FAMILY HISTORY

And So it Began - The Roberts Family History: Caro’s grandparents, David and Betty Roberts, settled in Kenya in the 1940s and spent most of their lives on the wild shores of Lake Baringo, where they raised their six children. As pioneers of safaris in Northern Kenya, David was frequently called upon by Government House to organize and lead safaris for dignitaries, including escorting Prince Philip to Lake Turkana in 1963.Caro Withey's (née Roberts) family has been integral to the safari industry in Kenya since 1963. They have specialized in operating and guiding mobile safaris, developing luxury lodges throughout Kenya, and significantly contributing to wildlife conservation efforts.

Mobile Expeditions was founded by Caro's father, Willie Roberts, who was renowned across Kenya and beyond as a master of the original luxury mobile safari. Willie, who felt most at home in the wilderness, spent his life living in a tent adorned with Afghan carpets, white linens, and unique collections of stones, seedpods, and driftwood gathered from around Kenya. Caro, along with her husband Ross Withey and their two sons, Charlie and Daniel, have carried forward this tradition. They transformed Willie’s luxury mobile camp into a beautiful boutique permanent camp now known as Roca River Camp, located in the Masai Mara Reserve on the Mara River. This well-situated camp is a popular destination, embodying Willie’s legacy in everything they do at Mobile Expeditions. In addition to running Roca River Camp and offering tailor-made safaris, Caro and Ross also own and manage Samatian Island, a private island retreat on Lake Baringo where Charlie and Daniel grew up.

Willie: Willie Roberts was a visionary and one of the most influential figures in wildlife conservation in Kenya. He established the first Wildlife Conservancy on tribal trust land in the Maasai Mara, essentially initiating the ‘conservancy movement’ that protected vast areas from being converted into farmland. Willie’s efforts laid down a successful model for community conservancies in Kenya, serving as an inspiration for others to follow.

A passionate and unconventional Kenyan conservationist, Willie had a profound impact on wildlife conservation in Kenya despite having no formal qualifications. Growing up around Lake Baringo, he spent most of his life in the Masai Mara, where he developed a deep commitment to protecting wildlife and supporting local communities.

In the early 1980s, Willie began as a wheat farmer in the Masai Mara area but soon recognized the harm agriculture posed to the delicate ecosystem. Embracing conservation, he left farming and took a leading role in protecting wildlife, even funding anti-poaching rangers. His work often placed him at odds with influential figures involved in illegal wildlife exploitation, facing threats yet he remained undeterred.

Willie’s friendship with Paramount Chief Ole Ntutu was instrumental. Together, they reclaimed farmland for conservation, establishing the Mara Safari Club. This partnership was pivotal, reversing wildlife area loss and demonstrating how land could be preserved for ecotourism rather than agriculture.

Willie went on to found the Ol Choro Oiroua Wildlife Management Association in 1992, Kenya’s first community-led conservation group, allowing local landowners to benefit directly from tourism revenue. After winning a landmark court case, this model inspired other Kenyan conservancies, fundamentally reshaping wildlife management by empowering local communities.

Later, Willie led the Mara Conservancy, managing the Mara Triangle section of the Masai Mara. Under his leadership, poaching drastically decreased, infrastructure improved, and tourism flourished. His management model became a beacon of successful conservation in Africa.

Willie’s legacy endures in the over 170 community conservancies across Kenya, which uphold the principles he pioneered. His work showed that local stewardship, transparency, and a deep-rooted commitment to conservation could make a lasting difference in preserving Kenya’s natural heritage.

Willie constructed three lodges during his lifetime, starting with his first when he was just nineteen, relying solely on his vision, experience, and exceptional sense of style—without any architectural help.

He later built Sirikoi Lodge with his wife, Sue, which has gained recognition as one of Kenya’s most beautiful lodges and has recently received numerous prestigious awards, reflecting Willie’s talent for creating luxury in the wild.