Exploring luxury safaris in Kenya

A lighthearted experience on a luxury Safari in Kenya

The thought of a luxurious safari in Kenya is just so appealing. Maybe it's the idea of seeing lions lounging in the golden grass while sipping a perfectly chilled glass of rosé, or the sheer audacity of seeing oneself as a modern-day explorer without ever having to sleep in a tent that leaks. Last month I found myself on precisely this sort of trip and, well, let's just say it was a very humiliating experience—mostly since I learned the "wild" has a way of showing you who actually governs the savannah.

When I arrived at the airstrip, a Land Rover so shiny it almost seemed unethical to touch the wheel was waiting for me. Like a devoted steed, the car was waiting for me and promised to be both fashionable and safe in equal parts. Our guide, a local with a smile that hinted he had more than a few near brushes with naughty elephants, greeted me with a cool assurance that the animals would behave themselves—more or less. Immediately, I felt like a VIP, which, to be honest, I rather liked.

The safari itself combined exciting anarchy with calm beauty. Observing a herd of elephants traverse the plains serves as a reminder that although humans may rule towns, nature still defines the rules out here. As the guide murmured the names of the animals with the kind of calm that made me feel like I had shown up to a black-tie event in flip-flops, I struggled to seem composed. Unsurprisingly, my efforts at professional photography included both fuzzy zebras and unintentional creative interpretations of acacia trees. Still, the pure grandeur of the animals more than compensated for my poor abilities.

My favourite time was evenings. Retreating to the lodge, which appeared to float gracefully above the scenery, I would observe the sunset paint the sky with pink and orange colours no Instagram filter could ever aspire to match. Dinner was had under the stars, and indeed there was wine. It was almost embarrassing how understated the luxury of it all was. I chuckled at how luxurious it seemed to have a beautifully prepared gourmet meal on one side and such natural nature on the other. Sitting in a soft chair and pondering the fact that life can be fantastically good is very human; so is hearing far-off roars.

It was most obviously during a morning game drive when a cheeky baboon group chose to examine our car that the humour struck me most clearly. I had images of brave animal interactions in mind, but in reality, a particularly inquisitive baboon attempted to steal my hat, and I had to push the camera away, squealing. It reminded me, like in life, humility is typically expected on a luxury safari.

I came to see that, at the conclusion of the vacation, a luxury safari is more than simply comfort; it's an opportunity to engage with the natural world while treating oneself to some luxury. Though it all fits neatly together, there is laughter, surprise, and the odd small humiliation. I came back home a little burnt, with way too many giraffe pictures and a new respect for how wild, beautiful, and delightfully wild the world can be.