When you think of Kenya, you think of their incredible diversity – modern cities, traditional culture, beautiful beaches and mountains and most importantly, the great safaris.
The minute we decided to do a trip to Kenya, first thought..oh gosh we will have to get our yellow fever vaccination…a long line and just 100 vials a day…will have to stand in line at 5 am! But trust me, it was all worth it.
It’s been 10 years since my brother and I visited Kenya. I remember just 3 days before our flight, we had heard the news about a shoot out and riots in Nairobi, the city where we were going to land. Everyone told us to cancel our trip as it could be unsafe, but we were determined to go. It was a well-deserved vacation after a crazy year at work.
So without thinking too much, we took the leap of faith and headed to our first destination for our first safari adventure in Amboseli. And it was nothing short of enchanting, filled with awe-inspiring encounters with wildlife and a warm welcome from our friendly guide who kept calling me Malaika which means beautiful and my brother Papa Lion. We were so excited with these names but within a few hours we realized that every guide called every guest with this name. This way they didn’t have to remember everyone’s names 😊
The iconic view of Mt. Kilimanjaro was breathtaking and seeing herds of majestic elephants against the stunning silhouette of the snow-capped peak was simply amazing! Of course, we were excited to see the big 5 – lions, leopards, rhinos, elephants, and the big buffalo.
During our flight, we were wondering what if we get bored doing so many safaris for a week but to our surprise every single safari was a memorable experience for us. Just wished we had a better DSLR with the long lens to capture every wrinkle and hair of the lion.
In Masai Mara, in the middle of the safari, our guide got an alert that a leopard was spotted, and he drove like a maniac so that we could reach there on time. But clearly his driving skills weren’t as sharp as that big cat. She sped (almost flying) and jumped on a tree growling at the noises that every jeep made. We waited for an hour, but she refused to step down. Disappointingly we left but we were lucky to sport another one in the evening safari.
There were lot of memories that we took back. The Masai people, known for their distinctive red attire and intricate beadwork, shared their stories and dances around the campfire. We were welcomed with open arms, invited to participate in their traditional ceremonies, and even learned a few Swahili phrases that added a personal touch to our interactions.
Our safari adventure was spellbinding. From the untamed beauty of the wilderness to the warmth of the people, this was truly an enchanting experience. Asante sana, Kenya!
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