Latest news with #KarenBlixen
Telegraph
25-05-2025
- Telegraph
How under-the-radar Botswana got safari tourism right
In Botswana, they named their currency, pula, after their most precious commodity. Their diamonds? No – it's the rain. The word means 'blessings', too, and perhaps that's hardly surprising given the Kalahari covers 70 per cent of this parched country. The Kalahari, though, is not the endless expanse of sand that might first appear in your mind's eye. And, after this year's especially plentiful rains, the desert is blooming, covered in sweet-smelling flowers and head-high grasses that provide plenty of grazing for wildlife and domestic cattle alike. Pula indeed. Botswana reserves 40 per cent of its land for its wildlife. And in a country that's the same size as France (with a population of less than 3 million), well, that's a lot of land. The approach here, though, is not the mass safari tourism you'll find in many places elsewhere on this continent. Here it's high value, low impact. The camps are on a small scale – there are few with capacity for 30 guests, most have between eight and 12. The atmosphere, then, is an intimate one and, once you're in the bush, it really is just you and the animals. You're not going to be in a crowd of 20, 30, or even 40 other vehicles surrounding a cheetah too distracted by clicking cameras to catch her prey. Over the course of a week's drives, I rarely saw another vehicle except in the distance. In Botswana, you could have travelled back in time to an empty Africa that Karen Blixen might have recognised from 100 years ago when she had her farm in Kenya – albeit with guns replaced by camera lenses. The Ker & Downey camps I visited here conjure a certain nostalgia, too. The 'tents' (in practice, huge rooms with an occasional nod in the direction of canvas) offer luxury and comfort – mosquito-netted four posters, Turkish rugs, indoor and outdoor showers, thatched roofs, deep, shady verandas. Early morning tea is brought in a pot covered with a cosy. Dining tables are set with napkins in their holders, classic tableware (Blixen brought her Royal Copenhagen porcelain and crystal with her), fine wines and food. Guests gather around a huge fire, dinners are served at long tables where guests and guides talk over the adventures of the day. The camps are generally unfenced – animals wander through at night and you are always accompanied by a guide after dark. None of the animals wears a tracking device so you follow the signs (footprints, droppings) and the always formidable knowledge of your guide. You are on their territory. Maun is not the capital of Botswana (that's Gabarone) but it is the country's safari capital. It has grown exponentially since I was here 20 years ago, but despite having over 80,000 inhabitants, it's still classed as a village – albeit one with an international airport from which tiny light aircraft or helicopters transport travellers to the camps. After 14 hours in the air flying from London, I felt the need to stop off at Grays Eden, a new colonial-style hotel with a beautiful garden that goes down to the river, and a restaurant featuring what you might call 'bush fine dining' (the kudu carpaccio is a speciality). From Maun, it's 25 minutes in a 12-seater known as a caravan over the vast, empty Botswanan plains to Dinaka Camp's airstrip on the northern edge of the Central Kalahari. I was met by General, my guide for the next couple of days, who ran me through the rhythm of the day: 5.30am wake-up call; 6am breakfast and game drive; 11am brunch; 3.30pm high tea and the second drive with sundowners in the bush around 6pm; 7.30pm dinner. You can vary this with a bush walk (the only time your guide carries a gun) and they always have a night drive on offer. I spent one afternoon with three bushmen who showed me medicinal plants, how to find water in underground tubers and store it in ostrich eggs; which plants can be spun into rope, and which caterpillars can provide the best poison for your arrow tips. With General, I watched young impalas practise their fighting technique, pronking springboks, dozens of iridescent birds, jackal families, oryx, wildebeest, a lone tsessebe (Botswana's swiftest antelope). A pair of lionesses, as pale as the creamy tufts of feathered grasses around them, stalked past our vehicle, a mother teaching her daughter how to hunt. From Dinaka, it's a 'van' (a four-seater light aircraft) followed by a helicopter-for-two to reach the brand new camp of Maxa in the Okavango Delta, one of the only landlocked deltas in the world. Two million years ago, much of Botswana was a lake, but as the earth shifted and rivers were diverted, less water flowed in and the lake disappeared. However, with the rains and the rivers that flow down from Angola, there is still water here all year round and the Okavango experiences Africa's second biggest annual migration (after the Serengeti). From the air, what look like fields of grass turn out to be reeds in shallow water. And sometimes