Tropical Ice Safaris

IAIN ALLAN: The Managing Director and founder of Tropical Ice, Iain has lived in Kenya since he was 8 years old. Always drawn to the African bush, he developed an early love for rock climbing and mountaineering, which he describes as an 'obsession' during his formative years. He has consequently pioneered many new routes on Mount Kenya and Kilimanjaro and has participated in frequent climbing expeditions to the Himalayas, Andes and North America. His current 'Playground' is the American Southwest, where he has climbed many of the formidable rock towers and pinnacles. A Fellow of The Royal Geographical Society, Iain has written two books, entitled 'Guide to Mount Kenya & Kilimanjaro' and 'Snowcaps on the Equator.' Iain is also one of the main, colourful characters in Rick Ridgeway's acclaimed book 'The Shadow of Kilimanjaro', which describes his 22-day walk with Iain from the summit of Kilimanjaro, across the wilds of Tsavo, to the beaches of the Indian Ocean 300 miles away.

In 1979, shortly after starting Tropical Ice, Iain shifted his focus away from mountaineering and towards the endless bush country of Kenya's largest, unspoilt wilderness-Tsavo, home to the largest concentration of elephants in Africa! He is now a leading authority on this area, with a vast knowledge of the region's animal behavior patterns and conservation 'ups and downs'. He has been successfully operating foot safaris along the Tsavo and Galana Rivers for 25 years.

In 2000, Iain was made an Honorary Warden by the Kenya Wildlife Service

He is married with three children and lives in the Nairobi suburb of Karen.

"I've traveled the world with more than a few adventure companies and Tropical Ice is absolutely the best. The guides are superb, knowledgeable, funny and wise to the magic of Africa." Christina Pochmursky Toronto, Canada.

ALEX FIKSMAN: A native of the ex-Soviet Union, Alex immigrated to the United States at a young age. He lived in New York City, where he later taught chemistry for nearly ten years. Throughout his youth Alex sought the outdoors "as a prisoner seeks freedom". Whether fishing with his father in Ukraine, hiking in the Pyrenees, or the Adirondacks of New York; his thirst for the wild moulded him into a serious outdoorsman.

Alex moved to Kenya in 1998, expecting to stay for only two years, but the country made quite an impact on him.

"I feel the freedom here that I have never felt before, the freedom to camp in the open savanna, to decide what path to take in my walk through the bush. As trivial as these freedoms may sound, few places in the world offer them in the same magnitude as Kenya".

Alex's passion for the hills and mountains keeps him in constant search for the next adventure in Kenya and East Africa. Alex is a member of the American Alpine Club, for which he has contributed articles in their feature on Kenya's vibrant adventure rock climbing scene. His enthusiasm for the bush is addictive, and his energy moves people to the heights of their ability. A recent client whom Alex guided up Kilimanjaro wrote:

"You took us through the very extreme of high and low, hot and cold; if we were made of metal we should be tempered by now. You and all of your staff made this a wonderful trip that will shine in our memories and our slides for years and years".

JULIUS ODHIAMBO: One of Kenya's top ornithologists and naturalists, Julius comes from a family of guides. His father had been a safari guide for over 30 years, as had his elder brother. Julius absorbed their experiences and environmental dedication to develop a rich guiding style that inspires all visitors. His infectious curiosity of the flora and fauna, coupled with his encyclopedic knowledge of his surroundings brings to life every scene that flashes before your eyes on safari in Kenya.

".......there was not an insect, a bird or a scrub that Julius couldn't tell you a story about. What to most of us seemed like ordinary African landscape, he turned into an eye-opening experience. I have been to Africa three times before, but never have I met such an enthusiastic naturalist as Julius".

Drawing on personal experiences, Julius has an ability to make African, and particularly Kenyan cultures undersandable from a Western perspective. When he's not guiding safaris, Julius volunteers his time with the Natural History Museum as well as the Birding Club. He is an accomplished member of Kenya's Professional Guide Association.