Mama Simba – Ewaso Lions

BIG CATS: A Story of Coexistence in Northern Kenya

Looking through the lens at the northern Kenyan horizon, we don’t just see wildlife. We see stories of transformation, of people reclaiming their connection to the land, and of lions finding safety in places once marked by conflict. In this landscape, lions face mounting threats: habitat fragmentation, human-wildlife conflict, and the steady disappearance of prey due to land degradation. But amid these challenges, we also witness hope. Through community-led conservation, these struggles are being met with resilience, and continued coexistence is slowly becoming possible.

We follow the journeys of two powerful community-led conservation movements, Warrior Watch and Mama Simba, anchored by Ewaso Lions in the heart of Samburu. These aren’t just programmes, they are revolutions in how conservation can be done when the community takes the lead.

In the Warrior Watch programme, traditional knowledge meets modern tools. With each scan of the binoculars, he’s not just looking for lions; he’s watching over his people’s livestock, preserving peace, and protecting Kenya’s last wild lions. © Anthony Ochieng Onyango

Through Warrior Watch, the Samburu warriors, men who were once seen only as potential threats to wildlife, are today the protectors. The programme idea came from a Samburu warrior himself, Jeneria Lekilelei. Armed not with weapons, but with smartphones, binoculars, notebooks, and a resolve. They track lion movements, alert herders of approaching lions, and prevent livestock loss. They traverse thorny terrain, sometimes on foot, sometimes by vehicle, covering hundreds of kilometres not for glory, but to keep the peace. They’ve moved from the periphery to the centre of the conservation story, and they know it.

Mama Simba involved in restoration efforts in the landscape. © Anthony Ochieng Onyango

Then there’s Mama Simba. In 2013, a group of Samburu women from Westgate Conservancy approached Ewaso Lions, expressing a desire to be actively involved in conservation. Their request led to the founding of Mama Simba (Mother of Lions), a pioneering initiative that empowers women to protect lions, educate their communities, and advocate for continued coexistence. These women are not just mothers; they are matriarchs of change. They bead, they teach, they monitor lions, and they meet drought with dignity by growing grass and digging water pans for wildlife. Their mantra, “bringing back wildlife to women,” isn’t a slogan. It’s a return to balance.

These images and voices reveal what happens when conservation isn’t imposed, it’s lived. And in that living, lions gain more than safety. They gain allies.

Featured Image: Our Mama Simba Manager, Munteli, the first woman from a village to drive in Samburu. Mama Simba was also her brainchild (together with Mparasaroi). © Anthony Ochieng Onyango

Published in Big Cats Magazine VOL 3/Issue 1/ January – February 2026

10 Years of Lion Conservation: The Big Celebration

Lined with lion jigsaw murals, kanga steamers and Ewaso Lions Banners, the welcoming archway drew 400 guests into the our camp to celebrate the achievements of the decade. The lion population in our project area has tripled, and more community members than ever before are involved in the task of building coexistence between lions and people. There were so many reasons to celebrate on August 25th, and celebrate we did.

The day began with the blessing of Samburu elders sprinkling milk over the camp grounds, followed shortly by Mama Simba ladies whose songs rang out in the midday heat.

Culminating in Shivani’s moving tales, the speeches that followed pondered days long past, lions lost and challenging times, and how the team pulled together, grew and built the foundation for lion conservation in Samburu and Isiolo.

Representing the Jeremy Lucas Education Fund, Junior stunned the crowds by reading a speech he worked on all by himself about how he is a conservationist today, touching everyone by narrating the story of how his favourite lion, Loiwotwa whom he had monitored, was killed.

For the first time in any public setting, the L’chukuti, herding children who are never recognized at social gatherings, were given the stage. Lkasian, a young herding boy who has attended two of our Lion Kids Camps, stood up. His remarks showed wisdom well beyond his years. He spoke of the tangible benefits of lion conservation, allowing people to find work in the conservancies instead of living a tenuous life in the cities far away.

After Jeneria and Resson spoke of the Strategy for the next three years in the changing landscape of Samburu and Isiolo, it was time to hear from the guests.

Led by chief guest County Executive Committee Chair Hon. Leshakwet, the guests commended Ewaso Lions for its work and the spirit of collaboration between them, the Kenya Wildlife Service, Northern Rangelands Trust and other partners. He then led other guests in officially launching Ewaso Lions Strategic Plan.