not so shallow water. This didn't stop Shane (guide and co-owner of Maxa) driving through it – though, as the depth changes from day to day, he sometimes gets out, rolls up his trousers and wades through just to check. On my first afternoon, however, he suggested a rather different form of transport. The mokoro used to be a traditional wooden dug-out canoe but is now, in order to conserve trees, made of fibre glass. Nevertheless, the principle is unchanged. In your small, narrow punt, the poler stands behind you as you glide through the parting reeds, past exquisite water lilies and thumbnail-sized frogs clinging on to the reeds where miniscule spiders weave even tinier webs. In the water, fish dart just below the surface watched by kingfishers and herons and, in the branches of tall trees, fish eagles patiently wait. Arriving back on dry land, a table complete with flickering candles and ice buckets awaits for the ultimate sundowner (the sky didn't disappoint, a new moon appearing above a flame-red horizon). Maxa faces a lagoon where hippos spend all day groaning, honking and blowing water like freshwater whales as they rise and fall lazily in their pool. There's a human pool here, too, with lagoon water filtered by reeds, a fire pit and a kind of treehouse with platforms, hammocks and far-reaching views. The next morning, Shane led four of us on a bushwalk through the early mist explaining the skittish zebras and families of reproachful baboons – after more than 20 years without a camp, the animals here aren't used to humans yet. There were signs of elephants but the creatures themselves were elusive – until the next morning. Out on a game drive, we first came across a family of females with their young, about 30 strong. This was thrilling enough but as we moved on, a young bull elephant appeared. He lowered his head, raised his trunk, flapped his ears ('see how big I am – be very afraid') and steadily approached. Two more arrived in a stately, if rather alarming, parade, coming even closer. Shane was relaxed – 'You only need to worry if they stop flapping their ears.' Kanana Camp is even deeper into the delta and teems with wildlife. Within minutes of starting my first drive, I was at a lagoon full of hippos with a couple of crocodiles on the bank. There was a small herd of buffalo, a pair of ostriches, a giraffe with her days-old calf, a family of hyenas, hundreds of impala, and a magnificent lion with a lioness – who looked suitably fearsome until they rolled onto their backs, paws in the air. But the highlight? A lioness, saintly in her patience, as her three cubs (around two months old) pounced on her and each other, rough-and-tumbled, stalked flying insects and sat up to box each other's ears. I could have watched them for hours (in fact, I did). It was an intimate moment and one typical of Botswana. There is a freedom here that Blixen would surely recognise. You drive off road, walk through the bush, sleep on platforms under the stars, fly in aircraft not so very much bigger than Denys Finch Hatton's. There are never any crowds – well, except for the impala. It's just you and the wildlife – you could say Botswana is keeping it real. Or you could say it is simply a blessing. Pula. Essentials Timbuktu Travel offers a seven-night trip (one night at Grays Eden in Maun, three nights at Dinaka Camp in the Kalahari, three nights at Maxa Camp and three nights at Kanana Camp) from £9,600 (or £12,600 for the 10-night version). Fully inclusive with international and domestic flights. For more information on the camps, visit
Zawya
04-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Zawya
Inspiring Creativity: Canon Academy Juniors Partners with Karen Country Club to Nurture Young Photographers in Kenya
The Canon Academy Juniors program is dedicated to empowering youth by fostering new hobbies and developing their creative skills, instilling confidence along the way. Tailored for two different age groups (8-12 and 13-16), the program offers hands-on photography classes designed to equip kids and teens with valuable skills. This partnership aims at Inspiring creativity and cultivating young photographers at Kenya's premier country club Canon Central&North Africa ( is thrilled to announce an exciting new partnership with Karen Country Club to bring the Canon Academy Juniors program to young members aged 8-16. This unique collaboration combines Karen Country Club's legacy of community engagement with Canon's dedication to nurturing the next generation of visual storytellers. Set to take place from 14th-17th April, this exclusive members-only program will provide young participants with immersive, hands-on photography training in a stunning outdoor environment. Through Canon Academy Juniors, selected country clubs in Nairobi, including the iconic Karen Country Club, will host four days of interactive photography sessions led by Canon-certified trainers. Participants will engage in both theoretical and practical workshops covering essential