ALEX WALKER S SERIAN. An intimate collection of charismatic bush camps in East Africa

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1 ALEX WALKER S SERIAN An intimate collection of charismatic bush camps in East Africa

2 Alex Walker s Serian is a collection of intimate East African bush camps; that allow you to flee the bustle of contemporary life & experience a blend of untamed Africa in traditional tented splendour! I was so happy, I nearly caught the sky with laughing & crying. Munyamadzi Meaning peaceful, calm or serene the Maa named Serian along with Ngare Serian and the more recent Serengeti Maswa are amongst the most authentic camps in East Africa. They flaunt a sense of spirited style and distinctive flexibility, Serian s characteristic trait! The ability to change or be changed according to circumstances allows Guests to reap a complete and rewarding insight of East Africa. Focused on viewing wildlife, the Serengeti and Masai Mara, are undoubtedly the Jewel in the Crown of East Africa, forever to be associated with big cats and vast numbers of game. Our Mobile Safari Expeditions embrace a raw ideal, evocative of the first expeditions that traversed East Africa. Traditional and spacious canvas tents decked out with reassured comfort merge an unaffected ambience with rugged ease. Whether Moonwatching from our tree house at Suguroi Hill or clambering up rocky kopjes, and camping out under the stars! Adventure Fly Camping Expeditions with Alex radiate a refreshing and stimulating means of travel. EXCLUSIVE USE OF SAFARI VEHICLES IN ALL SERIAN CAMPS

3 EAST AFRICA The Masai Mara/Serengetti Ecosystem hosts the last great concentration of mixed species plains wildlife in Africa. Apart from the scenic beauty of the landscape, the area is best known for its Migration of nearly two million Wildebeest, Zebra and Topi. They reside in & move through the Masai Mara/ Serengeti eco-system. With vast numbers of game, Elephant, Lion, Leopard, Cheetah, Hyena are commonly seen hunting plains game that include Thompson and Grants Gazelle, Coke s Hartebeest, Topi, Eland, Waterbuck, great herds of Wildebeest and groups of the ballerina like Impala. Quite simply put it is the most magnificent wildlife spectacle in the world today. KENYA MASAI MARA The Mara Reserve inextricably linked with 80,000 acres of the select and private Mara North Conservancy gives guests access to a choice natural wildlife area. Following a series of concerted preservation efforts to save the big cats, the Lion, Leopard & Cheetah population are very visible. For the keen ornithologist there are four hundred and fifty three recorded bird species in the Mara, fifty-three of which are raptors. Martial, Tawny, Bateleur and Banded Snake Eagles all vie for space in the clear blue skies. Conception of the wide-open spaces and the traditional Masai culture are eye-openers for first time travelers. Masai Mara s location and altitude, above 1,500 m, yield a comfortable climate that is milder and damper than in other regions. TANZANIA SERENGETI MASWA The Southern Serengeti is dominated by vast apparently infinite short grass plains, the Maswa woodlands to the south west and the dramatic Gol Mountains and open plains of Loliondo to the east. The southern plains are at their best between mid December and late May when this whole area comes alive as millions of wildebeest move onto the plains in search of the fresh green grass after the first rains. In parts you can drive for much of the day hardly seeing another human, at times almost wading through vast concentrations of plains games or sitting quietly, close to an isolated water pan way out in the plains, almost certainly home to its own resident group of lion or hyena and, with patience a very likely amphitheatre for some sort of predator action to play out.

