One Family’s Kenya Road Safari Adventure

Fresh back from her family safari in Kenya, Liz Collinge spoke to us about her incredible holiday. She had first visited the country herself at just 12 years old. “We also went with Somak back then, and I have never forgotten the experience. I still remember our guide’s name and have some wooden animal souvenirs from that holiday on display at home,” she said.

A childhood dream come true

“I have always wanted to go back and take my own children once they were old enough. It has been a dream of ours and one we have been working to make happen for many years.”

Liz described their safari as the holiday of a lifetime. “It was completely different to our usual family holidays, with exceptional and luxurious accommodation and surprises at every turn. We just felt incredibly lucky the whole time.”

“How often can you say that before 8.30 am you’ve seen a cheetah, gone on a hot air balloon ride across the Masai Mara at sunrise, and drunk champagne outside for breakfast?”

There were many highlights Liz described as “pinch me” moments, including feeding Baraka the blind rhino at Ol Pejeta Conservancy, seeing their first elephants up close at Treetops, and picnicking in the middle of the Masai Mara. “The boys in particular remember Lake Naivasha with the pelicans and the little monkeys on our boat,” she added.

Wildlife sightings in Samburu and the Masai Mara

Asked which park or reserve stood out for her, Liz said Samburu was a favourite all round. “It was the first reserve we went to, and it was so arid and wild. A total contrast to the wet and cold at Treetops. It also wasn’t as big as the Masai Mara, so we had lots of animal sightings. We saw all the big cats (lions, leopards, and cheetahs) during our brief stay. Everything was new to us whilst we were there and that made it very memorable.”

“We were surprised at how close to the vehicle the animals came and the sheer variety of bush landscapes we encountered.”

One particular sighting stood out among many significant safari moments. “I think when you come across animals enjoying a kill, it is both shocking and brilliant to see. We viewed a group of lions that had enjoyed a zebra. The carcass was in full view, with ribs on show, and lions with full tummies basking in the sun.”

She also described another feeding sighting involving birds. “We witnessed a large number of vultures and Marabou Storks scavenging an old buffalo carcass. It was fascinating to see them literally walk inside the carcass’s skeleton and rip out flesh. There was a clear hierarchy, and it was amazing to see them jostle for supremacy.”

The sight of a large family of elephants crossing the river in Samburu also delighted Liz, whose favourite animals are elephants and giraffes. “Their sheer scale is amazing,” she said.

One thing about being in the bush that surprised Liz was how many birds there were. “I’d not even considered that we’d see birds really, but Patrick, our Somak driver-guide, was so knowledgeable about them, and we saw owls, eagles, and a huge amount of beautiful and brightly coloured species that we all loved finding out about and spotting.”

Patrick – Their Somak safari driver-guide

“Patrick was just brilliant. So calm, experienced, knowledgeable and passionate,” said Liz. “He was happy to chat and answer our constant questions. He was friendly and funny and put us at ease. What made him stand out for me, though, was his unwavering respect for the animals and their environment. He stuck rigorously to the rules of both the parks and their rangers, and also the rules of the road!”

His diligence, Liz said, allowed the whole family to feel safe at all times while in his care.

Above all, Liz was impressed by Patrick’s patience. “We were in Samburu, and a group of three lions was gaining a lot of interest from several safari vehicles. Patrick manoeuvred us to a respectful distance and location, but it was getting busy, and many 4x4s were boxing in one lion and cutting off its view of where its fellow lions had wandered. A huge and noisy safari ‘bus’ then also arrived, heading off-road. All of us, including Patrick, were dismayed at how close some vehicles were getting and that the lion could not safely reach the rest of its group. It clearly showed us how much Patrick cared and how he valued the animals and the reserve regulations. We waited patiently for some time, and eventually all the other vehicles moved on. We could then view this stunning lion all by ourselves. Patrick knew instinctively that the lion had lost track of its group, and we waited and watched while it fortunately found its bearings. Patrick’s knowledge and professionalism meant he had unwavering faith that the lion would find its way, and his patience and dignity meant we saw it all unfold without compromising the animal.”

Liz and her family chose a road safari specifically so they could see more of Kenya. “We didn’t fly at all. This was partly because it was cheaper, but also because we got to see a lot of Kenya from our vehicle, something we would have missed if we had flown.” “We really loved the long drives between camps, as it gave us time to relax and soak up the variety of culture and landscapes we could see out the windows.” Moving between camps, she said, felt like an adventure in itself. “We were always greeted with a welcome drink and a hot or cold towel, and of course, lots of smiles. We found the Kenyan people to be very warm and welcoming.”

Luxury Touches at Kenya’s Safari Camps

There were several moments, Liz said, when she realised how well they were being looked after. “When Doreen at the Sarova Mara Camp introduced herself and said she was our ‘personal butler ‘, it was a ridiculous notion to us to have a butler, and I hope we were very easy and undemanding guests, but it was so lovely to have someone totally looking out for you and willing to help with anything at all. She was super friendly and excellent at her job. Nothing was too much trouble, and we felt very spoilt.”

She also mentioned that at most of the camps, hot water bottles were slipped into their beds at night. “The chocolates on the pillows didn’t hurt either!”

Liz’s favourite camp was the one they stayed at in Samburu. “We loved Samburu Intrepids Camp the best. The family tent was absolutely huge and so special to stay in. It was most certainly not a tent!” she exclaimed. “The location on the river was also fantastic, and the whole design of the lodge, with its dark wood and the bar and restaurant being out in the open, was just lovely. It wasn’t busy or large and felt like a total treat to stay at.”

“Our boys’ favourite was Sweetwaters,” she added. “They loved the games room and the fact that the waterhole was right there. The buffet here was probably the best we had. Dining while watching elephants out of the window was spectacular.” Even the airport hotels that sandwiched their safari tour were really good, Liz said. “Really lovely rooms, great food and brilliant facilities, especially the rooftop pool at the Four Points by Sheraton. We were expecting these to be merely functional stays, but they were impressive and started and ended our trip nicely.”

Top tips for planning a family safari in Kenya

Liz had some helpful advice for anyone planning their first safari. “Expect very early mornings and early nights. Well worth it though. Seeing the sunrise is magical.”

“Expect to be a bit tired, so be sure to factor in some downtime within your itinerary to recharge. On most days we weren’t travelling, we were normally free between 10 am and 4 pm, so we made the most of the swimming pools and nice lunches. It was good to have at least one day with really nothing going on.”

As a staunch advocate of road safaris, Liz added, “Be sure to drive a few times between camps.”

“Definitely take teenagers! This is a memory that our two boys will have forever and was not only a fantastic experience but also a real education for them.”

“If you can, do the balloon ride over the Masai Mara,” she advised. “We nearly didn’t do it but changed our minds, and we are so pleased we did. It is expensive, but what an experience! And the breakfast afterwards was amazing too.”

“Take all of it in. Not just the animals and game drives. There were all sorts of unexpected extras and experiences that were memorable. Eric and his vegetable garden at Sarova Mara, the view of Mount Kenya on our journeys, the touristy curio shops at the Equator, the moped drivers and their large and unusual loads, trying ugali and tree tomatoes for the first time, and the mongoose in the dining room. I could go on!”

Asked if there was anything she would change if she booked another safari, Liz said there is hardly anything she would alter about the trip they took. But if she went on another safari, she would want to add extra experiences and destinations. “We really enjoyed the short nature walks we did at Treetops and also on Crescent Island. I’d also like to see the elephants at Amboseli and Lake Nakuru with the flamingos and explore more of the northern parts of Kenya.”