On February 11 we received very sad news from the folks at Earth Watch regarding our guide in Kenya, Paul Kabochi.

While tracking dwarf mongooses alone and on foot at the base of Kivuko Rock on Taita Ranch Paul was surprised by a lone elephant and killed instantly.

Paul cherished the Earth and all that it has to offer. He had worked with many international visitors, conservationists, scientists and film crews - all of whom had come to respect Paul’s incredible ability to interpret the signs of nature with his wicked sense of humor and a glint of mischievousness in his eye. Paul’s sudden and tragic death was a terrible loss to all those worldwide who had come to know him over his many years in “the wildlife industry”. Paul truly loved his life, living side by side with his wildlife. His life came full circle having been bitten by the very hand that fed him.

Some of our fondest memories of Africa were of our time with Paul and the rest of the crew in Kenya. Sitting around the dinner table on our first night in camp we sat on pins and needles as Paul told the story of the German tourists’ deadly encounter with elephants as he and the BBC film crew watched in horror. It is a sad twist of irony that his warning to us of the dangers of the elephants would prophesize his own demise.

We won’t remember Paul by the sad news of his departure, but instead by the many early mornings and late nights that his passion for Kenyan wildlife inspired us.

A great man. A sad loss for Kenya.

Kwaheri Rafiki (Goodbye my friend)