When I first heard the word safari, years ago, I pictured golden savannahs, prowling lions, and breathtaking sunsets. This wasn’t my first safari—I'd been before—but this trip was different. This time, I had my cousin Cade by my side, and let me tell you, experiencing Kenya with a family member is a whole new adventure. Add in a few sleepless nights thanks to jetlag, Cade’s unbridled enthusiasm for belting out Mulan songs, and the thrill of seeing the "circle of life" up close, and you've got a safari experience that I’ll never forget.
Jetlag and Mulan: A Recipe for Non-Stop Laughter
Let’s start with the jetlag. There’s something about being wildly sleep-deprived that makes everything ten times funnier. A rhino might be casually strolling past the car, but Cade and I would be doubled over in laughter because someone mispronounced a Swahili word or someone’s hair looked particularly windblown. And speaking of Cade, he brought a special flavor to this safari. I never expected to associate the Maasai Mara with Disney classics, but Cade was very into singing Mulan. In the middle of a quiet moment, just as the sun began to set behind a distant hill, he’d suddenly break out into a rousing rendition of “Matchmaker,” complete with dramatic hand gestures and an impressive lack of shame. Soon, the entire group was humming along, and I’m pretty sure our guide had the song memorized by the end of the trip. Safari rule number one: never underestimate the power of a Disney soundtrack.
Shoes Off, Savanna On: A Safari Tradition
Every safari has its own unique rhythm, and this one quickly became a shoeless experience. I started the trip with my trusty hiking boots laced up tightly, prepared for the rugged terrain. But by the second day, those boots were a distant memory. Safari life is best enjoyed barefoot. Whether I was clambering over seats to get the perfect angle for a shot or dangling my feet out of the window to feel the breeze, shoes just got in the way. Besides, who wants to drag the savannah dust into the vehicle? Our truck turned into a no-shoes-allowed zone, with our bare feet hanging out of windows, climbing over seats, and propping up on the dashboard. It felt like a little slice of freedom.
Seeing the Circle of Life: From Birth to Death and Everything in Between
What I love most about safari is the raw, unfiltered look at nature—life in its purest form. On this trip, I saw the full circle of life play out right before my eyes. One day, we watched as a pair of lions mated (an awkward but fascinating affair—especially when someone - Cade - made a poorly-timed joke). We saw a family of elephants tenderly guiding their newest calf through the bush and then, a few days later, came upon a Cheetah devouring a fresh kill, the sound of bones crunching filling the still air. It was both beautiful and brutal, a reminder that life in the wild is raw, unfiltered, and breathtaking. Each sighting was a lesson in survival, a reminder of the delicate balance of life in the bush.
From Zebra Obsession to Cat Fever: How Your Photo Game Changes
On our first day, the excitement was palpable. We pulled out our cameras at the first sight of a zebra, snapping shot after shot of each stripe and shadow. I remember thinking, This is amazing! Zebras! So many zebras! But by the end of the trip, zebras became the wallpaper of the savannah—beautiful, sure, but not quite enough to stop the car anymore. By day three, we had become picky, holding out for the big moments—the lions in the tall grass, the cheetah sprinting after prey, the elephant herds crossing rivers. Our guide, with a knowing smile, teased us about our photo standards as they evolved over the week. “Another zebra?” he’d ask, barely slowing the car. We all laughed, eagerly waiting for the next unforgettable sight.
Loo with a View: Adventures in Safari Bathroom Etiquette
If you ever wondered what it’s like to use the bathroom in the middle of the savannah, let me tell you: it’s an experience. Bathrooms on safari range from “rustic but charming” to “barely a bathroom at all.” We got familiar with the concept of a “Loo with a View,” and let’s just say, the view usually made up for any discomfort. Sometimes, it was a simple hole in the ground with a panoramic view of the plains, other times, a wobbly structure that called itself a toilet in the most generous sense of the word. My favorite, though, was the time we ate breakfast on the Mara—our guide pointing at a tent a ways a way calling it the “five-star facility.” There, in a tent, with the wind whipping around us and the savannah stretching out before us, was the toilet. I discovered that location really is everything.
Sleeping in the Wild: The Magic of a Safari Tent
Let’s talk about safari accommodations because sleeping in a tent on the savannah is an adventure all its own. Sure, the tent had electricity and running water, but you never quite forget that just beyond the canvas walls is wild Africa. Falling asleep to the sounds of the bush—monkeys playing on the roof of your tent, the chatter of nocturnal birds, and the occasional rustle of something larger—is an experience I wouldn’t trade for the finest hotel. Every night, I’d lie awake for a few moments, listening to the night, feeling completely alive. There’s something incredibly cozy about a warm bed under canvas, knowing that the wild is just outside but you’re wrapped up tight and safe. Plus, there’s nothing quite like sipping a morning coffee in the open aired dining room of your camp, the cool air still clinging to the savannah before the day’s heat sets in.
