Our Kenyan Safari Adventure with Two Kids in the Masai Mara at the Elewana Sand River Camp

Wow oh wow! I have no idea how I’m going to articulate the most incredible experience of our life to date, but I’m going to give it a go! For years, Preetam and I have wanted to go on a safari – we both love animals and are constantly intrigued by wildlife. Given both our parents origins are from Africa, it felt natural to want to visit. I’m not sure why it took us so long to take the plunge to go – perhaps the scaremongering stories you hear which actually aren’t stories just “what ifs” or it was the fear of not knowing how the boys would react. Would Arjun be terrified of live lions? Would Saajan understand to stay quiet or would he panic and make lots of noise? What if they got sick? My dad has visited many safari parks around the world and has become addicted and goes yearly since the last six years. When he suggested we just do it, something in me changed. Perhaps it’s watching Saajan over the last two years prove me wrong in so many ways. The sickness side – we’ve traveled around the world and we’ve been ok so I figured if we took all the precautions (yellow fever jab, typhoid jab and malaria tablets and mosquito deterrent) that should cover that fear. Where the boys were concerned, I reasoned with myself that it wasn’t for ME to decide how they’d react. That I couldn’t write them off before even trying! We decided to fly as soon as the summer holidays hit as July is perfect to watch migration. I’d spotted the Elewana Sand River lodges a while ago and had my heart set on staying there. I didn’t realise at the time that the camp is unfenced and that there are wild animals roaming free! I had a mini panic on finding out a few days before departure but knew that the camp wouldn’t be around if it wasn’t safe! Upon arriving in Kenya, we took a small plane to the air strip in Masai Mara. It’s about a 40 minute flight and the views as you jet over the Mara fill you with excitement as you catch the breathtaking view of wildebeest in large herds following each other like an amry of ants from the birds eye view. As we landed, we were instantly welcomed by three gorgeous giraffes walking elegantly in the distance. We were welcomed by Alex who warmly greeted us with cold towels, a selection of fresh juices and snacks as we took in our surroundings. I couldn’t believe we were actually there! Our safari adventure had began! We opted for an open vehicle making us as close to the animals as possible! We wanted nothing obscuring our view. Alex drove us through the Mara to the camp frequently stopping as we basked in the beauty of mother nature. The kids were so excited, I was so surprised by their reaction! Saajan eagerly waved at the Zebras who were a stone’s throw away from the vehicle and blew kisses at the wildebeest. I couldn’t believe it. I was consumed by emotion as I watched my littlest cub take everything in his stride – how did I ever doubt him? We arrived at the camp and were greeted with a warm smile by Frances – one of the general managers. Throughout our stay, after each game drive, we were greeted by the manager on duty. It gave a really warm feel to the camp. There didn’t seem to be a divide between management and staff – they all equally rely on each other for different expertise and it’s something that is really valued there. After a spot of lunch, we were shown to our tents. They oozed luxury with their gorgeous four poster bed, lounge area and a spacious bathroom. There was also a decking area right outside the bedroom which overlooked the Sand river.

Image taken from Elewana Sand River website

As mentioned, the camp is unfenced meaning that animals are free to roam so there is constant security to protect guests. Elewana Sand River is literally where luxury meets nature. Once the sun goes down, a ranger accompanies you on your walk to your room for safety. We were located in room 7 and it was quite a walk from the reception and dining area. Not going to pretend that that walk each night wasn’t possibly the most nerve wracking feeling ever! We were told that rangers often encounter lions and elephants roaming during the night (it’s ok for them to do so during the night while guests are asleep). Each day we were taken on a game drive at 6am and 4pm. Alex was our guide throughout and he literally became like family catering to our every need with such warmth. He would bring hot chocolate with us for our game drives knowing we loved a hot drink. The boys took to him so well and Arjun still misses him. He was so brilliant at answering all our questions and providing us with a story behind what was happening. For example on our first evening game drive, in the dark he spotted two lions, one lion appeared injured – he told us that they were probably brothers and that the uninjured lion would be looking for food for his brother knowing that his injured brother won’t survive without. The next morning, we witnessed the injured brother feasting on a fresh kill provided by his brother. It was fascinating. Alex was armed with a wealth of knowledge and you could truly see his love for the animals and his interest. The guides communicate with each other when there is a sighting which is particularly helpful in ensuring your time is maximised. Game drives typically last 2-3 hours however on our second day we were out in the morning for 7 hours! We had no idea how much time had passed as we were in awe of our sightings. The boys behaved beautifully and didn’t need the entertainment or distraction of anything else.

