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A dream come true for me.

I have always wanted to go on safari and my trip to Kenya was more than I ever hoped for to fulfill this dream.

Having flown into Nairobi we transferred by light aircraft (an experience in itself) to North Kenya to the Laikipia Plateau and our first lodge Loisaba, Set on the edge of the plateau just north of Mount Kenya we were greeted by the most amazing views including a water hole surrounded by elephant and giraffe. We also visited the amazing Ol Malo lodge and then Sabuk Lodge. At all three of these lodges, the hospitality from our hosts was second to none and you are made to feel part of the family. One of the highlights of this area was our visit to a Samburu village and the local school. Our guides on the game drives were very knowledgeable and we had our first sighting of leopard.

We then flew South to a completely different terrain, the Shaba National Reserve. Where as the Laikipia Plateau was lush and green, Shaba was drier and more barren bushland. Home to Joys Camp which was built on the site of the original camp used by Joy and George Adamson, the well known naturalists of "Born Free" fame. The history here was amazing and the wildlife in abundance. Here we had an amazing sighting of lion and leopard. Both Joys Camp and Sasaab were wonderful experiences, these camps were luxury at its best. We also visited Larsens Camp and met the resilient hosts there who were rebuilding their camp after terrible floods in March had destroyed half of their luxury tents.

Onwards again by light aircraft to the Masai Mara,yet again another incredible but different terrain. Just a few weeks prior to the famous migration of wildebeest from Tanzania, the grasses here were long and lush. Visiting the luxurious bush camps of Kicheche Mara and Kicheche Bush we had an incredible sighting of four cheetahs. We also saw buffalo, elephant, hippo and crocodile.

We also visited Olonana, a wonderful spa lodge on the banks of the Mara River and stayed in the very well known Governors Camp where we were entertained by local singing and dancing. Our final camp was Naibor where we had a wonderful evening sitting round a camp fire. Again the hospitality was second to none and we experienced our first "bucket showers".

Finally returning to Nairobi and visiting the famous Norfolk Hotel, one of Nairobis oldest hotels which opened in 1904 and the quaint Giraffe Manor where giraffes join you for meal times by putting their heads through the windows! Finally overnighting in the House of Waine in the Karen District of Nairobi before flying home, we enjoyed yet more fabulous Kenyan food and warm hospitality.

A safari holiday is not for the faint hearted ~ very early starts to see the best of the wildlife and bumpy journeys across many different types of terrain but so worth it for the incredible experience ~ I would return in a heartbeat!