknown, the familiar for the unfamiliar, the comfortable for the uncomfortable difficult pilgrimage to some unknown destination. One never knows whether one will be able to make it or not. Courage is the ability to confront and overcome fear, difficulty, or challenges.
Courage involves facing our fears, whether they are physical, emotional, or psychological. It means not allowing fear to hold us back from pursuing our goals and aspirations.
Courage is the inner strength and determination that helps us overcome these challenges. It’s the quality that keeps you going when faced with adversity.
Courage empowers us to step out of our comfort zone, try new things, and explore uncharted territory, which can lead to personal and professional growth.
In summary, “C – Courage” serves as a reminder that in order to achieve our dreams and live a fulfilling life, we must embrace and cultivate the inner strength to conquer our fears and take action. Courage is a powerful motivator that can lead us toward personal growth, success, and a life rich in experiences.
“Sometimes courage means holding on. Sometimes courage means letting go.”
Stay tune for letter D
