Sasaab Managers

Ali and Tony have been managing Sasaab since October 2007. They have been working in the Kenyan tourism industry for the last three years.

Tony was born in Nigeria, spending the majority of his childhood travelling around Africa with his parents, whereas Ali was born and educated in Kenya. Both went to university in UK and then joined the British Army.

They met each other whilst serving in the British Army, where Tony served 16 years in the Infantry and Ali served 8 years as a physiotherapist in the Royal Army Medical Corps.

They had both always wished to return to Africa, and three years ago an opportunity arose for them to return to Kenya, with their daughter Savanna.

Tony is a Bronze member of the Kenya Professional Safari Guides Association (KPSGA), and a very keen photographer. Ali is an organisational genius and has a real culinary talent. She is also a trained pilates instructor.

Savanna joins them at Sasaab for school holidays and happily makes friends with any children staying in the lodge, eager to pass on her developing knowledge of the local flora and fauna.

With a deep love for the country and its people they will go to every length to ensure that your holiday is a very special one!

The Directors

Sasaab is part of the Tamimi portfolio. The three directors of Tamimi are Mikey and Tanya Carr-Hartley, and Michiel Hoogerwerf.

The company Tamimi grew out of a passion to share the magic of Africa as an exquisite region with those who are looking for a true African experience. Our primary goal is to provide exclusive, personalised, and unique tourism that upholds sustainable environmental practices. We are based in Nairobi, and we aim to entice adventurous, interested, ecologically and community-minded traveller to join us.

As an eco tourism adventure travel company, Tamimi is committed to providing highly memorable safaris that are fun and educational and also to nurturing the environment and offering economic opportunities to the rural people in Kenya. In essence, an odyssey into Africa.

We operate in some of Kenya's prime regions for wildlife and culture. The Tamimi portfolio currently includes the luxury eco lodge Sasaab in Westgate, Samburu; and Sala's Camp , the exclusive seasonal tented camp in the Maasai Mara. Our aim is to expand to other parts of Kenya to complement our circuit.

Mikey and Tanya Carr-Hartley ~ Kenyan citizens and have been working together for the last thirteen years. Mikey schooled in Kenya, South Africa and England and has over seventeen years experience in managing private lodges and camps in East Africa, and over fourteen years of designing and building eco-tourism ventures.

Mikey Carr-Hartley grew up in the "safari world", his great grandfather came to Kenya in 1896, while his grandfather Tom or "Carr" as he was known, was born in Kenya in 1910. Since 1910 the Carr-Hartley family has been involved in wildlife, game capture, translocation and pioneering the original Hemingway type luxury safari. They were also heavily involved in filming, to name a few King Solomon's Mines, Mugambo, The Jungle Boy, Tarzan, Snows of Mount Kilimanjaro and many others.

Tanya completed her studies with a degree in Fine Art & English in England and explored her creative nature through photography, art and community crafts. Together they successfully managed private houses, lodges and camps, and have established and managed three businesses, including a luxury safari mobile operation.

Michiel Hoogerwerf was born in Holland. Michiel has many diverse business interests including the flower industry and within tourism sector. He established the Strix Aluco Foundation - a foundation that supports livelihood, educational and wildlife protection initiatives in Africa, Russia and South America. Within Kenya the foundation has supported Rhino Ark to build and maintain the Aberdare Conservation Area Fence, and training for the Mara Rhino Conservation Team.

Together with our core values of creativity, individuality, and integrity, Tamimi brings a unique combination of skills based on ecotourism, business development, construction and adventure.