The moment I arrived at Kitich Camp, I knew this was a gem.  The camp is in a stunning location overlooking the gorge of the Ngeng River, has just 6 tents- comfy, traditional and low impact, and is the only camp in the Matthews Mountain Range in Kenya.

But it was the walk in the lush forest to look for elephant with the Samburu warriors that ensured  Kitich would become one of my all-time favorite places. For those who love getting well off the beaten track, we highly recommend putting this on your list of must-see places!

• Pristine mountain wilderness
• Lush indigenous forest with cycads and wild orchids
• A truly unique forest wildlife experience
• Walk along forest footpaths guided by Samburu warriors and Ndorobo guides to see elephant, buffalo, bushbuck, warthogs…
• Learn traditional ways of tracking wildlife
• Remote yet accessible
• Only 6 guest tents
• High eco and cultural preservation standards

“Everywhere we went, people were amazed at the variety of experiences we were having and the variety of places that we were visiting…”   

Below are some reflections on their journey:

When we started planning our trip to Africa, we both thought seeing animals in their natural habitat would be the highlight.  Instead, what made our trip so special were the people we connected with in so many places and in so many different ways.  Priscilla and Valentina set up an amazing African experience for us, with talented guides, and we met many warm and friendly people along the way who made our trip unforgettable.  From our first night at African Rock Hotel to the last night at De Hoop Nature Reserve in South Africa, we connected with people in such a genuine way that we can’t wait to return.

One unforgettable encounter was with Chief Mpisi, a very well-known headman and healer.  Our amazing guide in Victoria Falls, Bee, took us to his village where we spent time with him learning about life in his traditional village and the challenges they encounter.

We then spent 3 days at The Hide in Hwange National Park in Zimbabwe and were blown away by the knowledgeable guides.  They were so quick to identify the birds and animals we saw and educate us about animal habits and the ecology of the area.  They turned me into a bird watcher for the rest of our trip.  We loved how remote it is and the communal dining which allowed us to connect with the guides and guests from all over the world.  When I grow up, that’s where I want to live!

We were very fortunate that Bumi, our next spot, had a mid-week drop in guests and we had our guide, Dean MacGregor, all to ourselves.  We trampled through the bush, tracking first buffalo and then lions. Tracking lions through the bush may not seem to be the most prudent thing to do, but Dean’s confidence, experience, and the small arsenal that he carried with him, got us past our initial reservations, and though we didn’t see buffalo or lions, we had a lot of fun!  We also went on driving safaris and sunset boat safaris watching the amazing wildlife congregating on the shore. We had the opportunity to learn about Dean’s life in Zimbabwe.  His father was a farmer whose farm was confiscated and they had to emigrate to Australia.

In Cape Town, we were met at the airport by a Nike employee Chris had connected with via email. He and his wife took us to a soccer match at the new stadium and then out for drinks. These were not just people who were entertaining guests from the home office, they showed the warmth and friendliness that we saw so many times during this trip. No trip to South Africa is complete without a braai, and we had the good fortune to have ours with Ryan and Delia, at their home and with friends from their neighborhood. As it was a Friday during Rugby World Cup, we made sure to wear green.

We also spent a day in Cape Town with guide Acilia Schoemann, who tailored our time to fit our specific interests.  She filled us in on South African history and introduced us to Cape Town.  She really made the place come alive.  We visited several places for local crafts as well as an amazing spice market in the Bo Kaap. We had lunch at a wonderful restaurant and by the end of our day we really felt at home in Cape Town. We spent another day with James Fernie from Uthando. Wow, that was an amazing experience.  From meeting the warm, loving elders at NOAH, to exchanging gardening tips at Abalimi Bezakhaya, to seeing the handoff of comfort dolls at the Nonceba Foundation, we had the opportunity for truly meaningful interactions with residents of the Khayelitsha Township.

Our next stop was Prince Albert in the Karoo, where we spent a couple of days at African Relish cooking school.  The locale is gorgeous and the activities were awesome. Some activities, like our bike ride to the Fig Farm, were actually pretty challenging. At African Relish, we met an amazing group of South Africa women we nicknamed “the Bevy of Beauties.”  This group of middle-aged women has been going on active vacations together for many years and boy, do they know how to have fun!  Within a short time of meeting them, they folded us into their group. We were happy to be included, and not just because their members included a local winemaker. We got to hear about their lives in South Africa, picked up excellent suggestions for our trip to De Hoop, and heard about all of the places that we need to see on our next trip.  It can’t come soon enough for us!