When all was said and done and guests had eaten a sumptuous meal, the warriors and the women decided that dances were in order. Having seen off most of the guests, Ewaso Lions danced away into the sunset, excited about their future as a team. Watch the 10 years celebration video here.

We send a special thanks to our friend and supporter Jillian Knox for her incredible photos which captured the essence of the day so well.

Mama Simba to Maasai Mara

300 miles, five new wildlife species, and of course The Great Migration. The Mama Simba trip to the Maasai Mara held a lot of firsts, and a lot more surprises. It was the longest journey of their lives, most of them not having gone more than 30 miles away from home.

As they approached the Mara, giraffes began to appear on the sides of the road. But the ladies were far more mesmerized by the grass: luscious, green, endless. Nalmarai looked wistfully “Will you let me out so I can walk in it?” It was more grass than they had ever seen.

Once the ladies settled into their hotel where they would be sleeping in comfortable beds and having sumptuous meals later on, they were whisked away to Enonkishu Conservancy, Enonkishu meaning place for healthy cattle. At the Mara Training Centre there, they learnt about how the conservancy manages their grasslands from Musa Kiseer, the Forage Assessment Manager.

On the way back, Conservation Programme Assistant Evanson Kariuki, christened Nkobikobi meaning “fast planner” or “straight” by the ladies, got the great idea to take the ladies in to see his old friends at the Kenya Wildlife Service nearby. They soon found out the secret: they were going to a rhino sanctuary. The ladies got up close with the two rhinos, whom to them were mythical creatures. Masulani later said, “Today I touched the heart of a rhino like I would touch a cow.”

The game drive the next day was the real highlight of the trip: a chance to see the Great Wildebeest Migration. At the gate, the ladies met traditional Maasai women, with whom they share a common language. The Maasai women were awe-struck by the Samburu women’s beautiful neck pieces, and even more enthralled when Munteli hopped into the drivers’ seat and drove the ladies into the park. Munteli insisted on driving the entire day, leaving all who saw her dumbfounded. They simply could not believe that a traditional Samburu woman was driving!

Soon, they were surrounded by wildebeest, topi and zebra as far as they could see. Witnessing the largest congregation of megafauna in the world was breathtaking, each animal driving towards the great Mara river.

Despite their wonder, the Mama Simba ladies spotted challenges faced in the ecosystem. As they drove back to the hotel, Mparasaroi lamented the amount of fencing everywhere. “This land has been cut up,” she said, and later went into a diatribe about how terrible the effects would be for the ecosystem and wildlife movement.

After all the wildlife watching, the ladies got a chance to see the work of the people of the Mara. First, meeting the women of the Maasai Mara Wildlife Conservancies Association where they sang together and talked about what they each do. They then hopped across to Maa Trust where they saw incredibly intricate beadwork done by ladies from the Mara. And finally they went to the Mara Predator Conservation Programme to see how lions and other carnivores are conserved in the South of Kenya.

As the day drew to a close, the ladies requested a final game drive. Deep in the heart of Mara North Conservancy, they had their most magical moment. They stumbled on a pride of lions, 22 strong. The whole earth stood still as the ladies blessed the lions, and just sat with them for what seemed like an age.

The Mama Simba ladies had only been away a few days, yet, their attitude, confidence and outlook on their role had changed drastically. We knew this because the next day, back in Samburu, Nadala’s sub adult was killed, our first lion loss of the year. The ladies were informed, and they were devastated. Having seen a pride of lions for the first time, you could see how aware they were now of how precious the solitary lions of Samburu were. After sadness came fury. “How can this happen?” they asked. “We must have a meeting!” The ladies began planning the next meeting they wanted to hold in Samburu, and even called conservancy managers.

Emboldened and empowered by this trip, we can’t wait to see what the future holds for the Mama Simba ladies as they look at life and lions with fresh eyes.

For this trip, cannot thank enough our amazing supporter Singleton Rankin and World Women Work who made this incredible trip possible. Heaps of gratitude go out to Angela Sanau Paswa of MMWCA who organized everything for the women in the Mara, far beyond her call of duty, and of course, all the organisations who gave their time to take these women through all they do, and to Kenya Wildlife Trust Executive Director Dr. Irene Amoke for linking us all up.

Mama Simba Women Tackle Waste Issues Through Visit to Western Kenya

In rural northern Kenya, Samburu women regularly buy staples such as sugar, tea and maize from local shops. These items always come packaged in plastic or thin nylon bags. The bags, along with other waste items, are often burned or discarded in the bush or around the manyattas, where livestock and wildlife may ingest them.

