Tristan Voorspuy, the founder of luxury safari company Offbeat Safaris in Kenya, has been shot dead in the country.
Police say the former British army officer was killed by pastoral herders yesterday in Laikipia while inspecting some of his lodges.
According to a BBC report, there has been a recent spate of traditional herdsmen invading ranches to take pasture as the region suffers an ongoing drought.
But ranchers say the actions are politically-motivated as the herdsmen want to take over their land.
Offbeat Safaris was set up in 1990, originally offering horseback safaris and then expanding to include three safari camps and lodges.
Voorspuy was born in South Africa but was schooled and raised in Sussex. He joined the army in 1975 and served for six years, including a two-year stint as a ceremonial mounted cavalry officer. According to the company’s website, it was this that inspired a wanderlust and a return to Africa.
After leaving the army he drove a motorbike from London to Cape Town for nine months looking for work.
Having heard of mounted safaris pioneered by Tony Church in Kenya, he applied for a job and spent six years guiding with Tony before launching Offbeat Safaris.
During his career, he lead safaris across many parts of Africa and held a gold level certificate of the Kenya Professional Safari Guide Association. He was also an honorary warden of the Kenya Wildlife Service.
