Segera Retreat is situated in the heart of Laikipia County, Kenya, surrounded by stunning landscapes of whistling thorn acacia and rolling grasslands.
This was my first trip to Segera, and it happened to coincide with the rainy season. This year, the rains were particularly intense, with widespread flooding across Kenya, especially in Nairobi, where many lives and homes were tragically lost. Segera, too, faced unusually high rainfall, making training, which is predominantly field-based, a bit more challenging. The guides life is all about adapting and we made the most of it with plenty of engaging classroom discussions and presentations, taking every opportunity to head out into the field when the weather allowed.
Training Amid the Rains
The camp at Segera is a beautiful one, and I was fortunate to be treated like a guest, enjoying excellent food and service, with fresh veggies straight from the shamba.
Building Bonds
The main focus of the training was to bond the team and build trust, creating an environment where we could all open up and learn from one another. We conducted teambuilding exercises that naturally led to discussions on leadership and teamwork within the greater Segera family, helping to close the gap between the guiding and camp teams.
We laid a solid foundation in the principles of guiding and explored the deeper purpose of why we do what we do—why we’ve chosen this path. A big part of this is inspiring the guides themselves. An inspired guide can inspire guests, fostering that connection with nature and creating life-changing experiences that guests will never forget.
The Segera team is self-taught, and it was deeply rewarding to see how eager they were to grow and collaborate with other departments to elevate the guest experience.
Floods and Off-Road Adventures
The heavy rains brought their own set of challenges. Some of the luggas (small rivers) flooded, cutting the camp off from the access gate. We ventured out a few times to assess the roads and report back to Jens and the management team. We also checked the perimeter fence, which had partially washed away, necessitating some off-road detours that nearly left us stuck. Later, we returned to rehabilitate the areas we’d driven through, always with a sense of care and respect for the land that sustains this incredible wildlife.
Conservation Conversations
One particularly interesting moment involved discussions on Patas monkeys, leading us to contact Dr. Yvonne de Jong, a primate ecologist conducting a census on this endangered species. This was well received and Dr. de Jong will remain in contact with the team to glean some history of previous sightings of the primate and help in the research and protection of the remaining populations. This is a wonderful way for the Segera team to get involved in conservation and make a tangible difference, both with their guests and hopefully in the broader scope of wildlife conservation.
Though it was a brief visit, made all the more memorable by the blessing of rain, the impact was significant. I look forward to returning for part two and continuing to support the growth and development of these passionate guides.