There are no waste disposal or recycling services here. In the past, the ladies said they would wait for the rains and then rush down to the river to let the surging water carry away their waste.

To face this environmental threat, Ewaso Lions has organised several clean up campaigns in the local villages to raise awareness about importance of a keeping the environment clean and healthy. At the same time, we know there is a local demand from the community for more recycling opportunities, based on recent surveys.

We are now exploring long-term solutions to this waste problem and want to enhance the business skills and training for our Mama Simba women. Thus, we have reached out to organisations with expertise in waste management and setting up community-based recycling enterprises. One such group, Zingira Community Crafts, based in Kisumu, Western Kenya and founded by Evance Odhiambo, tackles such development issues facing the environment and development while also providing employment to talented artisans. The project trains artisans to create products made from recycled or sustainable materials.

Earlier this month, our Mama Simba Coordinators, Munteli and Mparasaroi, together with our Resident Wildlife Artist, Samson, attended a two-day product development workshop organized by the Zingira team in Dunga, Kisumu. The workshop was primarily designed to enhance the craft-making skills of Dunga community members (mainly women and youth), as well as providing ecotourism advisory – and Evance kindly extended the invitation to the Ewaso Lions team.

The ladies learned two techniques for making intricate baskets and bags. One technique involved using water hyacinth (an invasive species from South America introduced into Lake Victoria) to create beautiful woven baskets, which the ladies proudly showed off upon their return to Samburu.

The Mama Simba ladies are now excited to experiment with applying this technique to other materials, such as plastic bags, which are more readily available in Samburu. They have already started collecting bags around their villages – they don’t want to forget what they have learnt.

Meanwhile, Samson learned how to create interesting artworks and candlesticks using tins and other scrap metals. As our Resident Wildlife Artist, we hope Samson can apply these new skills in his own work, as well as supporting any creative enterprises that form part of the Mama Simba programme.

The team was particularly impressed by the business acumen of the Zingira team and were excited to learn how they might apply this to their own beadwork enterprise and, hopefully, in future their own recycling enterprise. Munteli certainly has big plans to establish a centre where she can train other members of her community one day.

We are immensely grateful to Evance and his team at Zingira Nyanza Community Crafts for inviting Samson and the ladies to attend the workshop. We are also excited for the next phase of our partnership with Zingira. Next month, their team will be visiting Samburu to conduct a feasibility study for a Mama Simba recycling enterprise.

Women in Conservation: Expanding the Mama Simba Program

Since launching our Mama Simba program in 2013, we have engaged 300 Samburu women in conservation. The core Mama Simba group consists of 10 women, who work with other women within their communities, thereby spreading conservation messaging through peer-to-peer sharing. The women participate in conservation training and litter removal campaigns, and report on lion sightings and conflict issues. In exchange, we set up weekly schooling to provide educational opportunities they never had before, and also offer training in new beaded art craft, so they can diversify their income.

The Mama Simba women with Shivani in the classroom where they are learning to read and write. Photo © Ewaso Lions

Now, in response to strong positive feedback by participating women, we are expanding the Mama Simba program into new areas and offering new opportunities for the women to get involved in conservation.

Working in Four New Areas

In 2016, we will introduce the Mama Simba program into four new locations in Westgate Conservancy in northern Kenya. Women in these locations have already expressed an interest in joining the program. We are conducting questionnaire surveys with women in each location to provide a baseline against which we will be able to evaluate the program’s effectiveness over time. We also hope to set up an additional school for women from these four new locations.

More Targeted Education and Training

The recent feedback survey highlighted that the education initiative was highly valued by the women. However, the results also indicated that improvements should be made to ensure the women continue to make progress and that teaching effectively addresses the women’s differing ability levels.

The feedback survey also found that all the women would be interested in receiving more conservation training. Moving forward, Ewaso Lions will lead sessions covering themes such as: managing conflict situations, livestock husbandry practices, identification of carnivores from tracks and signs, importance of conservation, and more. We hope that this training, in conjunction with the topics covered under the education initiative, will enable the women to collect information following incidents of livestock depredation and ensure they are able to effectively deal with any resulting conflict, and to advise others of methods to reduce depredation in future.

