Safari Life – Extremely addictive

Let me start by warning you that going on safari is extremely addictive. I have been in the Maasai Mara for the last three weeks, and I could stay for another three months. Africa is a place that one can rarely visit only once; it gets in your blood. There are numerous articles and blogs from travelers to photographers, speaking of their first safari in Africa, and how once the plane left Africa for home, they dreamed of the day they could return. I have been on safari with many people who have traveled all over the world and most have shared that no other place has affected them as deeply as Africa. For a great majority, it becomes a life-changing experience, which is exactly what happened with me.

Your days will start with hot coffee or tea, delivered to your safari tent before the sun rises. As the cool, fresh air fills your lungs, you’ll feel invigorated and rejuvenated, ready for a great day on safari. Excitement builds as you hear the rhythm of the diesel engines of the safari vehicles warming up. All you need to do is grab your gear and jump in. As you pull out of camp, your heart races a little faster, and the hunt begins. Around every corner or past every bush you might find a pride of lions or a herd of elephants storming across the dusty savannas. It is like the ultimate treasure hunt! This morning as I was driving through the tall grasses, I turned a corner and walking down the road, coming straight at me were two female lions with seven cubs. An exciting way to start any day!

This is a place where you completely loose yourself in the excitement of the moment over and over again. There really are no words or images that can explain the feeling of being in such a magical environment, surrounded by exotic wildlife. You will feel like you stepped directly into a wildlife documentary. Where else in the world can you see and photograph lions, leopards, cheetahs, zebras, elephants, hyenas, giraffes, rhinos, jackals, several cats, over ten species of antelope, and more, all in the wild? In the Mara, it is entirely possible to see most of these animals in just one game drive. There is a serenity in completely losing your self in the moment and forgetting about anything else going on in your life; this is a place that one can renew one’s soul.

As the day becomes warm and the animals become still, you head back to camp. Your safari tent may overlook a river, filled with hippos. Have a plunge pool on the deck overlooking a river where elephants are known to cross, or just be surrounded by nature. A scrumptious lunch is prepared for you and an afternoon of relaxation is on the menu. There is a wonderful complete lack of responsibility as everything is planned and taken care of for you. In the late afternoon, you head back out on safari. On your way back to camp, you may stop under an iconic acacia tree for sundowners, cocktails and appetizers, all while looking over the vast savanna while watching the African sunset.

In the evening, everyone gathers around the campfire, enjoying the starry African sky, talking about all of the unbelievable sightings, experiences of the day, and photography. The camaraderie between safari goers and photographers is as though we have all known each other for years. After dinner, a Maasai watchman escorts you to your luxury Safari tent. There is no better way to experience Africa than by spending a few nights under canvas, camping in the heart of a reserve, listening to the sounds of lions roaring, zebras barking, and hyenas calling as you gently fall asleep.

Although I will not be on a long plane ride home, half way around the world, the ache to return on safari is the same. It is never easy to leave a place this magical. In the last decade, I have never left disappointed and I always witness something new, exciting, and unexpected. Going on a safari is one thing that continues to go beyond my expectations.

Below are images of Little Mara Bush Camp that I called home for past three weeks.   (images curtesy of SunWorld Safaris)