Guide Profile: Ninian Lowis

Ninian’s zeal and love for Africa is contagious and departing guests often remark on his boundless energy and enthusiasm. Ninian’s family has been in Kenya since the 1920s. He has lived here all his life. The son of Robert Lowis, one of East Africa’s most respected guides, and Yasuyo Lowis, a Japanese writer, he spent much of his boyhood in wild and remote areas. His upbringing gave him a lifelong interest in wildlife, as well as an encyclopedic knowledge of the bush.

After gaining an honours degree in environmental biology at Oxford Brookes University, Ninian returned to Africa. Running safaris enabled him to be in the wilderness that he loves so much. As well as operating adventure and luxury safaris in Kenya and Tanzania, he has led boat trips up the Omo River in southern Ethiopia, taken groups to the summit of Mt Kilimanjaro, tracked gorillas in the mountains of Rwanda and Uganda, and guided guests in numerous southern African countries. His work with Dr Meave Leakey instilled a lasting interest in paleoanthropology and human evolution. After 18 years in the safari business, ten of which were spent as a senior partner and Director of Ker & Downey Safaris, Ninian founded Lowis & Leakey with his wife, and continues to pursue his ambition to be the best safari operator on the continent.