From Ena’s Little Black Book: Zack Lepaso, the safari guide who made our days at andBeyond Kichwa Tembo personal, and why you should ask for him by name.
You couldn’t help but like Zack from the moment you met him. It was the smile. The infectious enthusiasm. He was endlessly knowledgeable, genuinely funny, and somehow seemed just as excited about every sighting as we were.
My mom had dreamed of going on safari for years. Zack quickly renamed her “Mama Safari.” She loved it, and for the rest of the trip, that was simply her name.
Zack paid attention. He remembered what each of us wanted to see and made it his mission to find it. We watched hippos in the Mara River, cheetahs perched on termite mounds and lions so completely unbothered by our presence that one decided the shade beneath our Land Cruiser was the perfect place for a nap. We were delighted. Zack had to move the car—fast.
One evening, as the park was closing and the light was disappearing, Zack found something we had desperately hoped to see: an incredibly rare black rhino. Better yet, it was a mother running with her baby.
But somewhere between the lions, cheetahs and rhinos were hours spent together—talking, laughing, asking endless questions and learning to notice things we might otherwise have driven straight past.
That was Zack’s gift. He made the Mara feel personal.
By the end of our safari, Zack wasn’t simply our guide. He had become our friend.
If you are ever at &Beyond Kichwa Tembo, ask for Zack. You won’t be disappointed.
You can follow Zack’s adventures in the Mara on Instagram at @zack_lepaso.
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