Paul -

You can ask to have your story told by contacting The Daily Nation at this following email address:

newsdesk@nation.co.ke

I would be very interested to see if they print it or what excuse they use not to print your important story.

Kat

Paul
The whole incident is shocking! Glad you made it without physical demage. But I assume your'e still suffering a trauma as such an experience cannot be taken off with your clothes.

As stated by Simba and Kat it's essential to tell the World what happened in order to make others aware of the danger which is involved when travelling a poor country.

Of course staying at a tented camp is the best choice one can make for a safari as it offers the opportunity to stay right in the animal kingdom. And it's so sad that this might come to an end because of the dangers inflicted by humans.

I agree totally with Kat that you should put your effort into getting that story out!

Another option would be:

at IOL which is an international online newspaper which has offices worldwide but is dedicated mostly to Africa incl. South Africa and East Africa/Kenya.

http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=521

Spread the word. Only bad adds will lead to an improved environment.

Good luck - and please keep us informed on the proceedings!

I did submit a tory to the Daily Nation newspaper be email , as yet no response. Also to CNN, same thing, as yet no response.

Interestingly a blogger on www.fodors.com posted the KATO version of the incident. They said “no guests were hurt” !!!! What a snow job. Howver I do know the Naibor camp director/owner, Anthony Cheffings) is also a director on the KATO board. Conflict of interest perhaps?. In any case a couple of blogs on fodor make interesting reading

http://www.fodors.com/community/africa-the-middle-east/professionals-selling-massai-mara-safety-issue.cfm

http://www.fodors.com/community/africa-the-middle-east/kenya-travel-april-only-time-we-can-go-what-to-expect.cfm

Another link:

http://www.traveldailynews.com/[/color]

Ciao Paul and welcome (shall also post welcome on the welcome wall)-

What a way to start an African experience.
Like all travellers – when you book no agency will write – “come on Safari however there is a risk of getting robbed…” – there is no way Paul will have been able read this. Okay you can do research but Simba – how many times have you and I travelled and not looked deep into the situation?
When we go diving – same thing; do we look at what the risks are?

Like Paul I travel with my 2 children and can completely understand where he comes from; to go through such a situation where 2 children get roughed up, that is an issue that I will not be able to let go of so soon, even if the camp was owned by the Pope.
I hope your kids are doing okay and that such a situation does not give them reoccurring negative memories which can at times happen.

Unfortunately Kenya as well as other African destinations are having lots of such problems – as Simba said for the locals it is a lot of money for them to live off. This issue will be read again and again as it will keep on happening. KWS or the Kenyan Police do not implement enough to sort the situation out and camps save money by not employing night security.

Now I have got some information from Naibor:

Nigel Archer, one of the owners has been in Botswana - and was during the peiod that incident happend. He survived an Elephant attack and was hospitalzed in Johannesburg, returned to Kenya at the beginning of this week.
That's not an excuse but might be an explanation why the "camp owners" lacked a propper response.
I know Nigel is involved in the day-to-day run of the camp and his co-owner might has been overstrained by the situation. AGAIN: NO EXCUSE for anything and just an assumption on my side.

The company doubts heavily that staff was involved in anyway. They state their staff is hand-pickend and has been loyal to the owners and the camp for years.

Naibor has deployed 2 rangers who act as night guards - the same the nearby Rekero camp.

That is what I learned yesterday. I know these people have a reputation to loose and all that comes with it. I assume they have taken the incident seriously and do their utmost to prevent such attacks for future.

I know that doesn't change the nightmare Paul and family went thru. And it's sad Paul's family played the guinea pig here in order to enhance safety and security.

But still - the more waves the whole incident creates the better for future security.

BTW - that's the reason I myself refuse to walk after dark or before sunrise any camp's paths without an askari. Even IF the camp staff tries to convince me that's "safe" to do. I don't want to become the reason to enhance safety measures.