Upon her return to East Africa, Tanya Carr-Hartley worked in various creative photographic roles, including as a photographer for Reuters Nairobi, a consultant photographer at the French cultural centre and cataloguing artwork at Gallery Watatu. Her artwork has been exhibited at various galleries in Nairobi. Today, Tanya’s creativity is channelled into the Carr-Hartley Kenya safari businesses, whether it’s designing the interiors and outdoor spaces of their lodges and camps or coming up with innovative experiences for guests.
Tanya’s journey into the world of safari tourism began when she left school and started working at Mfangano Island Lodge in the far west of Kenya on the edge of Lake Victoria. A young man called Mikey Carr-Hartley happened to be working there as the manager at the same time, and the rest, as they say, is history. Tanya became Tanya Carr-Hartley in 2001 on Loldia Farm, standing on the shores of Lake Naivasha in the pouring rain (a true African blessing) underneath a fig tree.
‘It’s an office with a difference. There’s no predictability, there’s no routine, everyday is different, and I thrive off that.’
After travelling and working together in the luxury safari industry, their very own Carr-Harltey safari business was born out of Tanya and Mikey’s shared passion for Kenya’s wild places. They named it ‘Specialised Safaris’. Tanya is incredibly hands-on in all aspects of the Carr-Hartley safaris operation alongside her husband, leading guests on adventures and sharing her unique perspective on the country she has grown up in. Although, she admits, she probably takes on more of the logistical side of things than her husband.
From designing healthy and delicious menus inspired by the fresh produce grown in Kenya, to curating bespoke itineraries for families coming on safari, Tanya’s creativity weaves its way through all aspects of Specialised Safaris.
Their Carr-Hartley safaris are family orientated to the very core, and Tanya has accompanied guests on safaris throughout Kenya and beyond since the very beginning. From babies to toddlers to teenagers, Tanya’s three children at never more at home than in the bush. Even now that they are older and further from home, they love the chance to join guests on safari alongside their parents. Guiding comes naturally to the three youngest Carr-Hartleys, and each one offers a unique perspective to the guest experience.
For Tanya, meeting the different groups they take on safari is the highlight of her diverse role. She loves getting to know people from all over the world who offer fresh perspectives on life. For Tanya and Mikey, leading guests on safari means looking after them as if they were friends. And ultimately, most guests do leave as friends after spending such consolidated time together. Equally, for Specialised’s guests, they get an insider’s view of Kenya that they wouldn’t find anywhere else. It’s an intrinsic way of getting to know a country and offers so much to both parties.
Tanya’s love of adventure travel has stayed with her throughout her life and is an aspect of Specialised Safaris for which she is eternally grateful. It takes her to places she wouldn’t normally go. Exploring less accessible destinations and seeing even more of Africa remain on her bucket list.
Together with her husband, Tanya shares an ongoing drive to embed sustainability in the Carr-Hartley safaris business and make a difference in the lives of communities they work alongside. Meeting new people constantly opens new avenues and creates opportunities for relationship building that can have a real impact.