At the end of 2025, our Operations and Sustainability Coordinator, Isabella, went on safari in Kenya for the first time. Despite having travelled widely around the world, safari had never been on her bucket list. Even so, it became an experience she’ll never forget. Read about her first safari experiences below.
I have travelled to many places around the world, but this year brought my first-ever trip to Kenya. Africa was largely unknown to me, and I had never seriously considered going on a safari before. No matter how much you read about a country like Kenya or about the safari experience, it’s something that can only be truly understood in person.
I knew I was in for an amazing experience as we approached the first national park. Leaving the modern bustle of Nairobi behind, Amboseli National Park felt like a dramatic contrast. The vast open savannah and the rush you feel when spotting your first animals is enough to convert even the most sceptical visitor. The excitement of being on safari truly is contagious.
I had heard of the “Big Five” (lions, leopards, elephants, rhinos, and buffalo) before going on safari, but it was only after arriving that I understood why they are considered the ultimate sightings. During our trip, we managed to see four of the five—only the leopard remained elusive. No matter how much we strained our eyes towards the trees, it never revealed itself. However, countless other animals were just as incredible to witness in their natural habitat. I felt especially interested in spotting the giraffes, zebras, and even the warthogs, and seeing the baby giraffes and rhinos was an unforgettable highlight.
I was surprised by how much I enjoyed the nature in each national park—perhaps equally as much as watching the wildlife itself. The red dust of the roads settled over everything, including us by the end of a long safari day. The dense bushes offered shade where many animals were hiding from the heat, while the lush trees along the river transformed the landscape into something closer to a forest. I had not expected such striking differences between the parks or how excited I would feel each time we entered a new area. Time seemed to stand still as we drove, the warm wind flowing through the car and the breathtaking views filling you with a mix of excitement and calm.
While we were on safari, we had an amazing driver, Joseph. He told us not only about Kenya’s nature and wildlife, but also about its culture and people. Along the way, he explained the meaning of various Swahili words—Simba meaning lion (thank you, Disney), karibu meaning welcome, and jambo meaning hello. But the most interesting word I learned from him was safari. In the modern world, it has come to mean a trip to spot animals on the savannah, but in Swahili it simply means “journey.” After the trip, I understood that our safari really was a journey in the truest of the word.
Isabella
TourCompass – From tourist to traveller
