I had dreamed about an African safari since I was nine years old and wanted to follow Audrey Hepburn (my favorite movie star of the 50s/60s) to the then Belgian Congo. For almost 60 years, I saw images of safari vehicles, exotic food, the Big Five (lion, water buffalo, leopard, elephant, and rhino), and tried imagine what a "typical" day might be like. When the dream finally started to become a reality and we had settled on an itinerary, our travel consultant sent an outline of the trip but, of course, it didn't detail how many hours we would spend out in the bush and it mentioned things like "bush breakfasts" and "sundowners." I couldn't wait to see for myself! But what I quickly learned was that there is no "typical" day on safari! Each day is an unimaginable and unforgettable experience that touches all of your senses and is as varied as the country of Kenya.
If you have watched the "Lion King" I am sure you are familiar with the phrase, Hakuna Matata, which means "no worries" in Swahili, the national language of Kenya. So what is typical in Kenya is the hospitality of the Kenyan people and their attention to every detail so you will have no worries while you are in this breath-taking country with its magnificent wildlife, beautiful surroundings, and amazing people and culture. And while I can't tell you whether you will see a Topi gazelle giving birth or cheetahs stalking prey on your game drives, I can describe the "typical" details that will ensure a safari beyond your dreams.
Arriving at the local airstrip near your lodge is an event itself. You may see giraffes, zebras, or antelope around the airstrip before you even step off the plane. Your guide will be there to greet you, offer refreshments (maybe a Tusker beer), load your gear into the vehicle, and drive you to your lodge. Along the way you have a chance to get to know your guide, let him know what animals you are eager to see (no guarantees here!), determine a schedule for your game drives and at the same time enjoy your first safari and the commentary of your professional safari guide. Upon arrival at the lodge, the managers and staff will greet you with more refreshments and chat with you about mealtimes, services available in camp, and ask about additional activities you might be interested in such as walking safaris and local cultural tours which vary from camp to camp. You will then be escorted to your tent/room where your bags will have already magically appeared! After unpacking and depending on the time, you may either do a game drive or relax in your room or at the main lodge.
Your morning game drive can begin whenever you choose. Because we believe you can sleep when you get home and game-viewing is magnificent in the early morning hours, we opt to begin our day with a wake-up call at 5:30. We enjoy coffee or tea and a few cookies delivered to our tent or room, take a hot shower, and watch the sun rise and the bush come alive. At 6:30 we meet our guide in the main lodge and load into our safari vehicle. As mornings in Kenya can be chilly, you can wrap yourself in one of the colorful shukas (Maasai cloth) in the vehicle. For me, the early morning game drives are the best - cool, crisp, clean air; animals on the move; and a quietness that prompts deep thoughts about the meaning of life!
Somehow your guide knows just when your stomach starts to growl and suddenly pulls the vehicle off-road where a beautifully set table and the cooking staff from your camp magically appear, ready to take your breakfast order. That bush breakfast you read about now awaits! Other times your guide will stop under a shady tree and unpack a slightly less extravagant, but still delicious, breakfast. Wherever you stop, one set of near-by bushes is designated for women, the other for men! After all stomachs are full, it's time to settle into the vehicle again and continue your game drive in order to arrive back at camp in time for lunch, usually served between 12:30 or 1:00 until 2:30.
After lunch, which is the heat of the day, you are free to return to your room to nap, read, or just sit outside and enjoy this heaven on earth. The afternoon game drive usually begins around 4 so that you can take advantage of the last two hours of light. As the sun begins to set, your guide stops in a magical place where you can admire the myriad colors of a Kenyan sunset while enjoying snacks and your favorite adult beverage, hence the term "sundowners." Finally, it's time to head back to camp, hang out in the main lodge to wait for dinner, enjoy a wonderful meal, and head back to your room/tent to enjoy a great night's sleep and maybe hear a lion roar from afar! Hakuna Matata!
Comentarios