The Joy Journal | Vol. 3
In February, I was finally able to return to the continent of Africa after two years. Despite Chicago's signature snowstorms and a tight connection in the Amsterdam airport, we finally made it to Kenya, where friends welcomed us back. My mission on this trip was to experience lodges and camps that I had never visited and, most importantly, rekindle my love for safari by experiencing it through the eyes of someone who had never been.
In Nairobi, I visited some old favorites that included the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust, Giraffe Center, and my favorite restaurant in Nairobi, Talisman. We also had dinner at a new favorite, Cultiva Farm Kenya where the drinks, food and dessert left you wanting for more!
For seven days, we were off on safari (which means journey in Kiswahili)! Our first two days were spent in Amboseli National Park, where we experienced an abundance of wildlife that included flamingos and the greatest number of elephants I had ever seen at one time.
Of course, the baby elephants were a joy to watch as they tried to keep up with their family and still play along the way with their siblings. Breakfast in the bush with Mt. Kilimanjaro as our backdrop was exquisite and we ended our time in Amboseli with drinks overlooking the mountains at sunset.
Our next stop was the Masai Mara for five days. I have lost count as to how many times I have been there, but each time the experience feels new and exciting. We spent our first two days outside of the northern part of the Mara Triangle beneath the Olooloo escarpment, where we witnessed a rhino grazing the wetlands with her baby beside her and lions frolicking about as they search for their meal for the next few days.
Our first evening in the Mara ended with Maasai warriors dancing and singing happy birthday as we celebrated two birthdays on this trip. Of course, one of my favorite moments was coming back to our tent to find a hot bath with bubbles and roses waiting for me. As we were headed to our next camp, we found two cheetahs that had just finished eating a gazelle and boy were their bellies full! We followed them for awhile until we discovered that we could not make it to our next camp because the rain caused the waters in the Mara River to be too high to cross.
To our surprise, our next camp sent a helicopter to collect us. How lucky were we to enjoy a helicopter ride over the Maasai Mara! This was a new perspective for me, and I was mesmerized by the beauty of the savannah from new heights. It’s incredible to see the vastness of the land!
During our final days, we were on the search for leopards. We had seen four of the Big Five – the lion, rhino, elephant, and African buffalo – and were determined to find the fifth, most secretive creature. Our game drives and hot air balloon ride were not as successful as we hoped in finding the cats, but of course they never disappointed. Every night, as we headed back to our tent, we were pleasantly surprised by the animals we found on our path home. We came across two topis enjoying the evening air near our tent and laughed as the bush babies jumped across the trees. My favorite quote from our last night walking to our tent was “the safari never ends.” We left the Mara saying our goodbye to my favorite, the majestic giraffe.
Our time in Kenya ended with a joyful dinner with four friends that I met over 13 years ago in Kenya. Over the years, I have discovered one of the best gifts of travel are the lifelong friendships you make along the way. Leaving Kenya, I knew I accomplished my mission of falling in love with being on safari all over again. To see Kenya through someone else’s eyes and witness their excitement is the heart of The JoYOUs Journey. I am already looking forward to my next trip!
Who is ready to go on safari?!