photography skills such as composition, exposure settings, storytelling, and more. The program is designed to help children and teens not only discover a new hobby but also build a deep-rooted photography culture among young learners. Established in 1937, Karen Country Club offers an ideal setting for this program. Known as one of Kenya's oldest and most prestigious family-oriented clubs, the club's 18-hole golf course was built on a former coffee estate developed by Danish author Karen Blixen, the inspiration for the classic film Out of Africa. Its serene landscape, enriched with indigenous trees, wetlands, and panoramic views of the Ngong Hills, provides a perfect canvas for budding photographers. Canon's Commitment to Innovation and Creative Expression 'Canon Academy Juniors is more than a photography program; it's a space where young minds can explore their creativity, learn valuable skills, and develop a passion for visual storytelling,' said Rashad Ghani, B2C Business Unit Director, Canon Central&North Africa. 'We're proud to partner with Karen Country Club to bring this enriching experience to their community, nurturing Kenya's next generation of photographers in an environment as inspiring as their vision.' Program Highlights and Structure The program will run in two daily sessions over four days, offering age-appropriate courses for children aged 8-12 in the morning, followed by sessions for teens aged 13-16 in the afternoon. Each day covers core photography topics including: Basics of photography and camera handling Understanding and using different camera modes Principles of composition and the exposure triangle Storytelling through images Specialized sessions such as Canon Creative Park, where participants can explore genre-based photography and creative camera modes The program not only offers a hands-on learning experience but also fosters a vibrant photography culture among young people, encouraging them to capture the world around them with new perspective. About Canon Academy Juniors Canon Academy Juniors is an exclusive educational initiative designed for young members who are eager to explore visual imaging and printing. This program is dedicated to nurturing the creative skills of students aged 8-16 through engaging outdoor and hands-on training sessions led by expert trainers. About Karen Country Club Founded in 1937, Karen Country Club is one of the oldest golf clubs in Kenya. With a course built to United States Golf Association (USGA) standards and steeped in history, the club is a prestigious hub of community activity, offering family-oriented recreation in a setting rich with indigenous flora and fauna. Its grounds serve as an extraordinary venue for Canon Academy Juniors, enhancing the learning experience with breathtaking views of the Ngong Hills and abundant natural beauty. This partnership underscores Canon's commitment to innovation and Karen Country Club's mission of enriching its members' lives through unique and valuable programs. Together, Canon and Karen Country Club are proud to offer young members the tools and inspiration they need to explore the art of photography. Click here to learn more about Canon Academy Juniors: Click here to learn more about Canon Print Hub: Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Canon Central and North Africa (CCNA). Media enquiries, please contact: Canon Central and North Africa Mai Youssef e. APO Group - PR Agency Rania ElRafie e. About Canon Central and North Africa: Canon Central and North Africa (CCNA) ( is a division within Canon Middle East FZ LLC (CME), a subsidiary of Canon Europe. The formation of CCNA in 2016 was a strategic step that aimed to enhance Canon's business within the Africa region - by strengthening Canon's in-country presence and focus. CCNA also demonstrates Canon's commitment to operating closer to its customers and meeting their demands in the rapidly evolving African market. Canon has been represented in the African continent for more than 15 years through distributors and partners that have successfully built a solid customer base in the region. CCNA ensures the provision of high quality, technologically advanced products that meet the requirements of Africa's rapidly evolving marketplace. With over 100 employees, CCNA manages sales and marketing activities across 44 countries in Africa. Canon's corporate philosophy is Kyosei ( – 'living and working together for the common good'. CCNA pursues sustainable business growth, focusing on reducing its own environmental impact and supporting customers to reduce theirs using Canon's products, solutions and services. At Canon, we are pioneers, constantly redefining the world of imaging for the greater good. Through our technology and our spirit of innovation, we push the bounds of what is possible – helping us to see our world in ways we never have before. We help bring creativity to life, one image at a time. Because when we can see our world, we can transform it for the better. For more information:
