Jack Bonham

As a fourth-generation Kenyan, Jack Bonham's roots are intertwined with a legacy of leading the front of safaris. His great-grandfather, a pioneering figure, played a crucial role in guiding and shaping the paths that many safaris follow today. Jack's connection to this heritage is palpable, influencing his profound understanding of the natural world.

In 2020, his dedication to conservation earned him the prestigious honorary wardenship from the Kenya Wildlife Service, making him one of the youngest Kenyans ever to receive this honor.

Matthew Seth-Smith

Matt is the fourth-generation to be brought up in East Africa. While his pets have been a bit more conventional than Jack’s (with the exception of an occasional rescued hyrax), he spent a large proportion of his childhood on safari learning his bushcraft from his father and grandfather.

After leaving Kenya to finish his studies in the UK, Matt returned with a degree in Agriculture to work on a flower farm in the Kenyan Highlands, until the lure of the bush enticed him into the ‘family business.’

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Jack Bonham's connection to the wild is more than a claim – it's ingrained in his very roots. Born in Kenya to the renowned safari guide and conservationist, Richard Bonham, Jack's childhood unfolded in the stunning Chyulu Hills. With Maasai and Kamba trackers as his teachers. He was immersed in the natural world, sharing his home with a orphan rescues such as spotted hyena and cheetahs to name a few, as well as having wild Elephants and Lions on his door step.

After pursuing education in the U.K. and obtaining a degree in International Business, Jack ventured to the U.S. to become a qualified pilot before returning to Kenya. At just 26, Jack has amassed a wealth of experience in the safari trade, starting as an apprentice guide in the Selous Game Reserve. Guiding photographic trips across Kenya, whether by vehicle, horseback, or onfoot, Jack's expertise shines.

Committed to conservation, he established mobile tented camps outside national parks, aiming to benefit local communities and protect these vital areas. When not on safari, Jack collaborates with the Big Life Foundation, conducting vital wildlife air craft surveillance and anti-poaching patrols.

In 2020, his dedication to conservation earned him the prestigious honorary wardenship from the Kenya Wildlife Service, making him one of the youngest Kenyans ever to receive this honor.

Jack continues the tradition of being at the forefront, ensuring the beauty of Kenya's landscapes is shared and preserved for future generations.

Like Jack, Matt is the fourth-generation to be brought up in East Africa. While his pets have been a bit more conventional than Jack’s (with the exception of an occasional rescued hyrax), he spent a large proportion of his childhood on safari learning his bushcraft from his father and grandfather, both well-known in the safari industry.

Matt is the third generation of Seth-Smiths to work as a professional safari guide in East Africa under the auspices of Ker & Downey Safaris. The Seth-Smiths, who settled in Kenya in the early 1900s, have always had a great affinity with the African bush and its wildlife. Both Matt’s great grandparents as well as his great-great uncle, were avid naturalists with another great-great uncle becoming a fore-runner to David Attenborough with his own TV show in the ‘50s. Matt’s grandfather, Tony, was one of the “great white hunters” before the hunting ban in the 70s when he joined Ker & Downey to conduct photographic safaris.

Matt grew up in Kenya, with summers in Italy - but the highlight was always accompanying his father on safaris all over East Africa. After being schooled in both Kenya and England, Matt returned to Kenya with a degree in Agriculture to work on a flower farm in the Kenyan Highlands, until the lure of the bush enticed him into the ‘family business.’ He also spent two years running a lodge in Laikipia. It is a fitting legacy that many of the safari crew are the sons and grandsons of the men who accompanied his grandfather on his safaris.

As well as his love of being on safari, Matt is a keen fisherman and has never been known to leave home without his fly rod.