On this day, many moons ago, my mother’s waters broke at Ndala research camp in Manyara national park, Tanzania. She didn’t have a clue what was going on but luckily her friend, Nani Croze, knew immediately what to do! I was a breech baby, so they had to fly across the border to Kenya for an emergency c-section … which is why I was born in Nairobi. All these years later, I feel utterly blessed to have such an amazing family and so many wonderful friends in my life. My incredible parents, my beautiful sister Dudu, my brilliant husband and three exquisite daughters, plus all our cousins, uncles, aunts, nieces and nephews, and the many adoptees we’ve gathered into our herd along the way. I am now considered a mature “matriarch” in elephant years. So in admiration of the many super-impressive matriarchs that have come before me, I formally accept that one must age with grace. And I am supremely grateful for every sunrise and sunset, each new and full moon, the beauty of the living world around us, the joy of all my human and animal relationships that weave meaning into each moment, and the love, trust and loyalty from our extended kinship group that makes me feel so secure and strong. Thank you Mama and Papa for bringing me into this world to experience life in all its colour, emotion, intensity and beauty. Many blessing from N’kai to everyone I know, and especially to all those I love. ❤️
On this day, many moons ago, my mother’s waters broke at Ndala research camp in Manyara national park, Tanzania. She didn’t have a clue what was going on but luckily her friend, Nani Croze, knew immediately what to do! I was a breech baby, so they had to fly across the border to Kenya for an emergency c-section … which is why I was born in Nairobi. All these years later, I feel utterly blessed to have such an amazing family and so many wonderful friends in my life. My incredible parents, my beautiful sister Dudu, my brilliant husband and three exquisite daughters, plus all our cousins, uncles, aunts, nieces and nephews, and the many adoptees we’ve gathered into our herd along the way. I am now considered a mature “matriarch” in elephant years. So in admiration of the many super-impressive matriarchs that have come before me, I formally accept that one must age with grace. And I am supremely grateful for every sunrise and sunset, each new and full moon, the beauty of the living world around us, the joy of all my human and animal relationships that weave meaning into each moment, and the love, trust and loyalty from our extended kinship group that makes me feel so secure and strong. Thank you Mama and Papa for bringing me into this world to experience life in all its colour, emotion, intensity and beauty. Many blessing from N’kai to everyone I know, and especially to all those I love. ❤️
Close to 10 years ago we made a delightful BBC series in Samburu called “This Wild Life” about all the crazy stuff that goes on behind the scenes @elephantwatchcamp. It’s showing again this week on BBC2 in the UK. So if you missed it first time round, or are up for some fun family viewing, tune in at 15:45 each day this week. Hooray!! Some sparkling Samburu sunshine to brighten up the day! @susannahandslip @maxhugwilliams @kiricashell1 @davidjalenga Thanks for this beautiful photo 📸 @mariellafurrer
Magical evening in Santa Fe! Hummingbirds, humid earth post rain, and an exquisite sunset.
Magical evening in Santa Fe! Hummingbirds, humid earth post rain, and an exquisite sunset.
Just met my great niece, Freya. She’s a very persuasive young lady!
A brisk walk on the beach to clear my head, with Southern Right whales breaching offshore. A tonic for the soul at this anxious time.
That perfect time of day … @elephantwatchcamp
It has been a cathartic few days, thinking and writing about my beloved uncle. He was our Bard of Stars and Black Holes, our Chieftain of the Galaxies. I will love him and miss him forever.
Clad in a skein of silk spun by a colony of caterpillars. Ethereal beauty of a secret home-tree in the forest
Clad in a skein of silk spun by a colony of caterpillars. Ethereal beauty of a secret home-tree in the forest
Clad in a skein of silk spun by a colony of caterpillars. Ethereal beauty of a secret home-tree in the forest
@elephantwatchcamp – sparkling fresh and clean – is open again for the season! The reserve is bursting green and dancing with new life. Birds, butterflies, solifuges and crocodiles, chubby herbivores, hungry predators and hundreds of elephants. The most heavenly time of year, and off the scale verdant lushness after these extraordinary rains.
@elephantwatchcamp – sparkling fresh and clean – is open again for the season! The reserve is bursting green and dancing with new life. Birds, butterflies, solifuges and crocodiles, chubby herbivores, hungry predators and hundreds of elephants. The most heavenly time of year, and off the scale verdant lushness after these extraordinary rains.
@elephantwatchcamp – sparkling fresh and clean – is open again for the season! The reserve is bursting green and dancing with new life. Birds, butterflies, solifuges and crocodiles, chubby herbivores, hungry predators and hundreds of elephants. The most heavenly time of year, and off the scale verdant lushness after these extraordinary rains.
@elephantwatchcamp – sparkling fresh and clean – is open again for the season! The reserve is bursting green and dancing with new life. Birds, butterflies, solifuges and crocodiles, chubby herbivores, hungry predators and hundreds of elephants. The most heavenly time of year, and off the scale verdant lushness after these extraordinary rains.
Home sweet home
Somebody doesn’t like the thunder! Sweetest dog belonging to our lovely friend @worldwomenwork in Santa Fe. Very special to be here with thunderstorms and rain, always a blessing, while on a fundraiser for @savetheelephants 💚
Three of the most stylish, accomplished, visionary, elegant, interesting and beautiful women that I know – Angela Fisher @fisher.angel, my mother, Oria, and Carol Beckwith @beckwith.carolina. Exquisite examples of all that a woman should be, and the ultimate role models I’ve looked up to my entire life. Thank you for your sensitivity and compassion, your strength and originality. I Love you all to bits. In celebration of Angela & Carol’s latest incredible photographic exhibition that opened tonight. Xxxx 📸 @kassiemcilvaine
A humid sunset and thunder rumbling with an exquisite promise of rain. Tonight I leave my nest to attend the memorial of my beloved uncle Diarmaid, who died in January. Hate to leave my babies, but need very much to touch hearts with my American family. What a year it has been.
Small cat, big dreams.
The lake has come up so high these last two months, following record rains. So much glorious green and life to celebrate. But the unpredictability and violence of each season has us lurching from one extreme to the next. So while the joy and relief right now are palpable, there’s a part of me dreading the drought that will follow hot on its heels.
Mad Max is back! Tip tapping across the carpet. A sound I’ve not heard for so long. A sizeable Parabuthus maximus on the hunt for juicy caterpillars, centipedes or even his own Order. Yum yum!
