Jambo,
I have recently returned from and amazing holiday with my family to East Africa.
Our first stop was Nairobi, we visited the Daphne Sheldrick Animal Orphanage, currently home to 13 baby elephant, 2 rhino and 1 zebra. We watched as the keepers bottle fed elephant and learned how they are re-introduced back to the wild. A highlight of the day was handfeeding Giraffe at the Giraffe center.
Early the following morning, we met George, who would be our driver and guide throughout our seven day safari in Kenya. We travelled north to Samburu National Reserve, one of my favourite places in Kenya. Samburu is home to an abundance of wildlife, including a group of rare species known as the "Samburu Special Five": the reticulated giraffe, the long-necked gerenuk, the Somali ostrich, Grevy's zebra, and the Beisa oryx. We spent two nights at the beautiful Samburu Intrepids Tented Camp. On our first evening, while sitting in the restaurant overlooking the river, we had the unbelievable and incredibly rare experience of watching a leopard stroll along the riverbank—a truly unforgettable sight. During our two days in Samburu we were lucky enough to see all five of the “Samburu Special Five”, other highlights included watching a cheetah with her cub and a lionesses with two cubs.
From Samburu we travelled to Naivasha, Lake Naivasha is the highest Lake of the Rift Valley located at an altitude of 1890 meters above sea level. It is home to a population of more than 400 bird’s species and has a large population of Hippos. After a long day of travelling, we enjoyed a relaxing afternoon at the Great Rift Valley Lodge. The kids cooled off with a swim in the resort pool—definitely not the lake!
The next morning, before travelling to Lake Nakuru, we took a boat ride on Lake Naivasha. It was an incredible experience, bringing us remarkably close to hippos in their natural habitat. We then stopped at Crescent Island, where our local guide led us on a walking tour of the wildlife sanctuary. Walking among zebras, giraffes, impalas and wildebeest, to name just a few, was an unforgettable experience and a wonderful contrast to the game drives we had enjoyed over the previous few days.
We arrived at Lake Nakuru Lodge in time for lunch and even had time for a quick swim before heading out on an afternoon game drive around Lake Nakuru. Every game drive is different, you never know what you might see, and there are never any guarantees. Unfortunately, we didn't see the famous flamingos. Recent heavy rains had caused the lake's water levels to rise, diluting its alkalinity and reducing the algae that flamingos feed on. As a result, they had migrated to other Rift Valley lakes in search of food. Even without the flamingos, we had an incredible afternoon. Highlights included watching a rhino with her calf, seeing hundreds of buffalo grazing across the plains, and pausing to give way to giraffes and zebras as they crossed the track in front of our vehicle.
“When planning a safari, I always try to finish in the Maasai Mara, and this visit reminded me exactly why.”
Our final destination in Kenya was the Maasai Mara, one of the country's most iconic natural wonders. Covering more than 1,500 square kilometres in southwest Kenya, the Maasai Mara National Reserve is renowned for its breathtaking landscapes and extraordinary wildlife. We spent our final two nights at Mara Elatia Tented Camp in the Mara Triangle. When planning a safari, I always try to finish in the Maasai Mara, and this visit reminded me exactly why.
During a full day of game viewing, we were fortunate enough to see everything we could have hoped for, from a pride of lions prowling in the cool of the early morning before settling into the shade for the day, to our second elusive leopard of the trip, three cheetahs resting beneath a tree, large herds of elephants, and countless other unforgettable wildlife encounters. We ended the day with a visit to a local Maasai village. After receiving a traditional welcome from the Maasai people, we were shown around the village, invited into their homes, and learned about their customs and way of life. It was a fascinating cultural experience and a wonderful insight into one of Kenya's most well-known communities. To top it all off, the boys enjoyed a game of soccer with some of the Maasai children, a perfect way to end an unforgettable day.
Our Kenyan safari came to an end as George drove us to the airstrip for our flight from the Masai Mara to Zanzibar, Tanzania. After a week of early starts, long days and unforgettable wildlife encounters, we were looking forward to a few days of relaxation by the pool and on the beach before heading home. Zanzibar was the perfect way to end our African adventure. With its crystal clear turquoise waters, warm hospitality and idyllic tropical climate, it provided the ideal setting to unwind and reflect on an unforgettable journey through Kenya and Tanzania.
This was, without a doubt, the most incredible family adventure. While the spectacular wildlife and breathtaking landscapes will stay with us forever, my greatest highlight was watching the excitement, wonder and joy on the kids' faces as they experienced Africa for the first time. Africa is a truly special destination, sharing it with my family had been a dream of mine for a long time. I am extremely grateful seeing that dream become a reality, an experience we will never forget.
Amy
