A safari, an extraordinary type of travel, today relates to a trip dedicated to viewing and photographing animals in their natural habitat. Animals that many of us see only in zoos.
This safari takes place in Kenya, although many tour operators offer safaris to other parts of Africa-Tanzania, South Africa, and Zimbabwe. Each tour operator puts together a trip that includes visits to a variety of tented camps and lodges, timeframes, and itineraries. The camps and lodges are located in game reserves across Africa. Traveling to the various game reserves is an adventure in itself. Vans and large jeeps travel between the game reserves, carting you and your luggage from camp to camp. You get to know your driver very well-he stays with you throughout the adventure. Your driver maneuvers his vehicle across the dusty unpaved roads with unbelievable skill.
With wild animal viewing and photo taking as the primary activities, the vehicles provide the ultimate option-pop-up tops-to allow visitors to stand and peer out of the tops of the vehicles to snap a photo or take in the view.
This adventure starts in the Samburu National Reserve, north of Nairobi Kenya. The Reserve lies within the lands of the Samburu people, who are close relatives of the Maasai. The wooded, dry savanna contains tons of various wildlife species including Grevy's zebra, the reticulated giraffe, and the Beisa oryx. These particular species are found only north of the equator. But we're in search of elephants. Where are the elephants?
As the van crossed into the Samburu National Reserve, a gerenuk stood on its hind legs and stretched to reach the leaves of prickly bushes and young acacia trees. The Samburu Serena Lodge is a picturesque montage of Samburu culture. From the moment you step inside you are engulfed by authentic tribal decorations. The outdoor restaurant and bar overlooks the Eswigo Ngiro River. This lodge is not a tented camp, but more of a hotel with comfortable rooms, private baths, and your own sun deck. The main residents of the lodge are Vervet monkeys.
Monkeys of all ages and sizes live in the trees and think nothing of lining the walkways playing and eating. Sometimes, they "join" you for dinner, sneaking up to the table and grabbing whatever they can. You forget that they're wild animals. Birds also nest in the trees surrounding the lodge. At breakfast and lunch hornbills and other birds fight for the pieces of bread and crumbs thrown from the restaurant deck.
