Cottar's Safaris Featured in BBC Wildlife Magazine: Shining a Spotlight on Raptor Conservation in the Maasai Mara

We're thrilled to share that Cottar's Safaris and our conservation partners at the Kenya Bird of Prey Trust (KBoPT) have been featured in BBC Wildlife Magazine - one of the world's most respected natural history publications.

Writer and naturalist Mike Unwin travelled to our Olderkesi Conservancy to experience first-hand the groundbreaking work being done to protect Kenya's raptors, and the result is a stunning piece of journalism that Cottar's Safaris is incredibly proud to have been part of.

About the Feature

Published in December 2025, the BBC Wildlife piece takes readers deep into the Maasai Mara on the trail of eagles, vultures, and some of Africa's most threatened birds of prey. Mike spent a week based at Cottar's Safaris, venturing out daily with our head guide Doug Nagi and the KBOPT's field team - visiting monitored nests, witnessing vultures at a kill, and hearing the stories of the remarkable people working to turn the tide for raptors across Kenya.

The feature documents the alarming reality that 89% of Kenya's raptor species have declined by at least 75% over the past 40 years - and recognises the scientists, community members, and conservation partners who are doing something about it. Cottar's Safaris is proud to be at the centre of that story.

Cottar's Safaris' Partnership with the Kenya Bird of Prey Trust

Cottar's Safaris has partnered with the KBoPT to offer guests an exclusive half-day immersive raptor experience, year-round. The experience provides access to the Trust's ongoing field work - visiting monitored nests and witnessing remarkable raptor behaviour alongside the scientists themselves - with a portion of the safari price going directly to fund KBOPT's projects.

This is conservation tourism as it should be: meaningful, expert-led, and directly accountable.

Come and See It For Yourself

The Maasai Mara is one of the great Wonders of the Natural World - home to nearly 500 bird species and almost 90 mammal species, from elephants and rhinos to leopards, lions, and giraffes, all within a reserve covering just 0.01% of Africa's landmass.

Guests staying at our award-winning Cottar's Safaris 1920s Camp can join the raptor experience alongside a full programme of Impact Experiences - including the Maasai Warrior School, stargazing, foraging walks, and wildlife drives. It's a safari experience that goes far beyond the Big Five.

Cottar's Safaris is enormously grateful to Mike Unwin and the team at BBC Wildlife Magazine for telling this story so beautifully - and proud to be doing our part to ensure the skies above the Maasai Mara stay full of wings.

Interested in the Cottar's Safaris Raptor Experience? Get in touch with our team to start planning your visit. bookings@cottarsafaris.com