Rebecca proudly displays her Mama Simba shuka (wrap) in her village. © Ewaso Lions

Cleaning Up Waste in Villages

Rather than having one-time litter cleanups in villages, we wish to make the Mama Simba waste removal campaign more sustainable and effective. We will conduct a waste audit to ascertain the quantity and type of materials that are being wasted locally and determine whether the women are able to turn this waste into quality products that can be sold to generate supplementary income.

Beadwork for Income

The beadwork component of the Mama Simba program is valued highly by the women. We now intend for the current Mamas to train two or three women in each new locations how to make the beaded lions. Expansion of the beadwork component of the program will help us to meet increasing demand for the beaded lions, as well as provide another opportunity for the women to spread awareness about lions and their conservation within the Conservancy.

With the Mama Simba survey demonstrating positive results for the program, we look forward to taking this program to the next level. By carefully designing each aspect of the program, we see a real opportunity to engage more Kenyan women in conservation, and create a secure future for lions and other large carnivores in the region.

Women learn about wildlife conservation and obtain skills that they can use in all aspects of their lives. © Ewaso Lions

Mama Simba Women Continue Litter Removal Campaign

Last week we organized another clean-up effort with women from our Mama Simba program to remove litter from the landscape and replace plastic bags with reusable tote bags.

The women collected more than 2,000 pieces of plastics and metals from in and around Sasaab village in Westgate Conservancy, Samburu. The women learned how plastics can be harmful when burned or when thrown into the rivers.

Women line up to deposit the trash they collected from the village.

Guests of Ewaso Lions assisted with the removal of trash by truck.

Like last time, Sasaab Lodge assisted in the effort and took the trash away for recycling.

The excitement of the women was contagious. Spirits were high, kids were laughing and helping, and after 3 hours of collecting plastics…not a single smile had left their faces.

“Before I would always wait for Sasaab river to flow which is about once a year. I would run down to the lugga and throw all my rubbish in there. I didn’t know where my rubbish went. Now I know that it is very bad for the environment to do that and I will never do it again.” – Munteli, a member of Mama Simba

Women from our Mama Simba program participated and received a reusable shopping bag.

Highlights

– 54 women from the Sasaab village participated.
– More than 2,125 pieces of trash were collected over 2 days.
– Most of the trash comprised of plastic of plastic containers of food and water.
– Ewaso Lions distributed 54 reusable bags to the women.

We have two remaining locations to complete the clean-up in Westgate. These will be challenging locations to work in as they are close to the shops and markets and there is a lot of trash! We believe it will take more than a week to clean up each location and hope to work with the school kids on this as well when schools re-open in September.

More than 2,000 pieces of litter were removed from the landscape.

> Read more about the Mama Simba program

> Read about the first litter clean up campaign in March

> Special thanks to the World Women Work for their support of this project

Kids helped too.

Working with Women for a Cleaner Kenya

In Westgate Conservancy, where Ewaso Lions is based, the landscape is littered with plastic bags. Women purchase sugar, tea, and other items from local shops that always package them in plastic bags, and these are often discarded carelessly. Plastic bags can remain in the environment for thousands of years – they do not degrade, they break up into smaller pieces that spread widely across the area, and are hazardous for the wildlife, livestock, and small children living in Samburu. And in a stunning landscape like Samburu, they discarded bags is a major eyesore.

A lion cub chews on a plastic bag. Discarded plastic bags pose a threat to lions and other wildlife. Photo by Jacob Leadura.

Because women primarily do the household shopping, we decided to work with them towards a solution to the plastic litter problem. Between the 17th and 21st of February 2014, Ewaso Lions and Sasaab Lodge embarked on a clean-up campaign with the women in Westgate Community Conservancy. The clean-up is part of our new Mama Simba programme.

Discarded plastic and other trash is a common site in rural villages.

We worked with 212 women across four locations in Westgate. Women collected plastic bags, containers, and other litter within Naisunyai, Sukuroi, Remot, and Lempaute settlements. They separated the plastic from the paper and containers and put them in to various container bins (recycled containers!) we had put out for them. At some locations, elders and children got involved, too!

Samburu women in Westgate sort the trash they collected.

Over the 4-day clean-up, participants collected over 15,000 pieces of plastic bags and more than 2,000 plastic containers – which totaled 117 kg (260 lb) of trash removed from the landscape! This litter will be taken to Nairobi, where it will be recycled by The Safari Collection’s Recycling Project.

Women with the bags of trash they collected.

The women cleaned up 117 kg (260 lb) of trash that we then hauled off to Nairobi for recycling.

