Micato Safaris

November 9, 2010 | By Mike Cameron

I recently returned from a Safari to Kenya, which was coordinated by Virtuoso, Micato Safaris and Fairmont Hotels and Resorts. The experience was amazing and included:

• Multiple game drives through the Maasai Mara National Reserve
• A hot air balloon ride over the African countryside
• Meetings with some Maasai Elders and a visit to their village
• Mountain bike riding at the Mount Kenya Safari Club

Elephants	Giraffes
Tree	More Giraffes

We stayed at the three fantastic Fairmont properties in Kenya:

• Fairmont The Norfolk – in Nairobi
• Fairmont Mara Safari Club
• Fairmont Mount Kenya Safari Club

The trip was capped off with a visit to the Micato AmericaShare project in Mukuru. We got a chance to meet some of the children and see firsthand how Micato is helping this poor African community improve itself through:

• Education
• Community Outreach and
• Economic Development

AmericaShare - 2 Girls

AmericaShare - 3 Children

AmericaShare - Children

I made several observations:

• Micato has built a first class Safari business in East Africa. There is good reason that they have been named “World’s Best Tour Operator and Safari Outfitter” by the readers of Travel+Leisure an unprecedented seven times.
• The owners, the Pinto family, are actively engaged; we even had dinner at their home
• Micato is doing the community a great service with their AmericaShare Non-Profit organization
• Fairmont Hotels has an amazing set of Kenya properties; the quality and service can’t be duplicated