The Ol Malo team have had a busy season – but as you can see from our newsletter below, we have been having lots of fun with the guests! We wish that we could see you all in person to tell you all our news, however with so much going on at Ol Malo, we have run out of time for 2010. We are planning a trip to the UK in early 2011 so hope to see you then but in the meantime, I hope that you enjoy reading about our adventures.

Lucinda Roberts will be representing us at WTM this year so please email lucinda@farhorizonsmarketing.com to make an appointment if you would like an update from her.

Thank you for your continued support and we look forward to welcoming your guests in 2011.
Best wishes
Rocky, Colin, Andrew and Chyulu

An “Ol Malo Wedding” is in the pipeline – promising to be the wedding of the year!

Andrew showed his romantic side his year by secretly arranging a champagne sundowner on a beautiful rocky outcrop in the middle of Ol Malo. He managed to coax an unsuspecting Chyulu into going up onto the rock before getting down on bended knee and proposing to her! Luckily she said YES! So plans for, no doubt, an incredible Ol Malo wedding are underway. And what a place to have a wedding. You really could not ask for a more beautiful venue. Views to die for, luxurious lodgings for the wedding guests and the undisputed romance of the African bush. With their own wedding leading the way the new Mr. and Mrs. Francombe will be happy to accommodate any future weddings at Ol Malo, so for all you romantics out there – bear this in mind!

We pride ourselves at Ol Malo for offering unusual and “spur of the the moment” activities depending on what the mood takes – A trip down to the river on horses and camels to fly camp, or simply sleep out around under the stars. A night in the animal hide or tree house. Last season our guests saw striped and spotted hyena during the night, a leopard at dawn and to top it all off a pack of wild dog running past in the morning. We are also offering trips to our neighbouring ranch Mugie, to see Rhino that they are rehabilitating and have a day game driving in a different area. Of course, the traditional Ol Malo barbecues with delicious “dawas” (a drink with vodka lime and honey) tasty home grown lamb chops and “giant jenga” competitions are always a winner!

The African Wild Dog’s scientific name Lycaon pictus means “painted wolf” and refers to their mottled coats.

FACT: Wild Dogs are poorly named as they share more common ancestry with wolves. Each animal can be recognised by its unique individual markings. Wild dogs are one of the most endangered species in the world and we are proud to report that the Laikipia area now has around 300 adults and a number of pups and yearlings. Ol Malo is very involved with the Wild Dog project, based at the Impala research centre, which has done a phenomenal job at researching, counting, monitoring and protecting the dogs in the area since 2001. Last year we were involved in a dog collaring operation where a male dog was collared in front of the Lodge. The dog has aptly been named “Andrew”. Andrew and his pack are often seen in and around Ol Malo and can be more easily monitored and protected due to the radio collar.

Many of you are familiar with Ol Malo’s resident kudu, Tandala, whom we rescued as a baby when her mother was killed by a lion 14 years ago. Hand-fed by Rocky, it was hoped that one day Tandala may go and join one of the numerous Greater Kudu herds on Ol Malo, giving her the chance of living in the wild and perhaps having a baby of her own. Although she has been exposed to wild kudu, she has never shown any interest in joining them, preferring the Francombes and their many guests as her herd, being fed toast for breakfast and cake for tea. We always wondered whether one day she would fall in love but had given up all hope of this, until last month. Tandala suddenly and surprisingly fell madly in love – not with a handsome, wild male with a pair of stunning horns on his head but with an equally handsome, wild male with a balding head, commonly know as Colin! As you can imagine, this caused great amusement amongst the family, staff and guests as the usually serene and quiet Tandala rushed around after Colin with her tail up, bleating uncontrollably. She followed him everywhere, sticking her head through windows and doors, refusing to have anything to do with anyone else at all. It really was true love! So, our hopes of Tandala finding a handsome wild kudu boyfriend have been dashed, however, she has shown that her taste in men isn’t half bad!