4 LOCATION MAP Masai Mara Serengeti KENYA Serian Ngare Serian Suguroi Hill Tree House Nkorombo Mobile TANZANIA Serengeti Maswa Adventure Fly Camping Serengeti Mobile CALENDAR Itineraries and activities for the calendar year ALEX AND THE TEAM Serian Staff Alex Walker Mark Gilks Mike Hacker CONSERVATION WORK Serian Trust Living with Lions Mara North Conservancy THE CAMPS Located in Kenya s Masai Mara, Ngare Serian and Serian border the Mara River in the heart of the Mara North Conservancy. A privately run concession of 100,000 acres, it boasts the Masai Mara s lowest density with only one guest room per 700 acres. Encompassing conceivably the densest big cat population in East Africa, Serian is home to the Mara Predator Project Suguroi Hill Treehouse sits high above Serian overlooking the Mara River, in our very own exclusive use concession with no roads and total privacy! Passionate photographers adore Nkorombo Migration Camp, set up on the Mara River in the centre of the Masai Mara Reserve, it combines well with Serian and Suguroi Hill 1,500,000 acres of exclusive use concession Serian s Serengeti Maswa borders the Serengeti National Park. A seasonal camp established to take advantage of the Wildebeeste birthing Season, a great Serengeti base with matchless walking opportunities from our Adventure Fly Camp. Our Serengeti Mobile operates throughout the year, strategically located whereever it s happening. Photo credits: Anup & Manoj Shah Stevie Mann Mike Hacker Alex Walker Derek Hurt Nikheel Jima Franziska Sommerlatte Sara Blackburn Georgina Goodwin Conquering the imagination, leaving you feeling overwhelmed, excited, chaotic & confused. Africa nurtures a livid energy, offering refuge to some of the most significant & immense wildlife concentrations on earth. Alex Walker, Kenya

5 SERIAN masai mara north conservancy, kenya Serian (meaning peaceful, calm or serene in Maa) is the charismatic bush home of Alex Walker, filmmaker and guide in the Masai Mara. Serian is set in a secluded valley. Its eight, stylish marquees overlook the waters of the Mara River. The furnishings evoke the safaris of a bygone era: the natural colours of woven carpets on hardwood flooring and swathes of cotton setting off the colonial-style furniture and pale canvas walls. Each tent has a bush bathroom, a hand-carved stone bath with river view, and a large verandah from which to enjoy the animals coming to the Mara River. Serian s location in the North Mara Conservancy provides unsurpassed gameviewing: the migration of one and a half million wildebeeste. Lion, leopard and cheetah are year-round residents, feeding off the large herds of plains game sustained by the savannah. With over 450 species, the Mara is a birding hotspot. Serian also arranges helicopter flights, fly-camping and hot-air balloon safaris

6 Dear Alex, we awoke this morning in a cocoon of a room floating on a cloud of bliss. Thank you for a sanctuary exactly the tonic required! Douglas Hamilton, BBC presenter, Big Cat Diary

7 (Meaning peaceful, serene, calm river in the maa language of the Masai people) Adjoining Serian, Ngare Serian is found on the opposite bank of the Mara River. Boisterous rapids envelop each marquee in its own private cocoon, bathtubs on raised decks over the river, allow you to wallow in total seclusion. The tents themselves are huge traditional marquees; enormous four-poster beds dominate the open fronted hardwood floors. Situated in the deep shade of African Greenheart, charming decks exude expressions of lazy days, the at ease ambience of the mess leaves one in no doubt of the abundant comfort, as the leisurely river water scurries by, heading towards Lake Victoria and the Nile. NGARE SERIAN masai mara north conservancy, kenya With just four tented suites set beside the Mara River in the 4,000 acre private Pusinkariak Conservancy, Ngare Serian is yet more intimate. Access to this exclusive camp is by rope-bridge, reinforcing the sense of isolation. Ngare Serian is perfect for people who value their privacy, or who want to share it with their families or close friends.

8 A one of a kind entrance, for a one of a kind experience. Martina Navratilova, Women s Tennis Champion, USA

9 A significant area is only accessible by foot and this is how safaris are conducted here. You will immediately notice the difference between a vehicle tour and one conducted on foot. Senses that may have been a little dulled in a car will strain to perceive indications of the wild game that surrounds you. Your perception of the bush will change until you feel an intimate relationship with the environment itself. SUGUROI HILL TREE HOUSE pusinkariak conservancy, masai mara, kenya A bimble along the river and up the escarpment will reveal a number of quite remarkable sitings. A phenominal game area with significant populations of Elephant, Lion, Leopard, Giraffe, and Buffalo. Walking with Warrior s you will learn how to track, harvest honey, light fires, fashion bows and arrows then stalk silently to your prey. Sleeping out under the stars! A great appreciation of the skies overwhelms you, appearing to be an iridescent sparkling galaxy of diamonds.

