Christoph and Jean Marie have traveled to interesting destinations around the globe and he was keen to revisit East Africa to recreate the magic from a childhood trip to Kenya and Tanzania. They had worked with travel professionals to help plan their adventures in the past and were excited to do so again on their safari.
They chose Kenya and Seychelles based on advice from their AAC Journey Specialist. In Kenya, they enjoyed safari adventures across two private conservancies in central Kenya and bordering Kenya’s famed Masai Mara. These privately-owned areas of land are set aside for wildlife conservation. The development of the conservancies has helped to substantially increase protected land throughout Kenya and staying in a conservancy offers a more exclusive and personalized safari experience. They wrapped up their safari on the legendarily famous beaches of Seychelles in the Indian Ocean. One theme throughout their experiences was the service they received – from the team at Africa Adventure Consultants, as well as the many people working hard to make safari magic during their visit.
“In our first call with AAC I tried to be a know-it-all and suggested parts of the itinerary from my childhood. Angie delicately implied that she had some other ideas which we should consider. Boy am I glad we listened. Part of our listening shifted us to one country, Kenya, with stops at two different lodges/camps. We liked the idea of not overly complicating travel and the idea of a flying safari was cool. Seychelles had always been on my list of places to go and the fact that my wife had never heard of it was perfect. I mean, we would already be in Kenya and the Seychelles was a relatively quick hop.”
Christoph and Jean Marie kicked off their safari at Lewa House in the Lewa Wildlife Conservancy. The seven-room, owner-operated safari lodge set on top of a hill offers panoramic views of the rolling landscape. They loved their ‘earth pod’ closest to the watering hole where they saw white rhino, ostrich, elephants and lion from their room.
“We were there three nights but we felt like we were leaving lifelong friends behind. Saibala was our guide. My wife cried when she hugged him goodbye.”
From Lewa, Christoph and Jean Marie went to Naboisho Camp in the community owned Naboisho Conservancy. It is run collaboratively by the Maasai people and tourism operators and offers all of the wildlife experiences of the Masai Mara (save for the chance to see a river crossing) with a minimal number of other visitors. Additionally, because the camp is located outside of the reserve, activities such as walking safaris and evening game drives are an option for guests. Guests also have the option to visit the Masai Mara itself during their stay should they wish. We recommend a visit to the main Reserve for those interested in a river crossing.
“The word 'glamping' does not do Naboisho Camp justice. While the rooms have canvas walls and tented ceilings, they are luxurious, spacious and have views of the plains to die for. The staff is amazing.”
While on safari in Kenya, Christoph and Jean Marie saw a huge array of wildlife and especially loved seeing the baby animals. They spotted the babies of many different species including hyenas, lions, cheetah, hippos, elephants, giraffe, baboons and rhino!
“My favorite non-baby sighting was when a Cape buffalo wandered into a pride of lions. The Cape buffalo left unscathed but the absolute fear in its eyes and body language raised my pulse!”
The guides and staff they encountered while on safari also made a big impression. When asked to name their favorite guide or staff member, Christoph replied “I have two kids and that is like asking me if I have a favorite!” At Lewa House, they found that their favorite guide, Saibala, was incredibly knowledgeable, easy going and very funny, while at Mara Naboisho, their favorite guide Albert was equally knowledgeable.
“We learned that zebras like to hang out with giraffe when the grass is tall because giraffe can more easily spot the lions hiding in the tall grass. Cool, right?”
Anatara Maia Seychelles Villas is the perfect spot to unwind at the end of a safari. Beautiful villas scattered across a lush hillside provide luxurious privacy and serenity; a secluded beach allows for quiet strolls in a setting that looks like paradise; and exceptional service offers an exquisite sense of being cared for in an unobtrusive way.
“Maia in the Seychelles was fantastic. Having a butler was decadent. Who knew I needed this? Having the attention of one single person was unmatched. We cannot say enough about how our butler Nadi unobtrusively made our stay so much better...”
Having used tour operators for other journeys they have taken, Christoph and Jean Marie said,
“We would not do it any other way. The transfers alone are worth it. You fly to a country and all the transportation logistics are taken care of. I don’t want to stress on a trip, using a travel consultant takes the stress out of the equation. As well, travel consultants, like Angie, have been to the country and accommodations. They know way more than you!”
For others who are considering a safari and/or visit to Seychelles, Christoph suggests that travelers listen to the experts like the Journey Specialists at Africa Adventure Consultants. Another piece of sage advice is to take a full day or two on the front end of your trip to do nothing to recover from any jet lag.
Contact one of our Journey Specialists to start crafting your own customized journey and subscribe to the newsletter below for more safari inspiration.
Photos courtesy AAC Livingstone Club members Christoph and Jean Marie G., Lewa House and Naboisho Camp