The Francombe Family
Andrew Francombe was brought up with the wild African bush as his playground. After school he spent a year in Argentina riding polo ponies as a gaucho and guiding tourists on horseback in Patagonia. He then ran a 6 million acre game reserve in Mozambique with an old school friend who later become his best man. On returning to Kenya he attained his pilots license. Andrew works closely with his parents at Ol Malo, he is a natural bushman with an affinity for wide-open spaces and what they have to offer. As an experienced bush pilot he is often called upon to help with game counts and animal operations for Kenya Wildlife Service, Save the Elephants and International Rhino Foundation. He has flown all over Kenya, Mali and Garamba National Park in the DRC. His pride and joy is his Cessna 185.
Chyulu Francombe was born in Kenya but grew up in Garamba National Park in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), one of the most remote and spectacular areas in Africa. Her parents battled with wildlife conservation in war torn Congo for 24 years giving her a unique upbringing and appreciation for nature. Her family moved back to Kenya in 1997. Chyulu is an accomplished horse rider competing regularly and has represented Kenya in show jumping. She now runs the horses at Ol Malo, guides and hosts, amongst numerous other responsibilities.
Andrew and Chyulu met in the DRC when Andrew came to help Chyulu’s parents with aerial park surveys and anti poaching. They married at Ol Malo in 2011 and are now raising the third generation on the ranch.
“The pastoralists of the North can teach us an enormous amount. They are incredible family people; they have structure; wherever you look, look at us – us humans, our families, our families are the most important things in our life. This is our life, its everything we live for.”
