Out of Africa
At the mere evocation of East Africa, it often so happens that romantic ideals of great plains, a huge blazing orb descending into the night, hordes of wildlife, from wildebeest to flamingos, enchanting colours, fascinating landscapes across the Great Rift, and colourful, musical and exceptionally diverse tribes enchant the mind. Of course, Karen Blixen’s original Out of Africa has a lot to do with the portrayal of such a timeless paradise. Thus, inspired by a certain nostalgia for a vintage Africa before mass tourism was a thing, we decided to recreate our own modern Out of Africa, with experiences responding to an elegant yet respectful and romantic ideal of the East African regions.
A few Out of Africa experiences...
Traditional Canvas Tents and Iconic Lodges
Let the musical sounds of the bush immerse your every sense
Get lost in East Africa’s immeasurable beauty and generosity from the comfort of a breathable and elegant canvas tent. Let the musical sounds of the bush immerse your every sense, from delightful birdsong in the early hours of the day to intensive cricket and frog altos at night. Animals rustling and rumbling around the tent in the darkness always sends thrills of exhilaration coursing down your spine. Rest assured – in East Africa, ‘tent’ does not mean roughing it. In fact, some of Kenya’s most prestigious lodges have beautiful canvas rooms, with Victorian brass bathtubs overlooking acacia trees and waterholes. Delicious cuisine – often a blend of continental and local spice – will keep you coming back for seconds after days spent in search of iconic wildlife, or relaxing in lounges and by pools. If canvas tent isn’t quite for you, plenty of lodges and manors turned to safari houses dotted around the Serengeti, the Mara, Laikipia plateaux, Samburu lands to name only a few will most definitely whisk you away to the times of the romantic imaginaries that drew visitors to Africa like butterflies to a light. There is room to accommodate for every taste and desire.
Balloon Safaris
A Beautiful Morning Between Clouds and Endless Horizons
A quintessentially romantic experience, balloon safaris offer a tranquil and quiet exploration of the bush. Take a new perspective as you soar through the rosy-coloured dawn, watching the tall savannah grass dance and trees sway in tune to the wind’s howling melody. Pioneered in the 50s by one of the most revered wildlife filmmakers and photographers of all times, Alan Root, the balloon safari industry began in Kenya. After curious visitors repeatedly asked him to take them for a ride, the first commercial balloon operation was stationed in the Mara at Keekorok Lodge. Readers of Alan Root’s wonderful Ivory, Apes and Peacocks – another ode to vintage and pioneering adventures across a tourist-free Africa – will know that it was an instant success, particularly after he took a balloon up and over Mount Kilimanjaro, as well as a group of curious Maasai warriors. Perhaps more comfortable -and much safer – now than it was then, enjoy a deliciously extravagant breakfast after a beautiful morning between clouds and endless horizons.
A walk with Maasai or Samburu warriors
An Enriching and Fascinating Experience
Tribal culture is an important element of East Africa – Kenya alone is home to 45 different tribes. Often seen as stewards of wildlife due to traditions intertwined with ecosystems, many communities today have jumped onto the conservation bandwagon, protecting wildlife to enhance their livelihoods. Part of this happens through their transmission of intimate knowledge and understanding of nature, inherited from hundreds of years of tradition, to guide people from around the world. Bushwalks or drives with Maasai or Samburu warriors across their territories make for an enriching and fascinating experience, often creating bonds that will never be forgotten. Learn about their traditions, ancestry and rites, as these proud people strive to bring their culture into the 21st century.
Dine with Giraffes in Nairobi
The Famous Giraffe Manor
Giraffe Manor is a beautifully designed piece of architecture dating back to the 1930s, rehabilitated into a giraffe sanctuary. Owned by the prestigious Safari Collection, staying at this boutique hotel will be a night to remember – graceful giraffe heads may just pop in through your bedroom window should you leave it open. Think elegant brick walls covered in intricate vine leaves, iconic sunny courtyard and terraces, and long necks roaming the 12-acre property, embedded within 140 acres of indigenous Langata forest. The manor’s conversion from hunting lodge to conservation is perhaps as special as sharing your deliciously extravagant breakfast with Rotchild’s giraffes hoping to share your scone with you.
Go on a Mobile Safari
Going Vintage has Never Been Better
East Africa is a vast and diverse place, and, much like the Great Migration and its hordes of wildebeest and zebra gravitating around the Mara-Serengeti ecosystem, we recommend going the mobile safari option. Large, comfortable canvas tents – with luxurious bedding and delicious food – are the accommodation of choice as you travel from one destination to the next, in the fashion of the first tourism operators in Africa… only slightly less rustic. From the jaw-dropping slopes of the Ngorongoro Crater to the wide-open plains of the Serengeti, to the large granite kopjes of Ndutu, going vintage has never been better. Kenya is also ideal for mobile safaris, with lodges and tented camps offering numerous fly-camping options. Walk, ride or fly to remote places for the night in a simple but well-equipped canvas or mesh tent that will leave you feeling more exhilarated and closer to nature than ever. A comfortable, often luxurious experience, that subtly mixes tradition and adventure with beauty, delightful simplicity and an infinite sense of sumptuousness.
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