The Africa Adventure Consultants team would like to welcome guest bloggers to the site, Rajiv and Marysusan B. They recently traveled to Kenya with AAC.
Diana of Africa Adventure Consultants helped plan and execute the most amazing safari in Kenya for us! After having reached out to several top outfitter companies along with AAC, we decided that AAC was the best fit. Diana listened to our interests and patiently answered all our questions to ensure our trip was tailored to our style. As this was our first African safari, we wanted to focus on one country. We had read that Kenya has some of the most well-developed conservancies and infrastructure, so it was a great choice.
Diana meticulously curated a custom itinerary for us that reflected her expertise and thoughtful planning. We loved all the lodges of the private conservancies: Saruni Leopard Hill (Mara Naboisho Conservancy), Lewa House (Lewa Conservancy, Laikipia plains), and Sarara Camp (Namunyak Wildlife Conservancy). It was amazing to experience the thrill of the safari and explore the conservancies’ local communities. The lodges and camps were marvelous, and the hospitality and warmth we found there are unsurpassed.
All three camps we visited had superb chefs, and we had several wonderful dining experiences. We were bowled over by the Gaudi-like luxurious accommodations at Lewa House and we also enjoyed our own fantastic outdoor shower at Sarara Camp!
The people were wonderful, and the guides were wholly dedicated to protecting the animals. It is always such a joy to meet people from other cultures. It was amusing to listen to the stories of one of the Samburu guides as he told us of his childhood. It was also a delight to sit and talk with the ladies from the Samburu village as they sat and made jewelry. At Sarara, visits to local villages gave us an insight into the culture of the people and has stimulated us to learn more. The local society (Samburu people) still live a semi-nomadic lifestyle. We spent a good bit of time learning about their culture.
The wildlife sightings were nothing short of amazing—lions, rhinos, cheetahs, wildebeests by the hundreds, and many other species. It was all breathtaking and really beyond description. We got to see a family of ostriches wading in a creek at Lewa. At Sarara Camp, we were lucky enough to see elephants drinking and cooling off in a watering hole at the foot of the hill beneath the common area. At the Maasai Mara Naboisho Conservancy we saw a cheetah climb a tree. We also saw a male lion up close as he was waiting for one of his pals.
The guiding at each camp was great, but we were particularly fond of Martin at the Lewa Conservancy. He took care of us for three days. We did the Ngare Ndare Forest hike with him, and what a great surprise it was to find that he had set out a full breakfast picnic for us. Having sundowners on the evening safaris gave us another memory to hold. Martin was very knowledgeable of the flora as well as the fauna and was dedicated to learning more to become an even better guide. He was passionate about protecting the animals. Martin’s professionalism, experience, knowledge, charm, and his obvious passion for protecting the animals all combined to give us a perfect safari in Lewa Conservancy.
We were very impressed by what private conservancies are doing in Kenya, especially Lewa. We have gotten involved with supporting them. For about $6m/yr from donations and tourism, they are managing about 60,000 acres of land, which is home to a wide variety of wildlife including the rare and endangered black and white rhinos, Grevy’s zebras, and the big five. Their anti-poaching efforts are very well managed with human patrols accompanied by high tech monitoring (Earth Ranger System donated by Microsoft’s Paul Allen). They have had almost no poaching in the last 10 years. But what they are doing for the community is even more impressive: education, healthcare, sustainable agriculture, and jobs.
We will recommend AAC to anyone who wants to take an African safari, and we look forward to working with them again in the future!
Thank you for sharing your safari memories with us!
Contact a Journey Specialist and subscribe to our newsletter below for more information and inspiration.
Photos courtesy AAC Livingstone Club members Rajiv and Marysusan B., Lewa House, Sarara Camp