Ros & Simon Bowes’ 50th Anniversary Trip To Kenya

Their love story began in Africa. Now, five decades later, Simon and Ros returned to the place where it all started to celebrate their golden anniversary.

It was 1974 when Ros first visited Simon in Kenya, where he worked in the tea industry. It was amidst the stunning landscapes that he asked her to marry him. This past January, they once again chose Kenya for their latest trip with Somak, revisiting the country that holds a special place in their hearts.

The anniversary journey

Their romantic 2025 journey began with a flight to Nairobi, where they settled into the Muthaiga Country Club—a place Simon has been a member of for many years. “Lord Delamere suggested I join, which I did exactly 50 years ago,” Simon explained. “Its reputation for being the best club in Africa is correct, and on leaving Kenya in 1978, I took out life membership, which has served me so well over the years.” He added that the club is steeped in so much history, some of it wild, and today still retains the charm and elegance of years gone by.

After a few days, their trusted driver, Charles, collected them for the drive to Sweetwaters Serena Camp Camp in Laikipia. They stayed in a tent overlooking a watering hole, waking up to breathtaking views of Mount Kenya and spending their days exploring the famous rhino sanctuary.

Sunrise over Mount Kenya

The next stop on their tailor-made tour was Elementeita Serena Camp. For Ros, this was a particularly special part of the trip. She was able to revisit the homestead where she had worked as a nurse to Lord Delamere, and the couple enjoyed having the conservancy almost to themselves. They then flew to Diani for a relaxing stay at the Pinewood Beach Resort.

While every part of their trip was special, their favourite moments were revisiting Elementeita and watching the sun rise over Mount Kenya, a view they had enjoyed 50 years ago. “From our tent in Sweetwaters, there is a view over the waterhole up to Mount Kenya which is normally shrouded in cloud/haze and therefore invisible during the day. The best time to see it is as dawn is breaking but you have to be quick because once the sun comes up the mountain disappears,” explained Simon. “It is an absolute thrill to be up early with a cup of tea waiting for the mountain to emerge we managed to get our photos of it between 6.15am and 6.30am.”

Long association with Somak Luxury Travel

The Bowes’ connection to Somak began in 1974 when Ros, then Simon’s girlfriend, flew out to Kenya to join him. She bought her ticket directly from the Somak office on Oxford Street. From then on, all their friends who came to visit also booked through Somak.

 

In those early days, Simon and Ros would take their visitors on safari by car from Mombasa to Tsavo. They’d drive along the dusty murram roads, staying at Kilaguni Lodge and the self-catering bandas at Ngulia, always making sure to visit Mzima Springs. Simon has fond memories of those trips, and shared photos of them from their mid-twenties. “The one by the sea shows Ros and me walking along Nyali Beach,” he recalls. “The other is of us at Mzima Springs in Tsavo West.”

Over the decades, they have returned to Kenya many times with Somak. “Even when they tried other travel agents in the 80s and 90s, they often discovered those agents were themselves using Somak. For Simon and Ros, their journeys with Somak have always been about one place – Kenya: the country where their story together really began. “Africa is in our blood and we consider Kenya as our second home,” they said.

Other journeys

The couple have travelled in many parts of Africa, from Malawi where they first met, Namibia where they ventured on a self-drive road trip with friends, visits to the Selous and Ras Kautani in Tanzania, South Africa’s Garden Route, Cape Town, Johannesburg and historic battlefields, to Zambia to see the Victoria Falls. In addition to travel for pleasure, Simon also visited Uganda, Zimbabwe and Mozambique on business.

It was while Ros was visiting Simon in Kenya that they became engaged which is why Kenya will always have a special space in their hearts. In 2024, they took their son, daughter-in-law and grandchildren to Kenya for the first time, going on safari in Samburu. However, they returned to Somak for their latest trip because, as Simon explained, “The company has their own people on the ground, knows Kenya intimately, and offers a reliable and reasonably priced service.”

In 2023 Somak arranged a safari in Tsavo East at Satao Camp, which they accessed by train from Nairobi followed by six nights at Hemingways in Watamu. A similar trip is being planned for 2026.

Escape into the wilds

Over the years, Simon and Ros have had many significant animal sightings. A highlight from their 2023 trip was finding three cheetahs just outside their camp in Tsavo. Simon noted, “The red earth which is so synonymous with Tsavo is a striking background for these cats.” He shared a photograph as proof.

The couple loves Satao Camp. “With a dedicated Somak vehicle and driver, we can escape into the wilds and be on our own,” Simon said. He added that they’re not fans of camps that are either too expensive or attract the wrong type of guest. “We do not consider ourselves as tourists,” he explained. “We prefer the old Africa.”

Both Simon and Ros love elephants. Simon recalls seeing his first elephant in the wild back in 1971. “It was on my first trip up to Tsavo from Mombasa,” he recounted. “I had been fascinated by elephants as a small boy and indeed still have a collection of carved wooden ones that I was given before I even went to school.”

Changes in Kenya

Simon and Ros say they have seen many changes in Kenya since they left in 1978. The biggest change has been the rise in population, which has grown from around 12 million to nearly 60 million today. Despite these changes, they believe a discerning traveller can still get off the beaten track and find a sense of true wilderness. While they feel fortunate to have their treasured membership at the Muthaiga Club there are a number of good hotels to be found in Nairobi.

“Camps such as Satao, with its brilliant waterhole, suit us well, as does Hemingways in Watamu,” Simon explained. He concluded that despite all the changes, Kenya still has so much to offer.

Advice to those visiting Kenya for the first time

Simon has simple advice for those embarking on their first trip to Kenya. “Don’t try to do too much on your first visit,” he advises. Instead of spending just a couple of nights in a series of camps with lots of travel in between, he suggests picking a single safari destination where you can truly relax and immerse yourself in the magnificent scenery while searching for wildlife.

He is a firm believer in the benefits of a private safari vehicle. “Have your own vehicle and driver and avoid all those highly populated tourist spots,” he said. He also suggests doing a little homework before you go. “Watch the film ‘Out of Africa’ and then go and visit Karen Blixen’s house on the outskirts of Nairobi. It’s a must.”

He notes that the coast has changed quite a bit since he and Ros lived there in the 1970s. “Sadly, Mombasa is no longer the sleepy town it once was, and the Nyali beach hotels are not what they were,” he explained. So, for some well-deserved rest and relaxation by the sea, he recommends heading to either Diani on the south coast or Watamu on the north.