The Language of the Bush: Words You'll Learn on Safari
One of the unexpected joys of safari life is learning the language of the savannah. From the moment we arrived in Kenya, we began picking up bits of Swahili—phrases that became part of our everyday chatter, making us feel connected to the culture around us. It all started with “Jambo!”—the friendly “hello” you hear everywhere. Cade and I took to greeting each other every morning with a big “Jambo!” as a way of saying, “Let’s do this!” Each day was a new adventure, and with “Jambo!” came the promise of another wild ride. We couldn’t help but laugh at the way safari words became part of our own safari “lingo,” like a secret code among friends.
There were phrases we used constantly, like “Hakuna Matata”—the Swahili equivalent of “no worries”—which we quickly adopted as our motto. Whether it was a surprise rainstorm or a stubborn tent zipper, we’d shrug and say, “Hakuna Matata!” It was the perfect reminder to go with the flow and embrace the unpredictable nature of the bush. And then there was “Twendi!”—“Let’s go!”—which became our rallying cry each morning as we piled into the safari vehicle. With a shout of “Twendi!” we’d set off into the wild, eager to see what the day would bring.
By the end of the trip, Swahili phrases like “Asante sana” (thank you), “Sawa sawa” (it’s all good), and even “Pumba” (fool) were second nature. Cade loved shouting “Pumba!” every time we saw a real-life warthog, while I started using “Sawa sawa” as my go-to phrase for just about everything. These words weren’t just practical; they were a way of experiencing the culture, a way to laugh and connect with our guides, and a way to immerse ourselves in the rhythm of the Kenyan bush. Leaving behind the land, the people, and the language was hard, but even now, a casual “Jambo” or “Asante sana” brings back the warmth of the savannah and the laughter of those unforgettable days.
The Daily Safari Routine: Early Mornings and Late-Night Stories
Safaris are about finding a rhythm. You wake up with the sun—sometimes even earlier—because dawn is when the animals are most active. The days start cool, almost chilly, and the excitement of a new morning in the bush pulls you out of bed faster than any alarm clock. Our mornings were spent in bumpy trucks, our eyes scanning the landscape for any sign of movement. Every sunrise felt like a gift, the golden light revealing the secrets of the night before.
Singing Hakuna Matata on our bumpy ride to our hot air balloon launch site!
By late morning, the heat would settle in, either for a hot day on the Savannah, or a retreat to camp for a hearty brunch and a chance to swap stories. Afternoons were slow, quiet—the hottest part of the day spent resting or reading, sometimes slipping into a light nap as the breeze rustled through the tent flaps, or even spending some time at the pool. Cannon ball in Africa anyone? Watch out for that Kenyan sun, the high altitude mixed with being on the equator makes it very easy to burn!
Evening meant another drive, this time searching for the animals as they woke from their afternoon naps. Sundowners, with the sky painted in every shade of orange and purple, became a cherished tradition. And the nights? They were magical—stories around the campfire, stars so bright they seemed close enough to touch, and the sounds of animals moving through the darkness.
Guides: Your Safari Family and Endless Source of Wisdom
By the end of the trip, our guides weren’t just guides anymore—they were like family. They knew exactly what made each of us light up. For Cade, it was his Mulan obsession; for me, it was the thrill of spotting a new animal. They’d laugh with us, poke fun at our daily antics, and share their own tales of the bush, which were somehow always equal parts fascinating and hilarious. They have this uncanny ability to read the savannah like a book, spotting a leopard hidden in a tree from what seemed like miles away or identifying a bird from a split-second glimpse. They were the ones who made the experience what it was—bringing the landscape to life with their stories and showing us the beauty and harshness of the wild with equal measure.
Power Outages, Rainbows, and Other Safari Surprises
A safari is full of surprises—the kind that make you laugh, gasp, and wonder at the unpredictability of the world. There was the time the power went out just as we were charging our cameras, leaving us to dine by firelight under a starry sky. Or the afternoon rainstorm that turned our game drive into a muddy, slippery adventure, followed by the most vibrant rainbow I’d ever seen arching over the plains. And then, of course, there were the moments around the dinner table, swapping stories, and laughing about the days antics, while lions roared in the distance—moments that make you feel more alive than you ever thought possible.
Goodbye to the Bush: Leaving but Not Really Leaving
Saying goodbye to safari life is never easy. You get used to the rhythm, the camaraderie, and the feeling of waking up to a new adventure every day. The last game drive is always bittersweet—there’s a feeling that you want to capture just one more moment, see one more incredible sight before it’s all over. But even as you leave, the magic of the savannah lingers. The memories of those barefoot drives, the Mulan sing-alongs, and the “Loo with a View” experiences stay with you long after the plane has taken off.
If you’ve never been on a safari, my advice is simple: go. And if you can, go with people who will turn your game drives into sing-alongs, who will laugh with you when the jetlag makes everything feel surreal, and who will appreciate every breathtaking, heart-pounding, and completely unexpected moment of the wild. Because those are the stories that will stick with you long after you leave the bush behind.
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