Ker & Downey

The Heritage 

Ker & Downey “K&D” was conceived by Donald Ker and Syd Downey who met by chance as soldiers in Ethiopia in 1941. Over a drink on the verandah of the Imperial Hotel, Addis Ababa the two big game hunters from Kenya resolved to establish:

‘the best safari company the world has ever known’. 

Newly discharged from the army, Donald and Syd carried out their first safari in January 1946 - a camp in the Maasai Mara for the film production of The Macomber Affair, based on the Ernest Hemingway book. As the first of K&D’s film safaris, it was the beginning of a long love affair with Hollywood, that continues to this day.

Through the 60s and 70s K&D spread its wings across uncharted corners of sub-Saharan Africa including Botswana, Congo, Ethiopia and Sudan. The official banning of hunting in Kenya in 1977 did little to slow the momentum of K&D’s growth, the company had instead transformed into Africa’s leading provider of customised mobile photographic safaris.

Associates of K&D 

Today Ker & Downey is celebrated as the longest-existing safari outfitter in the world. As associates of K&D, Everwild Africa has access to a wealth of knowledge built on 70 years of experience in the industry. K&D designs its own tents, modifies trucks and safari vehicles and handles the logistics in order to provide the ultimate safari experiences. Under the umbrella of K&D, Everwild guarantees exceptional mobile camping equipment and access to exclusive conservation areas.