Liz & Stefano Cheli – Owners Born of Italian parents, Stefano grew up in Kenya, spending his early days on a coffee farm in Thika, and later on mixed farms in the Rift Valley.  His father was the General Manager for a group of farms and lodges owned by an Italian Count, which included Loisaba Ranch and Oasis Lodge at Lake Turkana – Stefano’s favourites. Stefano completed secondary schooling in Italy, completed his National Service on the ski slopes of the Dolomites, and Fiumicino Airport in Rome, before returning to Kenya in 1980 as General Manger of Loisaba Ranch.  Before starting Cheli & Peacock with Liz, Stefano spent a year as a Professional Hunter in Tanzania. Liz had English parents, but was born in Venezuela and grew up in Nairobi.  She completed secondary schooling in Kent, and went to Agricultural College in Yorkshire, England, before returning to Kenya in 1979 to work as Administrator on a 60,000acre ranch in Laikipia.  Before starting Cheli & Peacock with Stefano, Liz spent a year as a freelance Professional Guide on camping safaris throughout Kenya. Liz and Stefano have two sons, Joss and Sebastian. Stephen & Tania Hitchins - Investors More recent converts to the joys and romance of Kenya and its wildlife  Investors in Elsa’s Kopje, Tortilis, Joy’s Camp and Kitich Camp. Natives of Gloucestershire in the United Kingdom, with son Harry & daughter Chloe.  Involved in residential and commercial development in the West of England and South Wales Founders of the Desert Springs Resort & Golf Club in Almeria in South East Spain See  Spain Property       www.desertsprings.co.uk        www.hitchins.co.uk Patrick Reynolds - Manager In his late 40s Patrick is well known in the safari world, as one of Africa’s leading walking guides.  Most of his career has been in Tsavo East (Tiva), the Masai Mara, and in the early days with Robin Pope and Norman Carr in the South Luangwa Valley. Patrick is very excited about walking in the Mathews Forest, one of the most beautiful walking areas in Kenya.  He has already built up a good library of reference books including the indigenous orchids and butterflies. GUIDES Patrick Reynolds In his late 40s Patrick is well known in the safari world, as one of Africa’s leading walking guides.  Most of his career has been in Tsavo East (Tiva), the Masai Mara, and in the early days with Robin Pope and Norman Carr in the South Luangwa Valley. Lepekin Lepekin is a Samburu by tribe, and has worked at Kitich Camp for over ten years. Lepekin never went to school, he is now approximately thirty-five years old and understands basic English. He was born in Kitich, so the forest and bush of the Matthew’s Range have been his home for his whole life. Lesemana Lesemana is the back tracker, who is responsible for carrying all the water, glasses and small equipment for guests on the trail. He is very calm under pressure, so is perfectly positioned at the back of the group. He knows the Mathews Mountain Range very well, and is popular with guests due to his quiet and gentle disposition. Lebite Lebite is from the Ndorobo tribe. He was born in a cave, which still exists, up in the mountains not far from Kitich camp. The first time Lebite saw someone who did not belong to his family was at the age of 20. Lebite later had to decide if he would become the best poacher of the region, or one of the best rangers of KWS. He opted for the latter, and continued to work for the KWS until his retirement last year. He is approximately 60 years old, but has “petrol inside for another sixty”.