The people that make it happen

Nairobi Tented Camp is the brainchild of Guy Lawrence a Kenyan with a strong legacy of safaris and adventure. To help him make his dream a reality, he joined forces with Will Knocker, Marian Mason and Ibrahim. Will’s infectious enthusiasm for Nairobi National Park brings the experience alive for visitors to the camp and Marian’s culinary skills ensure that guests not only have one of the best wildlife encounters in Kenya, but an outstanding ‘gastronomic safari’ to match.

GUY LAWRENCE

Guy was born into safaris and knew that he would never do anything else. From a young age he has always felt at home in the bush and has come from a heritage of making it possible to share this passion for Africa with visitors from all over the world.

After graduating from Edinburgh University with a Mechanical Engineering degree, he spent a few years working in the Mining Exploration industry in West Africa, the Artic (Arctic) Circle and Central Asia. Guy’s father made his living from mobile-tented safaris and so he returned home to Kenya to work along side him. After his father’s death Guy stepped into his shoes to continue the family business. With him he has bought a renewed enthusiasm and some fresh ideas, including securing the first ever accommodation in Nairobi National Park.

For many years Guy has recognized the importance of Nairobi National Park as the “lungs of Nairobi”, and also its last wilderness. The only way to protect and preserve this wilderness is by increasing revenue to Kenya Wildlife Service who monitor and keep the park secure. The setting up of “NNP Camp” will contribute significantly to KWS and aid its fight against land grabbers, encroachers and poachers not only in Nairobi National Park but also in other parks around Kenya.

WILL KNOCKER

Born and brought up on a farm in north-western Kenya, surrounded by the unrefined wonders of Africa, Will has always been interested in natural history. His grandfather was the well-known falconer/naturalist/early wildlife photographer Captain CWR Knight so an affinity with all things earthly runs in his blood.

After finishing an ‘English’ education and spending 11 years away from Kenya, will returned home to work on the largest farm in the country: Galana Ranch. Then, after working at the coast for a few years, he joined the UN as part of Operation Lifeline Sudan, where he ran a program maintaining water boreholes in the Eastern Equatoria Province, spending most of the next decade working in remote areas of Kenya, Sudan and Ethiopia before turning his hand to running the superb Tana Delta Camp.

Since then, Will and his family (he and his American wife have five kids between them) has been intimately involved with the Nairobi National Park, next to which they live. Will has a special knowledge of indigenous trees and shrubs, and his love for Nairobi National Park will be available for all guests to enjoy as he is camp manager and will personally host your stay at Nairobi Tented Camp.

IBRAHIM

Ibrahim Ali Abayo is an elder from the Boran tribe and one of the first faces you are likely to see arriving in the Camp. Ibrahim has a lifetime’s experience behind him and you will rarely find him without a smile on his face. Born in Kinna, right next to Meru National Park in Northern Kenya, Mzee Ibrahim was a policeman for 18 years from 1960 . He started working with Mike Lawrence (Guy’s father) in the late 80’s and since then has been involved in many safaris & camps. Ibrahim is a Nature Lover and a traditional medicine man. He is passionate about the environment and is Assistant Camp Manager.