During the clean-up campaign, we spoke to the women about the hazards of plastic bags and conservation in general. The women were excited to be part of an environmental and conservation programme and pledged to reduce the number of plastic bags they use.

In exchange for the plastic bags that the women clear, we provided each woman with a reusable tote bag for their shopping needs with the hope that this will reduce all plastic consumption in the future. Ewaso Lions teamed up with Africa Inside to provide the tote bags through support from World Women Work.

The day following the Sukuroi clean-up, our Lion Scout Francis Lendorop saw women shopping at a local food market with their new tote bags!

We will embark on Phase 2 of the clean-up later in 2014 and will target the remaining locations of Ngutuk Ongiron, Sasaab, and Westgate.

We are very grateful for support towards this programme from our partners:
> World Women Work
> Africa Inside
> The Safari Collection / Sasaab Lodge

A woman shows off her new reusable shopping bag.

Reusable tote bags will cut down on discarded plastic bags.

> Update: read about our second clean up campaign in August 2014

Ewaso Lions Launches A New Women’s Programme: Mama Simba

Until now, Ewaso Lions has engaged warriors, elders, and children. When women from the area were keen to get involved in conservation, they approached us for conservation training and education. Now, Ewaso Lions is working with Samburu women in a number of ways through our new programme, Mama Simba – which means Mothers of Lions.

Samburu women have rarely been actively included in conservation activities in northern Kenya. Yet, they spend a significant amount of time in wildlife areas as their demanding lifestyle includes fetching water, collecting firewood, and looking after livestock at times, which means they often come in contact with wildlife. And because women remain in the villages for much of the time while warriors and elders are away, they deal with human-wildlife conflict firsthand when carnivores attack livestock inside villages at night.

> Visit our new Mama Simba page to read how women are engaging in conservation.

Ewaso Lions assists women with reinforcing livestock enclosures to reduce attacks by lions, hyenas, and leopards.

Livestock Protection
We work with women to reinforce their bomas (traditional livestock enclosures) with thornbush, which prevents hyenas and leopards from entering the bomas to prey on livestock. In addition, Ewaso Lions is currently testing new experimental predator deterrents at villages where livestock loss to carnivores is high.

Each week, we hold classes for Samburu women to learn to read and write.

Women’s Schooling
We hold a weekly education class for women in Westgate Conservancy. The women are learning how to read and write.

Authentic Beaded Handicrafts
Samburu women are skilled at making bracelets, necklaces, and other traditional beadwork. We are working with a small group of women to make the first beaded lions to sell these to tourists who visit the area.

A Cleaner Samburu
Women buy items such as sugar and tea from local shops that always package items in plastic bags. These bags are often discarded carelessly and are hazardous for the wildlife, livestock, and small children living in Samburu. Ewaso Lions started a clean-up campaign in Westgate Conservancy. 212 women from four locations participated and collected litter in and around their villages. In exchange for the plastic bags that the women removed, Ewaso Lions provides each woman with a reusable tote bag for their shopping needs with the hope that this will reduce all plastic consumption in the future.

We train women in a variety of conservation issues including the importance of carnivores for the ecosystem.

Conservation Training and Wildlife Safaris
Women in the area have never been trained in conservation issues. Ewaso Lions has begun to train women in lion ecology, different predator tracks, and the importance of conservation. Following the training, Ewaso Lions takes women on safari in Samburu National Reserve. These are usually the first game drives they have ever been on. On the first safari, they had a rare close elephant encounters – witnessing an elephant give birth!

> Want to help Samburu women by supporting Mama Simba? Please donate today!

> Special thanks to World Women Work, Africa Inside, and Sasaab Lodge/The Safari Collection for supporting Mama Simba.

Witnessing an Elephant Give Birth – And Hearing a Samburu Tale

The following story of a truly rare and spectacular event happened during our first Mama Simba game drive, when we took 32 Samburu women into the park to see lions. They got more than they bargained for. This blog was written by Jeneria Lekilele, Ewaso Lions Senior Field Officer.

After driving all over Samburu National Reserve looking for lions, we went for a short break to a beautiful clearing in the park. The ladies were quiet and kept asking us to see lions. We all split up and eventually found the lions. Everyone was so excited. In my car I had a lady with a little baby who started crying. I decided to drive further away from the lions so the lions would not be disturbed.