10 An oasis of calm in a fairytale setting. A fantastic recharge of batteries and a reminder of why Africa is so special Tom & Faith Martin, UK

11 You wake up feeling part of a wildlife documentary with lions, zebras and buffalos. Everything about this reserve is outstanding. The wildlife is abundant and the gentle rolling grasslands ensure that animals are never out of sight. Birds, too, are prolific. Including migrants, well over 450 species have been recorded, among them, 57 species of birds of prey. The climate is gentle, rarely too hot and well-spread rainfall year round. Rain, when it falls almost always chooses the late afternoon or night. NKOROMBO MOBILE masai mara, kenya The sleeping tents are en-suite Selous Style. Each simply furnished in traditional safari style, en-suite bathrooms posess long drops and bucket showers. The Mess is furnished with candelabras, trunks, tables, Lamu beds, soft cushions and chairs. Meals are often served in different locations throughout the camp and dinner is most often concluded around a roaring campfire that serves as a focal point in colder evenings.

12 I really felt the power of nature, the authenticity of your offer, the internal peace, a stay at your mobile camp can generate within an urban, always stressed executive. I felt absolutely pampered, not only by the friendliness of African people, but also by the barefoot feel of your camp and by feeling part of nature Karina Ajmar, SPAIN

13 THE EXPERIENCE We found ourselves immersed in the rhythm of the African plains, waking early to witness the sunrise, walking amongst the giant herds. Taking note of even the tiniest of absorbing sights, smells and sounds! Following the flight of the vulture and watching as it lands in a treetop. Conceivably it has found the pride of Lion whose calls you have heard in the remoteness of your dreams. Watching the carousing Lion cubs, as they greet the returning Lioness from their nightly sojourn to the game filled plains; it all fills one with such joy! Based at Serian, Ngare Serian or Serengeti Maswa & using the Nkorombo Mobile Camp or Adventure Fly Camp, by using our feet, bikes, 4WD Safari Cars, planes and helicopters we accessed the remote, opened up the close by & just unwound at home. With over 80 staff and a dedicated open-top safari vehicle, this is no idle boast: nothing but nature and personal desire provided our flexible focus.

14 Serengeti Maswa serengeti, maswa reserve, tanzania 1,500,000 acres of exclusive use wilderness! Strategically located on the edge of the Serengeti National Park and the NgoroNgoro Conservation Area, within easy striking distance of Lake Ndutu 40 kms to the northeast. Maswa Game Reserve is a prime time game area and ideally positioned to witness the remarkable Wildebeeste Migration birthing season! Erected in the deep shade of large umbrella acacia, Serian s Serengeti Maswa is on the periphery of the southern Serengeti grasslands. This handsome traditional East African Camp serves as a base, from which you have exclusive access to hundreds of thousands of acres of acacia clad woodland. Decorated in classic Safari style with large beds and opulent rugs, the 8 lavish Meru-style tents are deeply romantic. Swathes of cotton soften the luxuriant bedroom furniture, whilst plush curtains lead to plumbed bathrooms and wild flower filled vases conjure up idyllic Africa.

15 It really is quite an amazing and different world out there, and hard to think that it s only just over a week ago that I could look in all directions and see nothing but grass, trees and animals for miles and miles Paul Hicks, HONG KONG

16 There is also the chance to fly camp. Here Serian aims to put some adventure into your safari, walking with experienced guides we will take you into the heart of the wilderness. Contemplate on the traditional! Walk with Warriors of the Masai, Hunt with Hadzabe Bushmen, learn from their longestablished wildlife experience in the bush. Walking with Alex or another experienced guide you will notice we actively endeavor to conserve a genuine environment. A raw product not manufactured experience, full of plastic fixed alternatives. A four day walking safari combined with five nights in Serian or Serengeti Maswa is what its all about. An unadulterated bush experience with those that know and understand it! Adventure Flycamping serengeti, maswa reserve, tanzania The most beautiful thing in life is that our souls remain hovering over the places where we once enjoyed ourselves Anonymous Hiking in Africa is often perceived as hard work but in reality it is just trundling along reacting to whatever interesting sightings pass under your nose! A shopping spree littered with interesting finds, dung beetles rolling along on their balls of elephant dung, impala bounding through the bush and diminutive dikdik scooting into the safety of the nearest bush.

