Two days ago we’ve started our safari trip to the Shimba Hill National Reserve. 2:30pm our personal driver Samuel picked us up and we left the hotel AND the Wi-Fi! 26h no connection to the outer world 😉

After about 45min drive we arrived at the park and 10min later at the Shimba Hills Lodge, our hotel for one night.

A short check in and we’ve been back at the bus for the first safari. 2h around the park. After 1h driving around we’ve could see the first animals: warthogs! A mother with her little baby’s 🥰

Aren’t they cute??

Certainly we hoped for elephants and giraffes, but sadly we missed them. Our next wild experience were buffalos. A group of around 20 animals were grazing in a very dry area. The boss was staring at us like: “who the f… are you?”

On the way back to our dinner we’ve met a group of Pavian and Impala’s, the called bush bock at the park.

Back at the hotel and a short (cold) shower we had dinner. We learned we were the only guests at the moment. 3 weeks ago an elephant destroyed an electric path at the park and this turned on a fire. The smoke around the park touched also the hotel. So the guests couldn’t stay there and the left to another hotel. During our safari we’ve could see the burning areas.

The young man, our waiter, was very kind and I have to say, the food was excellent!

Time changed. 30 years ago we had waiter in tails and with white gloves. I must say, it’s sad that they’re gone because that was something really special!

While we had dinner the light shut down and we had no electricity about 2hours. That’s usual, we had that also at our hotel at the beach one day before. Usually all hotels have generators, so it’s not a problem. The Shimba Hills Lodge is not allowed to use a generator because of the animal who comes at night to the little lake behind the hotel. So they always have to wait for fixing it at Diani. Our waiter and guide took us to the path trough the trees on the other side of the lake. We saw some antelopes in the dark. They were looking at us like the buffalo in the park. And we also saw the stars. The sky at night is much different than the sky in Europe. It’s much clearer and there are much more stars! It’s simply stunning. I’ve tried a picture, it’s obviously much more intense if you are there.

The next morning. Breakfast at 07.00am, my son would say: in the middle of the night. He’s right ☺️ it’s my son 🤷🏼‍♀️ but we had little guests with us:

The plan was a 2,5h safari tour in the morning, not to hot for us and the animals. 2,5h nothing but plants. Really nothing. Elephants and giraffes? We missed them. Because a of the fire a lot of animals left the park.

At 10:00am we started a walk about 2,5km down to the Shedrick waterfall’s. With a group of 20 Italian guys. Do I need say more…? We’ve entered a little wood and the ranger pleased us to be quiet. This word is unknown by Italians, I think 🙈 After 45 minutes we arrived at the falls. Smaller than I thought but nice! The small lake were entered by the Italian so I’m happy I’ve did a picture before that ☺️

The water was very refreshing! The way back was extremely hot and strenuous 🥵 45 minutes uphill and 35 degrees in the sun.

Back on the hill we returned to the Lodge and were looking forward to lunch. Again really good food! And we saw a bald eagle 🦅 catching a big chameleon. Amazing! (The chameleon was faster)

That was our safari trip. For me back to my childhood and for Bene a new experience 😊