FAMILY HISTORY

Caro Withey's (née Roberts) family has been integral to the safari industry in Kenya since 1963. They have specialized in operating and guiding mobile safaris, developing luxury lodges throughout Kenya, and significantly contributing to wildlife conservation efforts.

Mobile Expeditions was founded by Caro's father, Willie Roberts, who was renowned across Kenya and beyond as a master of the original luxury mobile safari. Willie, who felt most at home in the wilderness, spent his life living in a tent adorned with Afghan carpets, white linens, and unique collections of stones, seedpods, and driftwood gathered from around Kenya. Caro, along with her husband Ross Withey and their two sons, Charlie and Daniel, have carried forward this tradition. They transformed Willie’s luxury mobile camp into a beautiful boutique permanent camp now known as Roca River Camp, located in the Masai Mara Reserve on the Mara River. This well-situated camp is a popular destination, embodying Willie’s legacy in everything they do at Mobile Expeditions. In addition to running Roca River Camp and offering tailor-made safaris, Caro and Ross also own and manage Samatian Island, a private island retreat on Lake Baringo where Charlie and Daniel grew up.

Willie: Willie Roberts was a visionary and one of the most influential figures in wildlife conservation in Kenya. He established the first Wildlife Conservancy on tribal trust land in the Maasai Mara, essentially initiating the ‘conservancy movement’ that protected vast areas from being converted into farmland. Willie’s efforts laid down a successful model for community conservancies in Kenya, serving as an inspiration for others to follow.

Willie constructed three lodges during his lifetime, starting with his first when he was just nineteen, relying solely on his vision, experience, and exceptional sense of style—without any architectural help.

He later built Sirikoi Lodge with his wife, Sue, which has gained recognition as one of Kenya’s most beautiful lodges and has recently received numerous prestigious awards, reflecting Willie’s talent for creating luxury in the wild.

And So it Began - The Roberts Family History: Caro’s grandparents, David and Betty Roberts, settled in Kenya in the 1940s and spent most of their lives on the wild shores of Lake Baringo, where they raised their six children. As pioneers of safaris in Northern Kenya, David was frequently called upon by Government House to organize and lead safaris for dignitaries, including escorting Prince Philip to Lake Turkana in 1963.