17 JAN FEB MAR Serengeti Maswa and the southern plains are at their best between mid December and late May when this whole area comes alive as millions of wildebeest move onto the plains in search of the fresh green grass after the first rains. In parts you can drive for much of the day hardly seeing another human, at times almost wading through vast concentrations of plains games or sitting quietly, close to an isolated water pan way out in the plains, almost certainly home to its own resident group of lion or hyena and, with patience a very likely amphitheatre for some sort of predator action to play out. We suggest spending at least five nights in Maswa more if you are keen to explore lake Eyasi Hunting with Hadzabe. In the Masai Mara Large numbers of gazelles will continue to hang around Serian and Ngare Serian on the plains, and they in turn keep the big cats here. Much of this area actually lies outside the boundaries of the National Reserve itself, which allows an important element of freedom and flexibility - off road driving is permitted across the open plains, greatly enhancing game viewing opportunities and giving you a real sense of the vastness of this area. A great time to enjoy moon watching from the tree house deck of Suguroi Hill. GAME DRIVES NIGHT GAME DRIVES OFF ROAD DRIVING WILDEBEESTE BIRTHING SEASON WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHY EXPEDITIONS HUNTING WITH HADZABE

18 APR MAY JUNE One of our own favourite times to be in both Serian and Serengeti Maswa area is during the less fashionable months of March, April and early May, when the bulk of visitors are steered away by ill informed advice. The air is brilliantly clear from the sporadic storms that can sweep dramatically across the plains at this time of year. Amazing flowers, insects & birdlife vie for your attention with the astonishing game concentrations. If occasionally having to batton down the game viewing hatches through a brief downpour or push your safari vehicle out of a mudhole is the only price you pay for having this almost to yourself, we reckon its a most excellent trade. Using the Adventure Fly Camp you can track the Loita population of wildebeeste numbering 150,000 as it meanders into the Northern Mara from the east. In Tanzania as things start drying out by mid May, the herds will start to drift off the Serengeti plains, gradually heading north-west through Moru Kopjes and, by mid June onwards into the Western Corridor and north into Kenya. A perfect time to make use of the Serengeti Mobile and to combine with Serian for ten nights. GAME DRIVES WALKING WITH WARRIORS ORNITHOLOGY TRACKING PICNICS FLY CAMPING COOKING SAFARIS YOGA CONSERVATION SAFARIS

19 JUL AUG SEP The Masai Mara is The park of parks in Kenya. Gazetted in 1961, the National Reserve is located west of the Rift Valley and is a natural extension of the Serengeti plains, in Tanzania. The Mara River, serves as the reserve s backbone, traverses north to south before its onward journey to Lake Victoria, source of the Nile. From July to October, Masai Mara is at its peak, with the seasonal herds populating the vast grasslands. Zebra lead great trains of Wildebeeste splashing across the Mara River, dashing past the prehistoric Crocodile, the grass, always greener on the other side! This is the time to combine Serian and Ngare Serian with Nkorombo our Mobile Camp that is more often than not set up in the heart of the Mara minutes away from the crossing points. A photographer s paradise! Well worth a week in the Mara alone at this time of year. GAME DRIVES PHOTOGRAPHY LESSONS WILDLIFE DOCUMENTARIES HORSEBACK SAFARIS MOBILE CAMP HELICOPTER SAFARIS

20 OCT NOV DEC Clambering aboard a hot air balloon at dawn and floating along the course of the Mara River and over the mara plains as the sun rises. This is a unique and incredible opportunity to witness the majesty of the African bush. Suspended in a basket beneath the balloons canopy, you have the chance to view the migration from an entirely different perspective. October through February is extraordinary, Toto Time the birthing season, infants of all sorts skitter, dance and play around their mothers. From the tiny Thompson Gazelle to the blind Hyena pups, the plains of the North Mara are filled with the sounds of newborn babes. This is a time of year for replenishment and thunderous storms regularly accompany these wonderful events. In the south based from Serengeti Maswa you will witness the first herds filtering in from the north, heading for the phosphorous rich grasses of the short grass plains. An ideal occasion for photographers to capture wild inimatable images from Serian. CULTURAL VISITS PICNICS BUSH DINNERS SUNDOWNERS BALLOONING RIVER FISHING BUSH BOARDROOMS WILD FITNESS YOGA TOTO TIME

