The decision to visit Africa was one of the best I have ever made. It was a life-altering trip that shaped the way I view the world, and it allowed me an opportunity to take a deeper look inside and examine how I contribute. I vividly remember telling one of my guides in Zimbabwe that I felt as though I traveled halfway around the globe only to realize that people are the same–just looking to take care of themselves and their families, to make connections with others, and to do the best they can each day. After that, we hugged, and with a toothy smile he said, “ Thank you for visiting and allowing me to send my children to school.”
That is what Africa meant to me– it was the personal connections that Lindsay and I made with the people we met along our journey that made it special. One of those people was Jacob, our safari guide in Samburu. I mentioned him in a previous post, Sasaab, Better than the Best, since that is where we met him. Jacob is a retired Samburu warrior who knows every detail about his homeland and its creatures, so we learned a lot from him about certain elephant families, herds of giraffe, the dangers and benefits of the river, education of Samburu children, the Samburu diet, village life, how grazing their livestock sometimes starts tribal conflicts, and so much more. I think we asked him a million questions, and he proudly shared information without reservation. That was a gift. He also showed us some of the most spectacular settings and animals we could have imagined, and Jacob wanted us to get very close to them, to just ‘be’ with them in their habitat. A group of elephants had just crossed the river and lumbered toward our vehicle. I was so nervous, but Jacob whispered, “Don’t move.” The young, curious bull approached and then ambled away content that we were friends, not foes.
Each day in the Samburu National Reserve presented new and exciting wildlife encounters. The safari schedule took us out in the early mornings, fortified with warm coffee in our stainless steel mugs from Sasaab, to watch as the park sprang to life, and evenings as the sun began to set and animals made their way to cool watering holes. Jacob asked us if we had ever observed a cheetah hunting for food; we laughed and replied, “Uh, we have never seen a live cheetah.”
He laughed and replied, “They are good for nothing. Now, a cow or a goat— that’s a beautiful animal!” Of course, to the Samburu, like the Maasai, wealth and status are derived by the amount of livestock one possesses.
Samburu is known for its own Big Five: Grevy’s zebra, reticulated giraffe, Gerenuk antelope, Somali ostrich, and Beisa oryx. Honestly, every turn of the head is another unbelievable animal or landscape or sunset. Samburu, to me, seems, undaunted and undisturbed; it is much less touristy than the Maasai Mara (although I LOVED it there with our super guide, Ben). It also feels like you are stepping back in time. If you want to go on a safari, PLEASE include Samburu. You will not be disappointed. And, if you follow our itinerary, leave a comment and let us know what you think. Happy travels!
Our itinerary:
- Fly into Nairobi and stay two full days/nights at Giraffe Manor (make sure to visit the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust for a day– adopt an elephant for $50 and entry is free) https://www.thesafaricollection.com/properties/giraffe-manor/
- From Giraffe Manor, spend 3 nights/4 days in Maasai Mara(fly there from Nairobi’s Wilson airport)–you have options and can’t go wrong
- Option 1: Email Rothschild Safaris and have them arrange everything for you https://www.rothschildsafaris.com/
- Option 2: Email The Safari Collection and have them arrange everything for you
- Option 3: Contact Ben Naurori, one of the best guides in Maasai Mara, and hire him as your guide– ask him where to stay or ask one of the outfitters to work him into your itinerary. Tell him that Kelly and Lindsay sent you. You can reach Ben via email at [email protected].
- Fly from Maasai Mara to Samburu and stay at Sasaab, a Safari Collection property https://www.thesafaricollection.com/properties/sasaab/
- Stay at Sasaab 4 nights/5 days if possible (ask for Jacob as your guide)
- Go on daily safaris
- Visit a village and a school ( pack some pencils or chalk in your luggage if you can to give to the teachers)
- Ride the camels– Sasaab concierge can arrange this
- Hike up Sundowner Rock and enjoy cocktails while the sun sets
- From here, you can fly back to Nairobi and then off to wherever you want. We went on to Zimbabwe to see Victoria Falls and then on to Cape Town.
- Questions? Let us know– we are happy to help!