Aerial view of Maasai Mara

The worst thing that can happen is to not get a chance to leave the city.. the next worst thing is to be on a great trip and be sick. So last weekend I got another chance to not only go to Maasai Mara staying at Ilkeliani Tented Camp but to do a hot air safari. So the evening before my exciting safari, I came down with a very bad flu but knowing my resilient body I choose to go on safari as the excitement would definitely cure me..

Ohh poor me that did not happen. for the whole 2 nights I was on safari I only enjoyed a maximum of 3 hours.... 1 hour lying a the beautiful basking deck at the camp and the 1 hour on the hot air balloon. It was such a shame as my friends tried to cheer me but was asleep and drowsy all the time

Well there is always a next time :)

Healthy Travels
 -L- 

Samburu Experience

There are places where you only know what you learned in elementary school or what you hear from the media. Growing up my perception of Samburu was a very dry place where women and children die so often due to starvation and famine. I had never wanted to even visit there as it would remind me of all the little things I take for granted in life.

The day when I booked the trip to Sasaab Camp, Samburu all that changed. I took a flight from Wilson Airport that took 1 hour and landed on a very rough and dry airstrip. We were met by 4WD open safari land cruisers and were driven for about 30 minutes to the camp. En route to camp we saw a few animals and a few dead ones, the driver/ guide pointed out that they starved as it had been very dry. At that point I was not sure how my stay in Samburu would be. I closed my eyes and decided safaris can never be awful…on getting to camp the view and interior of the camp was not only mind blowing but also the most exclusive and luxurious place I have ever been in the bush. The hosts Doug and Tanya were so welcoming and the little puppy too:)

The porter took me to my room and for sure that cannot be a room not even a suite J for one who travels pretty budget I felt like a KING, even a queen did not feel grand enough. So the porter is explaining the room details.. plunge pool for cooling down, painting stand to explore you creative side, open concept bathroom to let you connect with nature… 

So lets start with my room/house/palace....my room, had the very well known California king size bed that you can roll 7-8 time to get your phone on the other end. I had 2 bathrooms, one indoor and another outdoor, I swear I saw a Morani Samburu giving me  the eye from across the river. 

 

My plunge pool was such a delightful addition to the experience. As I had opted for only 1 game drive I did spend a good amount of time in the plunge pool reading, day dreaming and painting:)

 

 

The lounge area was quite exciting and great views. The massage palour made me feel like I was in Lamu even without ever having been there.

 

The game viewing in Samburu was very different from what I have experienced at different parks.. I got to see a pack of wild dogs which is especially really difficult to spot:).. one evening i opted for camel game viewing over the usual game drive.. it was a rough and bumpy ride which was different but I am definitely not booking the 7 day camel safari :)

Samburu has is still my number one place in Kenya.. I am however not sure if its the luxury provided at Sasaab or juts the magical views i had from my plunge pool or my bed... taking a shower in an open setting defnitely put a cherry on the pie..

Happy Travels
- L-