SOCIETY OF ANIMAL ARTISTS

An open invitation through our good friend and a regular Serian resident John Banovich (www.johnbanovich.com) saw us host a number of well known wildlife artists in June. Based from Serian they spent their days fruitfully documenting the big cats, elephants and large herds of everything! I have added a couple of images of them all at work & play. We hope to garner some support for the "Serian Trust" by auctioning some of their work and a safari based from Serian as some point in the not to far distant future!

Being a bit of a window shopper when it comes to fine art and especially African Wildlife it was a real pleasure to host and encourage such great artists as these. Their contacts are listed below and I hope that we are able to encourage to enjoy their work as much as I do!






Dan Glanz - www.glanzsculptures.com

Jan Mcguire - www.janmartinmcguire.com
Richard Malenky - www.richardmalenky.com
Julia Rogers - www.Juliarogersart.com
Sharon Schafer - www.skschaferart.com
Debbie Sturgess - www.dedgerssturges.com
Mark Sharer - www.markjosephsharer.com
Dan Smith - www.danielsmithwildlife.com
Adam Smith - www.adamsmithwildlifeart.com

WILLIAM KASALE - GUIDE

I thought I should take the chance to slowly introduce you all to our staff at Serian over the next few months!

William has been with us since we arrived in the Mara 7 years ago. A charming, hard working and willing guide he has an instinctive understanding of the northern mara. As the head of the family he has selflessly looked after his many brothers, one of whom has graduated from the Koiyaki Guiding School, another has just completed secondary school with help from Gordy Church of Safaris Unlimited and Domonic aka Junior who works as an asst chef in camp.

William started out herding cattle for his father, then reknowned as a warrior headed up his class of morani. He then worked as an askari for several safari companies before joining serian as a guide. Since then his famous eyesight and smile have charmed all those who have had the pleasure of going out with him.

CAMERA TRAPS

Gareth has showed that persistence and good fortune go hand in hand! Our 3 camera traps have been set up in a small river bed that leads down to a big pod of hippo not far from Ngare Serian. Having messed around with the sighting and heights of the traps over the past few weeks witnessing lots of pictures of blades of grass and hippos bums as they trip the sensors it has all paid off! leopard! After dark and rather blase until rudely interupted by the led flash of the next trap in line.

THE FIRST MAJOR CROSSING

Mzee Masikio & Chris Brennan guiding Ana Goni and her friends from Spain yesterday witnessed the first major crossing of the year at hidden crossing. 3 hours of non stop traffic with zebras ten abreast surging through the rather depleted river mara. A little later than is normal but I think this year is going to be a classic the grass is high in both the narok reserve and the mara triangle and the surrounding areas are going through a drought condition! Meaning the Mara is the place to be with the only permanent water at this time of year all the wildebeest will be heading in from the south.

SERIAN SOCCER TEAM

Yesterday heralded the innaugural, Serian vs Mara Rianda fixture with Serian running out easy winners 4 - 1. A scurry of footwork and some occasional passing showed the Argentinian coaches (Nico, pauli, Sabs and Luchi) previous input. Ruby red team shirts came from Kim and the team collectively wanted me to pass on their thanks, mark is working on getting shorts together and we will rejuvinate the "Warrior Weekend" a highland games of sorts proposed for the end of the year, possibly November!