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PODCAST PREMIERE
Earlier this month, one of The Safari Collection’s founders and owners, Mikey Carr-Hartley, made his broadcasting debut on the Luxury Travel Insider Podcast. This is a fabulous travel series hosted by Sarah Groen, owner of USA based Bell & Bly Travel and devoted globe trotter having visited over 100 countries. We’re delighted that Kenya has been a repeat destination on her trips over the years! With a love for safari, she was excited to delve behind the scenes at The Safari Collection in her chat with Mikey.
Game drives through the Laikipia wilderness
There’s a sense of freedom that you get going on safari and visiting Africa that you don’t get in other parts of the world.
For anyone eager to gain a glimpse into the world of safari, then this is essential listening. Perhaps you’re wondering if a safari holiday is for you? Or you’d like to discover more about Kenya or The Safari Collection as a destination? Sarah’s chat with Mikey really sets the scene of what an adventure around Kenya might look and feel like. Enjoy a virtual tour of The Safari Collection’s camps and lodges dotted across the country. Mikey describes the landscape, vibe and highlights of each destination, a great summary if you’re not sure where to start.
Kenya is probably the most diverse of all the African countries in a very small region…where I am now [Sasaab] is very dry and arid, but if I get in a helicopter and fly south for 20 minutes, I’m on the top of Mount Kenya in tundra and ice, and if I fly north for 40 minutes, I’m in desert landscapes that looks like the moon.
Sarah asks about Mikey’s history and how both his family and his wife’s family came to be in Kenya over 120 years ago. From the story of their ancestors, the episode moves on to discuss how The Safari Collection came into being and what it has evolved into and stands for today. Mikey explains their desire to take on their own properties and concession areas in order to give guests similar freedom to explore the wild as they enjoyed growing up.
A scenic sundowner spot at Siruai Mobile Camp
Sustainability shines through in the episode as a core part of The Safari Collection’s identity. From pangolin conservation to the giraffe breeding programme at Giraffe Manor in Nairobi and community partnerships, Mikey’s whistle-stop tour of the business is enlightening.
Not many people know that giraffes are more endangered than elephants…yet elephants get so much more airtime!
Every guest that travels with The Safari Collection makes an impact. But safari also makes an impact on them. Mikey describes one past guest (now a family friend) for whom safari was a life changing experience. It eventually led to him starting his own company, American Rhino, selling Kenyan-made products in the US to support rhino conservation. So far, he’s funded two vehicles and new equipment for the whole Mara Rhino Ranger team.
Mikey Carr-Hartley at Giraffe Manor
Sustainability is much bigger than being 95% plastic free or giving everyone a metal water bottle…it’s an all-encompassing thing where we have to look to the future.
The history of Giraffe Manor (which was originally built by the Rowntree toffee-making family of Scotland), behind the scenes insights and Mikey’s favourite memories of past guests are also on the agenda. All in all, it’s an absorbing listen for anyone remotely interested in East Africa safaris and a perfect snapshot of what you might expect from The Safari Collection way of doing things.
We live such a material life as westerners, to share some time with people that often have so little and yet are so happy with life…if you can take some of that away then I think we’ve done our job.
You can listen to the full podcast episode on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify or via the Luxury Travel Insider website which also contains the show notes. Happy listening!
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