As I started driving towards the main river I saw many elephants together in the distance. After a minute, I heard an elephant screaming and I thought the elephants were mating because I knew it was their mating season. When I was about 100 metres away I saw many elephants coming together, surrounding one another and others running all over the place. I first thought that its their matriarch communicating to the rest of the group.

The agitated elephants crowded around the mother while she gave birth.

I drove a little closer and in the middle of the herd I saw a three years old calf kneeling down and putting his trunk in between an older female. The older female was putting her back down while screaming loudly and I saw a baby come out! It was covered with fluid and I stopped the car and jumped to the back of my car in between the ladies who were standing there staring.

An elephant knelt down to touch the baby as it came out.

I was very shocked as I realized what had happened. It was my first time to see an elephant give birth. We all kept staring and I forgot that I had my camera. I suddenly woke up and realized I had to call the rest of the group. I called them calmly on the radio but I was not calm inside. The others arrived and all were in shock watching the elephant and what was happening all around. Everyone saw the baby trying to stand up and being pushed by other elephants to help is stand. It was very shaky on its feet. The mother was throwing dust everywhere and was distressed as the baby struggled to stand. Eventually they all settled down.

The ladies in my car were talking to the elephant that had just given birth. They started telling me a story when Samburu women lived with elephants many years ago. They said that one day there was a woman and an elephant in the same Manyatta. There was a big ceremony of a mama giving birth and elephant was told to bring firewood outside the village. An elephant went out and brought a lot of firewood and afterwards the mama told the elephant that the firewood is not enough.

The newborn elephant.

“Go back and bring same more!” she told the elephant. The elephant went back again and he brought big pieces of firewood and when he returned back home, the mama told him again, “How much firewood have you brought? You should bring more than this.”

The elephant got very angry and upset. The mama picked up a cow skin and threw it at the elephant and told the elephant to go away. The elephant said,

“You will never see me in your village and I’m taking this skin so you can recognize me”.

After the mamas saw that the elephant was giving birth they remembered what the elephant said to them many years ago and they started talking to the elephant. “Ntomononi aai. We won’t help you with your birth but we heard that you and lions are disappearing and facing a lot of threats and we want to help you in another way, conserving and protecting you so you don’t disappear. You are still ours and very important to us.”

This is why the Samburu people believe that it is good luck when you see an elephant giving birth.

It was an amazing day.

Witnessing the birth of an elephant is a rare event and one that I will never forget.

The healthy newborn went looking for food.

Taking 32 Samburu Women on Their First Safari

Last week we took 32 Samburu women from Westgate Conservancy on a safari to Samburu National Reserve. The ladies had never been before! A few had driven through the Reserve on their way to Archers Post, yet they had never seen wildlife close-up. We asked the women what they wanted to see – some said buffalo – we quickly told them this would be difficult as buffaloes disappeared from Samburu in 2009. Most of them however said they wanted to see lions and leopard!

Setting out in the morning

We set off early in convoy – there were four cars filled with animated, beautifully dressed women who were excited about their day’s adventure. We met with the warden of Samburu, Mr Gabriel Lepariyo, who chatted to the women about the Reserve, its wildlife and its importance as a tourism destination.

We quickly moved on in search of the big cats. By 11 am, we had not seen much and there were no signs of lions – we had a few close up views of elephants – and a few crocodiles. But the women were quiet – they kept asking “Koray simba?”… “Where are the lions?”. We were determined to find them and with four cars out, we decided to split up and cover huge ground in search of the cats.

Finally, we found some tracks and followed them keenly. At last! We saw Nanai and Nabulu. They were feeding on something which was hard to determine as they were in thick bushes. The women looked through binoculars and chatted amongst themselves about what it could be. Some said waterbuck, others said warthog. Eventually it was clear what it was – the lionesses were feeding on a baboon! We hoped that Nanai’s cubs were in the area as we would have loved to show the women these 3 little cubs, but they were nowhere to be seen.

Jeneria showing the women the lions

The women were thrilled after seeing the lions

On the game drive

The women got to see other rarely seen animals such as greater kudu, reticulated giraffe and had several close-ups with big bull elephants. What none of us expected was to see an elephant give birth! We will write about this soon.

Watching the lions through binoculars

Out on safari

Close-up with elephants

It was a great day and the women returned to Westgate singing loudly about their safari and their day’s adventure. We look forward to many more adventures with the women in the future.

We thank Sasaab Lodge and David Daballen for their support and participation in this Women’s Safari.