JAMES NANGONYE

James is from a local village called Leparua, part of the greater IlNgwesi Maasai Community. He always dreamed of becoming a guide and started showing people around his village when he was still in high school. He has worked at Sirikoi since 2010, starting out in the workshop, with Willie Roberts encouraging his interest in guiding, he worked his way up to becoming Head Guide. The experience of meeting new people from around the world is something James loves and it is still a highlight of his job

James is a KPSGA Silver guide and currently working towards his gold level. One of James’ most exciting sightings was seeing a Martial eagle capturing a baby impala, when a Crowned Eagle swooped in to try and snatch the prey.

Another was a Mama Cheetah that was walking with her cubs, when a male started to approach them, (cubs are in danger from male cheetahs when it’s mating season), she abandoned her cubs and ran away, which was very smart because then the cubs would not be danger if she was not around, The male did not harm the cubs and carried on past them. Thankfully the mama and cubs were reunited a while later

LEGEI LEIRO

Legei is also from the local village called Leparua, part of the greater IlNgwesi Maasai Community. He was first attracted to wildlife whilst out with his cattle when he was a warrior, a coming-of-age tradition for all young boys to become a man. During that time, he met Willie Roberts who brought him to Sirikoi in 2010 to train as a guide.

He loves working on Lewa Wildlife Conservancy, which holds a very special place in his heart. Legei is a KPSGA Bronze guide and is preparing to attain his silver level in the near future. Seeing the rare Sitatunga antelope on Lewa has been a huge highlight for Legei and he feels passionately about protecting nature for future generations.

There was a hunting Lioness, that was going after a Male Impala and was very dramatic as when the male impala jumped to escape the lioness, she also jumped at the same time and she grabbed him in mid-air, it was so exciting.

ONESMUS LESIATA

Onesmus is a Samburu from Wamba, Samburu, Northern Kenya. He has years of experience guiding in renowned conservancies and wilderness areas in Kenya, including the Maasai Mara and Ol Pejeta, before coming to Lewa Wildlife Conservancy. Onesmus is a Silver KPSGA Guide, and our first guide to attain his FGASA NQF2 Level 1 and NQF4 Level 2.

What Onesmus finds special about Lewa is that, unlike many other conservancies and parks in Kenya, there is a high concentration of Black and White rhino, and he feels passionate about protecting these amazing animals for future generations to enjoy. Onesmus is also a passionate Birder, and his favourite birds are the Bateleur Eagle and The Golden Breasted Starling

NGILA LOITAMANY JOHNSON

Ngila is from a small village called Arijijo in northern Laikipia region, a local sub-tribe of the Laikipia Maasai Community. He started at Sirikoi in 2015 with over 10 years’ experience as a professional safari guide.

Previously he worked with the Lewa Wildlife Conservancy research department for a year, which gave him a wide range of field and bush experience. He was also the Head of the Archaeology Department on Lewa, responsible for establishing a museum at the Children’s Education Centre. Ngila is a Silver KPSGA Guide and has attained his FGASA NQF2 Level 2 and Eco Training Field Guide.

Ngila’s most memorable sighting was watching two jackals kill and begin feeding on a young impala fawn, when a Martial eagle swooped down and grabbed not only the fawn, but one of the jackals which had the fawn in its hold and flew off with them both. The jackal eventually let go of his hold of the fawn and fell to the ground – none the worse for its first flight!

We found two lionesses’ near Sirikoi, they were watching two grant gazelles fighting and when it got very serious, one of lioness’s decided to try her luck and managed to capture one of the Gazelle. The other did not realise that his fighting partner had been caught and thought he had won the fight until he opened his eyes, saw the lioness and ran for his life.

PETER TALALA

Peter is from a local village called Ngare Ndare, a local sub-tribe of the Laikipia Maasai Community. He joined the Sirikoi team in 2011 as a waiter, with a dream to become a safari guide. A year after joining Sirikoi, Sue noticed his guiding enthusiasm and potential, and he began joining guests on game drives as a spotter. In 2013 he passed his bronze level guiding exam with flying colours. Peter is preparing to attain his silver level soon.

His most memorable wildlife sighting on Lewa was seeing a lioness and very young cub stalk and kill a wounded zebra at the waterhole. The lioness was clearly showing the young cub how to hunt and how to suffocate prey – the cub even had a turn to hold the zebra by the neck. Within a few minutes, the distress call from the zebra attracted around 15 hyena, and another two lions from a different pride!