Our Safari Adventure in Africa (and the Four Important Lessons I Learned on the Journey)

This past December, Barry and I took an amazing trip to Kenya. This was a lifechanging experience that I will remember for years to come. We traveled with Barry’s brother Howard and his wife, Joy, who live in California. The trip served as a wonderful reunion for all of us, and we had a blast with them!

While I love to share lots of travel packing and dressing strategies that I use when I travel, my clothing choices were far more about function than fashion on this trip. While I did bring one or two slightly dressed up looks for some of our dinners, I mostly relied on casual basics: tees, vests, light jackets, long-sleeve shirts, long pants/jeans, and a skort for unexpected warm days. On most days, I stuck to a simple formula of pants plus a t-shirt. And fortunately, I could double up on my lightweight jackets when I needed them for warmth.

I centered my footwear choices around comfort, emphasizing sturdy walking shoes and flip flops to wear at our accommodations. The ballet flats were a nice option to wear to dinner.

I kept my accessories very minimal, bringing one pair of earrings and one bracelet. I also packed a variety of hats for blocking the sun’s rays as well as gloves and a scarf for chilly days.

Another reason I kept my packing list simple is because we were not allowed to bring luggage weighing more than 33 pounds. We would be flying on small planes with limited capacity for excess weight and were instructed to keep our bags light. I was able to pack a duffle bag that weighed 29 pounds—and as I later realized during the trip, I had exactly what I needed and saved myself the hassle of wrangling a larger, heavier bag.

Remember that being strategic with your travel uniform is a great opportunity to lighten your suitcase. You can do this by dressing in layers to keep you warm on the chilly plane ride, and also by wearing your bulkiest footwear—as I did here. The lightweight pants were also the perfect choice for a long flight.

Many hours later we arrived in Nairobi, Kenya’s bustling capital city. From the moment we landed, it became very clear that this trip was about being immersed in nature, observing exquisite animals close up, and learning about new cultures. Hair, fashion, and makeup didn’t matter so much. And since our clothes were washed at night, we learned that we truly didn’t need to bring an abundance of clothing options. So, we relaxed and settled into the rhythm of what would be an exhilarating journey.

We kicked off our sightseeing in Nairobi by visiting Rothschild Giraffe Center, where we saw many of these enchanting, gentle (and friendly!) creatures up close and personal. After that we traveled to the David Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage where we visited our darling adopted elephant, Ziwadi. If you would like to adopt an orphaned elephant like Ziwadi, visit this link.

The next day we boarded a 12-seat “puddle jumper” plane and traveled to our accommodations at Saruni Samburu. This lovely resort is located in tribal lands to the north of Samburu National Reserve.

Each morning there, we awoke at 5:30 a.m. to leave on the morning safari in Samburu. Before we set out each day, I would take a few moments to quiet my mind and get centered. Our room looked out upon an endless landscape. The sunrises were breathtaking. It was the perfect atmosphere for meditation.

Our guide Robert took excellent care of us during our stay. He even showed us “which bush” to go behind for our bathroom breaks, which were, of course, taken in the great outdoors. I got the impression he was keeping watch in case an animal was approaching—a distinct possibility given our surroundings!

On our daily safaris with Robert, we saw so much amazing wildlife, including elephants, lions, and Reticulated giraffes. I learned that there are three types of giraffes, and by the end of our travels, we had seen each type: Rothschild’s giraffes in Nairobi, Reticulated giraffes here in Samburu, and later the Maasai giraffes in Maasai Mara.

On Christmas Eve we boarded another small plane and set out for the Maasai Mara National Reserve. I must say, it was a bit nerve-wracking to take off and land on a small strip of dirt each time we moved to a new camp. I had to have faith that we would make it, and thankfully we always did.

Once we reached our destination, we enjoyed the accommodations at the elegant Bateleur Camp. The atmosphere was festive, and several of the staff dressed up as Santa and handed out ice cream cones when we left on the afternoon game drive.

Charity was our guide for this leg of the safari, and she was very gracious, informative, and welcoming.

Here in the Maasai, we finally saw some zebras, along with elephants and some beautiful exotic birds.

Allow me to point out that many of these animals were photographed when they were very close to our vehicles. I snapped this photo of a majestic lioness when she was only two feet away! My heart was pounding the entire time.

