You may have seen on past blogs, my visit to the Mbulia Conservancy, deep in the heart of Tsavo in southeastern Kenya. The conservancy has a strong historical connection to the journals of Col John Patterson in the late 1800s and the story of the two man-eating lions (one of which is on display at the Field Museum in Chicago as of this writing). The community in Mbulia, all of whom are descendants of those building the railroad tracks, are able to tell the story of their ancestors, as the entire story the British colonel wrote about took place on this land 130 plus years ago. The camp, Kipalo Hills, built on this land, while not the super deluxe camp we see in slick marketing materials, is one of my personal favorites, and has what I would argue to be the best chef in Tsavo when it comes to blending different cuisines and telling a story through food.
While I could go on about the incredible people and experiences in Mbulia, there’s another reason for this blog. A few weeks ago, a close friend working with the Secluded Africa Wildlife and Community Trust reached out with concerning news. Several primary school projects in the Mbulia Conservancy had suddenly been cut off from the government-funded school feeding program—without any explanation. It turns out, the regular food deliveries schools relied on from municipal authorities had quietly stopped months ago. When schools turned to parents for support, most families were unable to help, already facing serious hardships due to poverty or poor crop yields. As a result, schools were left with no choice but to provide meals only to children whose families could contribute—leaving many young students to go without. When the Trust sought support, the Spirit of Big Five Foundation stepped in. Our foundation, which focuses on grassroots, small-scale grant initiatives around the world, is exactly built for urgent, community-driven projects like this.
While the purpose of this blog is to raise awareness, it is not about asking for donations. Rather, we simply want to highlight the impact that responsible tourism can have—and how the relationships we build through travel can be leveraged to support communities we’ve never even met. For those wondering why this situation happened, I will say that I have my own theories as to why these stopped, centered around forced reactions through austerity due to unfair lending practices in Africa by international organizations. A few months ago, I shared an article by a South African professor that explores this topic in more detail—an analysis I strongly agree with.
You can read it here: Ashish Sanghrajka – Daniel Bradlow Professor .
My father would have turned 77 on May 16, and I tell everyone I am a reflection of him. Happy Birthday Dad.
Enjoy the video and thank you for allowing us to stand and help. Your support allowed this.
I am a proud gear head, have been most of my life. I love innovation and tech, especially when it is married to the automotive world in a way that redefines the class. Even more so when it’s applied to the barest piece of motorized equipment there is – a stripped-down safari vehicle in the East African Bush. I grew up around safari-ready Defenders and Land Cruisers, built with snorkels and extra rods to control the frame flex on rough roads, finding ways to save weight on the rear axle, and force feeding the turbo diesel so the power spools up even sooner…all while the expensive parts taken off, out of certainty they would break off. I guess I could be forgiven for chuckling a bit when I see the heavily cladded off roaders in suburbia.
You can imagine my excitement when good friends, Andy and Claudia Stuart owners of Bushtops Camps shared specs and video of their game viewer on steroids. They reimagined the Land Cruiser from a place to see animals, to a place you can live in while going between camps. They took the RV concept and applied it, albeit with a ton of cutting-edge tech, to a safari style Land Cruiser. Did I mention it has 6-wheel drive? They call it Game Viewer. I say holy $#*&
At the heart of the extraordinary Game Viewer is an expansive game viewing bed, stretching a lavish 4 meters in length and 2 meters in width. Crafted from high-strength steel and 3CR12, with a robust high-tensile steel roof and roll cage, this vehicle exudes a solid, secure feel. The Game Viewer boasts remarkable capability as a 6×6 vehicle. This ensures that the thrill of the wild is not restricted by terrain, making it possible to venture wherever the wilderness beckons, promising an experience of a lifetime. The high tensile strength roll cage enables an open configuration that defies convention. With no unnecessary down tubes hindering the view, ensuring a completely open design with roll-down canopy sides. This marvel is also equipped with a 3-burner cooker, two external Engel Fridge freezers, an internal Beverage Engel fridge, even an ice maker.
There is a 90-liter capacity water tank in 316 stainless steel and gas water heating, high-quality onboard water is available for every convenience, including a pressurized shower facility. The state-of-the-art REDARC 3000-watt 220-volt onboard inverter ensures ample power for laptops, cameras, and convenient lighting for each guest. Passengers are treated to a VIP pod featuring extra-large seats with built-in heaters, covered in the latest ripstop soft material for ultimate comfort in all weather conditions. The side arm console includes wireless charging/USB charge points and a mini fridge to accommodate up to six beverages of choice. Specially designed adjustable camera supports cater to avid photographers, while stowage spaces ensure the safekeeping of books, cameras, and binoculars. For the ultimate dining experience, a fold-out bar with a coffee station, eight foldable Front Runner camp chairs, and a slide-out dining table are at your disposal.
I knew a chance meeting with Andy and Claudia on a plane in 2010 was the start of something amazing. After all these years of collaboration with their spectacular camps, this 6-wheel marvel, designed to be self-sustaining with lighter impact vs a mobile camp just seems like the latest moment to be grateful for that meeting.
This is glamping Bushtops style. Enjoy the video of the Game Viewer.
