Starting the African Safari

I am currently leading an African safari through Kenya so I thought some of you Hivers might want to follow along with me.

After over 48 hours of flights, delays, layovers, and missed connections I arrived in Nairobi. Luckily I planned for this eventuality when I created the itinerary, just in case one of the guests or their baggage was delayed. It felt great to finally be on the ground at the Nairobi International Airport, checking into the country, even it is was 2am.

The 6:15am wake up came pretty soon. I scarfed down a delicious breakfast at the Hilton Garden Inn, and gathered my stuff to head outside to meet our driver and private safari vehicle. His name is James, and we have been working together on these safaris for over a decade. The benefit of having your own driver and vehicle means that you have way more control over which animals to stop for, how long to stay with them, and even how long to stay out on game drives. Although there is a long standing rule in the National Parks here in Kenya that all vehicles must in before dark. There are organized nights drives that go out through the lodges to give you a chance to see some of the nocturnal animals.

My group of six guests giving me the chance to share and show off this amazing place called Africa.

Nicknamed the 'blue rhino', our private safari vehicle is driven by the immortal James, and we could not be more pleased.

I had my group staying a little private ranch located on the vast Swara Plains. Its a 45 minute drive out of Nairobi. James had dropped them off their yesterday after a day of up close and personal encounters with baby elephants at the David Sheldrick Elephant Orphange and the Giraffe Center. They were finishing up their breakfast and quickly jumped into action when I arrived. We loaded up our Land Rover and played a death-defying game of leapfrog with giant trucks on the Mombasa Highway heading to Tsavo West National Park.

Entering the 'land of lava, man-eaters & magical sunsests' at Tsavo West national park.

Just crossed the equator at 2 degrees south.

We made it in time for lunch, and had already spotted elephants, zebra, impala, and tiny little antelope called dik-diks on our drive into the lodge. As the sharply dressed security guard raised the gate, and we drove into the Kilaguni Serena Lodge, it seemed like we were transported back in time. We grabbed our welcome juice and walked into a massive atrium that opened on one side to one of the most beautiful views in Africa.

One of my favorite views in Africa. The terrace from Kilaguni Serena Lodge in Tsavo West overlooking the waterhole.

As everyone sat there in awe of the sprawling animals across the African scene, we felt like the safari had really begun.