As the former executive editor of National Geographic Magazine, I've had occasion to travel the world under all conditions.
Seldom have I met a guide with the professionalism and engaging personality of Jombi Ole Kivuyo.
When I was recently assigned to write an important on the Serengeti for the magazine, I was fortunate enough to travel the length and breadth of that remarkable region with an even more remarkable guide--Jombi--who proved himself the ideal host. He was patient, enthusiastic, and very knowledgeable about the Serengeti's natural history and its rich indigenous cultures.
Although we were working under tight deadlines and difficult circumstances, Jombi made my work in Tanzania seem more like a holiday. He was especially helpful in giving me the proper introductions to the Maasai elders, who gave rare insight into their rich history and cultural traditions. Jombi helped to make the experience a memorable and rewarding one for me--that's why I will call him first when I visit the Serengeti again. I hope it's soon.
Executive Editor, National Geographic Magazine (retired)
Contributing Editor, Smithsonian Magazine
Author, Explorers House: National Geographic and the World It Made (Penguin)
