Traveller's Tales: I take my dad on safari

Mick Grewcock recently travelled with Far and Wild to Kenya. Below he shares how he found an innovative way to fulfil a long-standing promise to his father - make sure you watch his wonderful and emotive video.

"I was travelling abroad when my dad unexpectedly died. The regret has never left me - and no longer could I keep a promise I once made to him.

Thirty years earlier I had travelled alone to Africa.

Behind me I left family devastation. My parents were horrified that I left a good job, sold my car, took what little money I had and flew to Kenya. It was a betrayal of my upbringing.

I was away for six months and our only link was air mail, letters always written by my dad.

And from these letters I discovered something I had not known or expected. Dad, deep down, was a little envious. Dad, I realised as I read each weekly letter, he too ached to see the wild places and wildlife of Africa.

Meanwhile, I fell in love with the great plains of East Africa, especially the vast savannah of Masai Mara National Reserve in western Kenya.

Deep in the British winter I arrived home, a trip of a lifetime behind me. All was forgiven. I was safe, tanned, and ecstatic. One day, one day I said to dad, I will take you to Kenya. I will take you on safari. One day.

But that day didn’t arrive as hoped.

I moved home last year, the collected and boxed memories of sixty years going up into the loft. Weeks later I knocked over one of the boxes and out spilled photographs and all dad’s letters written to me over forty years ago.

And at that moment I realised that I could still take my dad on safari."

If you'd like to plan a Kenya family holiday, contact our team of experts on 01768 603 715 and they'll happily help.