The familiar warmth (and by warmth I mean torrential big fat rain drops that sends evening traffic in Nairobi into meltdown) of Nairobi welcomed me back as my wife Buffy and I landed at Jomo Kenyatta late on Thursday the 19th December. The sounds, sights and smells quickly wrap me up in memories of past adventures and invite the promise of new ones to come. This visit feels especially poignant – it marks ten years since Buffy and I spent our honeymoon here, guided by my old university friend Andrew “Cappy” Campbell. After a fairly horrific year, starting with Buffy suffering a Sub Arachnoid brain haemorrhage, it is great to be back in such a wonderful place with the time and space to decompress.
Tomorrow brings one of my favorite Nairobi traditions – a visit to the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust’s elephant orphanage. After that, the evening promises to be filled with laughter and stories, catching up with my Kenya-based Shogun rugby family, along with some old Royal Navy friends over drinks and dinner. These reunions always remind me why I feel so at home in Kenya and why friendships are so important now more than ever.
The real adventure begins on the 21st when we’ll gather at the Sheraton to meet our full safari party – Stuart and Sophie Kidd (our wonderful neighbours from Oxted who’ve become such good friends; largely because they know where all the bodies are buried and enable our red wine habit) and Robin Callaway (who was with me on the Everest Rugby Challenge back in 2019) with his daughter Katy. There’s something magical about sharing Kenya with people you care about, watching their eyes light up as they discover the wonders that made you fall in love with this place. I am hugely looking forward to seeing their reactions as we explore the landscapes of the incredible Kenyan National Parks of Tsavo, Amboseli and the Masai Mara and meet the incredible wildlife that live there: up close and personal.
Our friend Cappy, a multi-generation Kenyan safari guide, has woven his magic once again, crafting an anniversary journey that began to unfold today. There’s something deeply reassuring about having a friend who knows every hidden gem of this magnificent country, whose family history is intertwined with Kenya’s wild spaces. This isn’t just another safari – it’s a celebration of ten years of marriage, of friendships that span continents, and of the timeless appeal of Kenya’s wilderness. As I settle into my first night back in Nairobi, I can feel the familiar excitement building. Tomorrow, the journey truly begins.
“THERE IS SOMETHING ABOUT SAFARI LIFE THAT MAKES YOU FORGET ALL YOUR SORROWS AND FEEL AS IF YOU HAD DRUNK HALF A BOTTLE OF CHAMPAGNE — BUBBLING OVER WITH HEARTFELT GRATITUDE FOR BEING ALIVE.” Karen Blixen
Special thanks to Kelvin (Tradewinds), Anthony (AC Safaris), Charles (Tessen) and Shirley (Sheldrick Wildlife Trust) for making our arrival and first few days so stress free! Big love as ever to Terry (Tessen & Shogun) who very kindly let us use his apartment in Nairobi as a base when we arrived – you are the man.
Deano's World 