On Christmas Day we took a hot air balloon ride over the scenic plains. The day was so clear that we could see for miles, and the view was spectacular. After our group landed, we were treated to a champagne breakfast that was rustic yet elegant.

On one of our outings, we saw the Cape buffalo, which is one of the “Big Five.” (This term once referred to the five most difficult kinds of game to hunt on foot, but today the tourism industry uses it to describe the five must-see animals while on safari.) We were told the Cape buffalo is one of the most dangerous animals we would see. The other animals of the “Big Five” include lions, leopards, elephants, and rhinoceroses. We were also lucky to see a “coalition”—five cheetahs who are brothers and hunt together.

Like breakfast, our Christmas Day lunch was very special as well. The Maasai women decorated a Christmas tree using bright red cloth and danced for us while we dined.

Our next stop was Mara Plains Camp, which is inside the 35,000-acre Olare Motorogi Conservancy and borders Kenya’s Maasai Mara Reserve. Our accommodations here were fabulous. Our room had a deck that looked out over the Mara River. The first night we were there, I was awakened by startling loud noises coming from nearby. I was sure there were animals somewhere inside our room and that we were dead! Barry allayed my fears by assuring me that the noises were being made by the hippos in the water just outside our room. Whew!

We saw some more great lions and zebras on our next game drive. However, the highlight sighting was a beautiful leopard. These shy and mostly nocturnal animals are famously the most difficult animal to spot in Africa. This leopard must have been feeling bold that day, because he walked right past us within two feet of our truck.

We were also lucky to see a male lion. Jackson, one of our favorite guides, not only helped us spot and photograph lots of great wildlife, he also expertly navigated us along the often-muddy terrain. During our visit, Kenya was experiencing a 40-day rain streak.

I also loved seeing the topi. The local people in the region nicknamed these colorful animals “yellow socks and blue jeans,” and it’s easy to see why.

When we weren’t enjoying the wildlife, we managed to do a little shopping with a free trade business I am proud to support. In fact, visiting the Kazuri beadworks and pottery gallery and shop was a highlight of our trip. Kazuri, which means “small and beautiful,” provides employment to over 340 women skilled in the crafting of ceramic beads and handmade, hand-painted pottery. Visit this link to shop and learn more about Kazuri. 

Visiting these storied locations across Kenya was a lifechanging adventure that I will remain grateful for forever. The immersive nature of travel opens us up to new experiences and cultures and introduces us to new friends across the globe. The lessons I learned on this trip were too many to cover here, but I have summarized them into four themes that I would love to share with you now:

Lesson 1: Hair and makeup are not that important on safari. There is a time and place to look your very best when you’re traveling—like the formal night of a cruise or on a special date night in a romantic city. But when you are on a wilderness safari, your hair and makeup will be the last thing on your mind. Besides, it will almost certainly be disturbed by the wind, rain, and heat you’ll encounter. And as I have mentioned, on this type of trip, clothing is more of a practicality than an expression of your style. Often, we would wear the same clothing to dinner that we wore on our afternoon game drives.

Lesson 2: Enjoy your “unplugged” time. We spend our lives tethered to devices. But there’s little need or desire to check your email or make a phone call when you are out enjoying a scenic landscape or a wildlife watering hole. Whenever you visit the great outdoors, I encourage you to liberate yourself from technology and immerse yourself in nature.

Lesson 3: Stay present to experience the natural beauty around you. There is something about being outside in nature that makes us feel a peace like no other. Remember, we too are wild things, and we resonate deeply with the natural world. When you truly experience nature, including the plants, animals, fresh air, sunlight, and the feeling of dirt and stone beneath your feet, it feeds your human spirit. Spend some quiet time outdoors—whether on a beach, in the desert, on highland plains, or in a wooded forest—and experience the gifts offered to you there.

Lesson 4: Be grateful, humble, and ready to learn from the way others live. It’s a paradox I recognized watching villagers walking on the side of the road and going about their lives in their colorful dress, jewelry, and adornments. At first glance, the small, modest houses I saw made me feel grateful for all I have—far more than most people in the world. But upon reflection, I wonder if, in many ways, the people we encountered have a deeper understanding than most of us of how to live. Simple lives, unencumbered by too many possessions, may be more joyful and rewarding than our more complicated ones.

All in all, we had a wonderful trip and brought back many memories to treasure over the coming months and years. Have you been on safari in Africa? Share your favorite experiences in the comments below.