Some of the wonderful things we got to see included: Watching the injured lion eat the kill close up (we were literally a few feet from him) and watching the vultures line up for when he was done and the stalks lining up behind the vultures for their turn! It was truly remarkable to witness the pecking order of the jungle Seeing crocodiles and hippos respecting each other in the Mara River Watching monkeys pinch our lunch at the camp! Watching a female cheetahs and her cubs – witnessing the mother scower for a kill and getting ready to pounce Watching two male lions offer their advances to a lioness by marking their scent. She responded with a loud roar to which Saajan roared back Hearing a lion roar in real life Watching a heard of elephants eat – fascinating to watch them use their trunks! Watching a lioness go for the kill – I’d always assumed it was easy, but unfortunately she failed as was outnumbered and got tired chasing the wildebeest We were fortunate enough to spot a giant cobra a few feet from us Watching young lions reunite with their mother – it was so playful and heartwarming and reminded me of how the boys are when we all get in to bed for snuggles Watching two young lions play like Simba and Nala A leopard guarding her kill with a panoramic view from the top of a tree Seeing a heard of wildebeest in their thousands migrate across the sand river Witnessing snarly hyenas

As part of their all inclusive service, the camp also offers unlimited laundry which I wish I’d known before as I’d have packed a lot lighter! We packed several layers including costs, hats and scarves for the children as the mornings and evenings were pretty cold. Alex also provided us with shawls to keep us warm. We also chose to visit a local Masai tribe as part of our 3 night stay. It was so humbling to see how the tribe live and how content and happy they are. The food was top quality and they did a brilliant job at catering to our vegetarian needs. They even made my mum an eggless 60th birthday cake and the fun filled staff all joined together to perform a little dance to the famous Jambo song to mark the special occasion! We had breakfast in the bush twice and the experience was magical. Alex set up a table and chairs, crockery and cutlery and we had delicious hot food and tea and coffee while enjoying the backdrop of the Mara. They even had vegetarian sausages which is definitely a novelty when abroad!

The entire time during our stay, it often felt like we were the only guests there despite the property operating at full capacity. As a party of 7, all our meals took place in a private tent and we had the same staff taking care of us each day – John and his co staff worked so hard to ensure we enjoyed our dining experiences. We truly were spoilt – we have the growing bellies to prove it!

The highlight of our trip (aside from the amazing sightings we witnessed) was definitely the sundowners experience. We were driven to a gorgeous spot on a hill where we were met by Frances and Jerrard – two of the general managers, a waiter and a ranger, Omari. Behind their warm faces was the glow of a beautiful campfire against the sunset – perfect for roasting marshmallows while sipping on hot chocolate after the beautiful finger food we got to indulge in! It was truly magical having a panoramic view of the Mara from a height while watching the sunset.

My boys smashed every single fear I had and embracing the magical experience so so much. The very vivid sound of the lions calling for each other, hearing trees rustle as the elephants indulged in a midnight snack, monkeys jumping on our tent at night, the sound of a hippo waddling through the water a few meters away from our room and the sound of paw like footsteps on our decking – the only thing parting us – a tent wall, made our nights at Elewana Sand River so so magical and unforgettable. We got to experience each and every sound as though we were outside through the thin tent walls. As each night passed, our original fear turned to excitement as we tucked up in to our cosy warm beds (they place a hot water bottle at turn down so you’re warm!) anticipating what the night had in store for us! Waking up for our morning game drives and sometimes being greeted by a shy zebra or wildebeest through the bushes, or spotting a fresh elephant dung literally on our doorstep in the mornings was quite the experience and one we cannot wait to embark on again! A huge thank you to all the staff at the camp – to the rangers who kept us safe, Alex for being the most incredible guide, Frances, Faith and Jerrard for being so warm and welcoming and for all the restaurant staff and chef for going out of their way to keep us entertained while also keeping our bellies (over!) full! Thank you to all those that helped me plan the trip and gave and reassured me it would be fine! We had the holiday of a life time making memories watching the boys in awe of their surroundings – it was so different to our usual holidays!