As many of you will know, it was my father Tony who had the vision and dream of setting up Safaris Unlimited in his youth.
Earlier this year we celebrated the publication of his new book, a wonderful memoir entitled: Stepping Out – The Life and Times of the Mara Cowboy.
Stepping Out captures the amazing experiences of my father, Tony Church, who pioneered horse riding safaris in Kenya. As with many innovative and ground-breaking ideas, he had been met with much criticism that these safaris would be much too dangerous. However, looking back now, how right he was to persist with such determination and tenacity.
The book follows Tony’s life chronologically, starting off with recollections of his youth where he grew up on the slopes of Mt Kenya. My father recalls how he learned to fish for trout with his missionary father, my grandfather, and goes on to reflect on his time at boarding school. Of course, the memoir also details Tony’s many hours spent riding his horse among herds of game animals on the Athi Plains. All these memories and experiences as a child and young adult would go on to shape his future.
Indeed, it was my father’s experience of growing up in the bush as a child and riding among game, combined with his love of Kenya that led him to start his own safari company. Stepping Out highlights how Tony was keen to share his insider knowledge with others and for them to experience the beauty of this wonderful country.
My father was hooked on the concept of riding safaris, particularly those where you slept under canvas in mobile camps, away from the much-frequented routes that other safari providers regularly used. This was and is, he believed, the best way to experience the timelessness of this vast continent.
For those of you interested in reading more about my father’s life and experiences in Kenya, Stepping Out is a wonderful book filled with many great adventures: from recollections of saving a client from a crocodile’s mouth to the moment when Tony’s horse was attacked by lions.
Stepping Out also explores the ups and downs of operating a business, with details recorded about how Tony had to hustle for overseas clients, negotiate with local Maasai for passageway for his horses, set up good conservation practices, and deal with corrupt businessmen and more.
Overall, the book is a tribute to the beauty of Kenya – the land, its people and animals – told by someone who could never live anywhere else.
If you would like to read the book, you can purchase it by clicking here.
You can also find out more about Tony’s story on our website by clicking here.