21 The Team Serian Staff We have gone to great lengths to put together an unbeatable team, who are dedicated to providing a helpful, attentive and knowledgeable service to our guests. Personal service is a byword at Serian, with eighty odd staff serving a small camp this equates to around four or more staff per guest. At Serian we are proud of our guiding skills and the individuals profound knowledge and local ability. Your guides & spotters are crucial to the success of your day. Organizing your walks, game drives and seeking out the big game which you have come to see, designing your day to suit your own pace. Alex Walker Alex Walker, a fourth generation Kenyan, has been guiding and outfitting safaris throughout East Africa for over twenty-five years. During his childhood he was to be found in the bush of Southern Tanzania, the forests of the Mau in Kenya and the mountains and vast wilderness of Southern Sudan. Alex spent his time in the bush on foot hunting and exploring with his father s trackers. Actively involved in the formation of the Mara North Conservancy and many other local conservation initiatives Alex has wrought out a charismatic home, Serian; in the Masai Mara. Creating a collection of intimate East African bush camps, from where he operates distinctive safaris with a bent on walking and exploring, also keeping a hand in by recording some of Africa s unique images. A keen cameraman, Alex has partnered with renowned filmmaker Mike Hacker to film and produce emotive and exhilarating conservation orientated documentaries. Mark Gilks General Manager Serian Camps As Serian s General Manager in the Masai Mara, Mark Gilks is a compassionate and charismatic personality. Sporting a dry wit Mark was schooled in Kenya and the thorough hotel schools of Switzerland. With over twenty years work experience in East Africa and the UAE in the hospitality industry he has brought a defined edge and detail to Serian. Maintaining the characteristic informality and relaxed ease with which we encourage guests to absorb. Yet inspiring everyone and infusing energy, enthusiasm and self-confidence, in all that visit Serian. Mark has also led a venture into Sports Injury Clinic Massage, engaged to develop strength, conditioning and health advice to top professional athletes. Mark speaks fluent German, Swahili and a smattering of Maa. Mike Hacker Photographer, Filmmaker & Guide Born in Uganda, Mike s roots go back three generations into Colonial East Africa. Where he spent most of his childhood, whilst his parents worked in Kenya s prime wildlife reserves. Surrounded by photographs and films by his Grandfather s African exploits, Mike s creative talents were nurtured from an early age. As a professional photographer worked from his own studio in London, featured in magazines such as Vogue, Company and Playboy. His photographic prints are collected as fine art throughout the world. Mike s work encompasses Wildlife, Culture, beauty, & landscape. He is dedicated to pursuing the study of light and the Art of imagery. Having completed Through Masailand a documentary for the History Channel Mike has joined Alex at Serian capturing unusual and enlightening conservation related images.

22 CONSERVATION Alex Walker s Serian robustly supports a sustainable tourism ethic, based in the key dispersal areas of the Mara North Conservancy adjacent to the Masai Mara Reserve and Maswa Reserve in Tanzania. We have made a point of employing a large crew (3:1 staff to client ratio), 85% of whom are local, engendering tremendous native awareness which when coupled with intrinsic knowledge of the wildlife promises a genuine safari experience....the survival of our wildlife is a matter of grave concern to all of us in Africa... these wild creatures amid wild places they inhabit, are not only important as a source of wonder and inspiration, but they are an integral part of our natural resources and of our future livelihood and well-being... Julius Nyerere, first president of Tanzania, Arusha manifesto, 1961 Throughout your Safari we actively involve you in local conservation and long-term sustainable management practices for the indigenous environment. Through direct involvement and hands on application we help sustain the Mara Predator Project, collect vital data on big cats, develop community understanding, perform anti-poaching patrols and initiate health and social enterprise within the local village. Our responsibilities to local communities extend beyond the mere financial. We support several youngsters seeking further education, provide scholarships and have enabled local women s groups. A significant proportion of your guest fee is dedicated to the preservation of these threatened dispersal areas. Serian s focus is on the traditional, natural and wildlife experience during your time in the bush. As a result the Serian Trust has become heavily involved in the long-term vision that will be the African wilderness in years to come.

23 Serian is a reflection of the real soul of Africa Serian Ngare Serian Suguroi Hill Tree House Nkorombo Mobile TANZANIA Serengeti Maswa Adventure Flycamping AWKENYA safaris@serian.net