Samburu National Reserve – Safari of a Lifetime – 𝐊𝐚𝐦𝐚𝐥 𝐊𝐚𝐮𝐫'𝐬 𝐈𝐧𝐤𝐞𝐝 𝐌𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬

Thursday 13th June

Day Two

5:45am

This may be a break from the norm but it’s not a break from waking up early. An early morning safari has been organised and the earlier one goes into the park, the better. This is because you are most likely to see more animals when it’s cooler. Many tend to take siestas in the afternoon.

There’s a life lesson in there!

6:43am

Seated comfortably in the tour van, we are now off to see what visual delights this morning brings us. Did you wonder if I had breakfast? Well, wonder no more. The lodge offers a packed breakfast to take along with you into the park.

Please be mindful and don’t dump the rubbish it in the park. Bring it back to the lodge and dispose of it properly.

6:39am

C. O. F. F. E. E.

6:52am

My breath is taken away. Not only am I fascinated with this huge ball of fire rising in the horizon (I believe the one word that describes it would be ‘sunrise’), I’m also stunned at this gorgeous elephant drinking water.

6:56am

It gives me the side eye then slowly makes its way towards the tour van. My camera skills are suddenly shaky. I’m reminded of the viral video I saw on Facebook of the elephant in Krueger National Park that goes rampant on a small car. I nervously tell Samuel, our tour guide and driver, that I’m done taking pictures.

6:59am

Samuel still hasn’t started the car. I’m wondering if my neck pillow or selfie stick can be used as a defence against a charging elephant.

It looks like it’s going to charge any minute

7:00am

Samuel starts the car and we move. I smile smugly at the thought of the pictures I took of the elephant and how I’ll tell my kids about my 30-second brush with danger.

It’s a cool morning but I can tell it’s going to get very hot later on.

7:27am

We have been driving around but haven’t seen major game yet. Samuel is communicating on his radio. We may have a lead to some leopards. Oo-er!

8:02am

Spotted some giraffes and elephants. I must say elephants are very fascinating to watch. The protective mummy hovered around the little one as we took pictures. Samuel said that an elephant’s dominant side is the one where the tusk is shorter.

Are there ambidextrous elephants?

My deep thoughts make me feel like I should write a book or something.

Mummy hovering over her little one

8:38am

Hurtling down at breakneck speed in the park. Samuel has been reliably informed of cheetah spotting.

My innards are like the ingredients of a smoothie in a powerful blender at the rate I’m being flung around in the vehicle.

8:51am

Lots and lots of elephants everywhere. We are still driving like our life depends on it. I’m feeling a bit car-sick!

8:55am

Another tour van just passed us and they say a leopard has been spotted.

(I wasn’t even trying with that pun…)

We are inching along slowly trying to catch glimpse of this elusive animal.

9:03am

A LEOPARD HAS BEEN SPOTTED!

What a remarkable creature!

9:09am

Speechless.

Only because I don’t want to attract it’s attention to me as a breakfast option.

Samuel says they’re very hard to find.

I’m thinking camouflage game on point as I adjust my fancy cap.

9:27am

There are quite a few tour vans around us. We keep driving around the leopard to find vantage points to take good pictures. After taking a few photos, I put the camera apparatus down and watch the sleek animal weave itself around the shrubs. How do you even know where to look out for them?

Mother Nature is absolutely beautiful.

10:00am

We stop at the bank of a beautiful river to have breakfast. I’m mesmerised with the beauty of it all. Samuel says that this is a popular picnic spot. I’m pleased to see it’s very clean with no human trash lying around. We have to be responsible for our environment. There’s also a small structure on the far side, which are toilets.

The gurgling of the water has made the partaking of breakfast a very pleasurable experience. I could sit here all day. I would have carried my watercolour paints had I known we would stop here! Ah well. I’ll recreate this beautiful scene with paints later on.

10:25am

That was a lovely breakfast. Now we head back towards the lodge. I think I’m going to get into my swimsuit and maybe dip in the pool, perhaps take a nap, and then chill out to go for an evening game drive.