FAMILY HISTORY

The Roberts’ family has been in the safari industry for over 50 years, operating and guiding safaris across the continent and developing lodges across Kenya, as well as contributing hugely to wildlife conservation in Kenya.

Willie Roberts, the founder of Mobile Expeditions and Caro’s father, was a true visionary and one of the forefathers and most instrumental ambassadors of wildlife conservation in Kenya. He set up the first Wildlife Conservancy in Kenya in the Maasai Mara, essentially founding the ‘conservancy movement’, saving the greater area from being carved up for farming, laying down a clear path of success for community conservancies in Kenya and setting an example and an inspiration for others to follow.

Willie built three lodges in his lifetime, his first being when he was just nineteen, with no help from an architect – just vision, experience and a great sense of style.

He went on to create and build Sirikoi Lodge with his wife Sue, which is renowned as one of Kenya’s most beautiful lodges. Sirikoi has recently won a string of prestigious awards, which is a huge testament to Willie’s eye for creating luxury in the wild, namely:

#1 Luxury Resort in the World 2019, Kenya’s Leading Safari Lodge 2019, Best Luxury Resort in the World Conde Nast Traveller 2019
Africa’s Leading Safari Lodge, World Travel Awards 2019
Africa’s Leading Luxury Lodge, World Travel Awards 2017.

Willie is known throughout Kenya, and beyond, as one of the true masters of the original luxury, mobile safari. He was completely at home in the bush, and lived his whole life in a tent (with beautiful Afghan carpets, white linen, and collections of interesting stones, seedpods and driftwood from all around Kenya).

His legacy runs through everything we do at Mobile Expeditions.

The safari and conservation legacy extends beyond Willie and Sue. Richard, Caro’s late brother, has an award-winning camp in the Masai Mara called Richard’s Camp and was a powerful advocate for elephant conservation, having founded the Mara Elephant Project. Jamie Roberts (Caro’s uncle) owns and operates the renowned safari charter flight and helicopter company, Tropic Air. Andy Roberts (another of Caro’s uncles) owns and runs Manda Bay, a beautiful beach destination on Kenya’s north coast. And in addition to running mobile safaris, Caro and Ross own and manage Samatian Island, a beautiful lodge on the banks of Lake Baringo, where Willie and Caro both grew up.