Caroline Withey was born in 1979 and spent her toddler years on Samatian Island in Lake Baringo with her brother Richard and parents Willy and Sue Roberts. From there they moved to live in a tented camp on the banks of the Mara River in the famous Maasai Mara. Here they lived for 17 years, farming in the beginning and then Caro’s parents were involved in both conservation and tourism. They also started a lodge on Rusinga Island in Lake Victoria so Caroline spent her child hood years between these three beautiful homes.
Caroline completed her Primary education at a boarding school in the Great Rift Valley followed by Secondary school in South Africa. From there she attended Oxford Business College and finished a computer Graphics course in England. She spent many years travelling and working including in Germany and Western Europe, England and New Zealand. Finally she drove home overland from England with Ross (now her husband) in a thirty year old Land Rover. The expedition took eight months.
After working for several years at her family lodge on Lake Victoria she helped to start a women’s group to assist the families of AIDS Orphans. Ross and Caroline moved down to Lake Baringo to start their own business running Caro’s first home – Samatian Island in 2000 as a small exclusive lodge. They are now very involved with Ruko Community Wildlife Trust, a Trust started to bridge the conflict gap between two tribes and bring wildlife and income back to the area. They continue to live in Baringo running Samatian Island Lodge with Charlie now 15 months old and another one on the way.
The Baringo Giraffe
The Baringo Giraffe (also known as the Rothschild’s Giraffe) has not been seen in Baringo for approximately forty years. This rare giraffe (about 300 exist in the wild) is found in only a few places. The people of Baringo live in a very dry, arid environment. The land has suffered from overgrazing of livestock. They are now seeking a more sustainable livelihood that will allow the environment to recover and also provide them with a way to take care of their families.
It is our intention to bring home 10 Baringo Giraffe along with 100 Impala (this year). Strict grazing controls will be placed on the Ruko conservancy area and the community will benefit through a conservation fee charged to visitors. Thus ensuring the community looks at wildlife as a valuable asset.
