by Peter Silvester World Record, Anyone?

As Royal African Partners, we have always been interested in wilderness areas that are not part of a traditional safari circuit, and our private canvas units have given us tremendous freedom to explore. Whilst our safaris are also able to include some of the continent’s iconic lodges and private houses, it is those journeys into the unknown, that have produced the fondest memories for both ourselves and our guests. 

The reality is that developing a new safari route, requires a serious commitment, and not all wilderness areas are able to deliver the unique combination of experiences that make a real safari so memorable. 

Some years ago, a few of us began exploring a little known area to the East of the Mara Serengeti ecosystem. It was a route that followed the Sand River, to its source, in the sacred forest of the Maasai, Naimina Enkiyo, and over the Western wall into the Great Rift Valley. 

Early attempts, as is often the case, did not go exactly to plan, Richard, Simon, Ulf, Charlie and I spent a wet night camping beside a very stuck Landrover. Emma, Jahawi, Elke and I  “pioneered” a route down the Western wall that would be very good not to repeat, ever…..

Thankfully Indi and Michael Turner, found a much better way a few months later, making that hike into the Rift Valley possible. 

Calvin, not to be outdone, decided to cycle to the forest from his camp on the edge of the Mara, this time across the southern plains, riding through an area where the wildebeest calve in late January, February. A later visit across those same plains saw Alex and Indi spending another night beside, this time a broken Landrover. Malcolm focused on the Rift Valley floor and based his private canvas unit on the banks of the Ewaso Nyiro river, from which he built Shompole Wilderness. 

Once we had ironed out the wrinkles and found some more reliable routes ( and vehicles) we were able to lead a few safaris, with brave Royal African adventurers in late 2017, 2018 and 2019. 

This was indeed the stuff a great Safari should be made of. The combination of the spectacular wildlife in the Mara, the wilderness of the Sand River valley, the sacred forest to the Maasai, the wide-open spaces and the flamingo fringed lakes of the Rift Valley floor. An altitude variation of over 6000 feet and scenery to match. 

As we refined each part of the journey, it became apparent that this little section of our planet earth contained an extraordinary variety of flora and fauna. In June and July this year, we were joined by my nephew Max Silvester, an avid birder, whose job was to coordinate the bird list for this safari. With help from a number of sources, the final number stands at 700 species. 

With 700 species of birds, our attention turned to the number of mammal species in the same transect. On October 1st a small team, led by Stratton Hatfield and Zarek Cocker (pictured above) set out to record mammal species in 24 hours, they managed to record 66 and set a new world record. To view the report of the big day, please click here, to view their world record species list click here.

To find out more about what we are doing to try and keep the Sand River Corridor open for people and wildlife please click here.

In simple terms, if one is going anywhere in the world to see mammals, it turns out this little slice of the planet is probably the best place to do that. Just to reinforce how lucky we are to operate safaris in this part of the world, the previous world record of 64, was set less than 200 miles south in Tanzania, in the epicentre of the wilderness areas which are home to Tim and Chris.