Our anniversary in Kenya with In2kenya

This is our trip! We dreamed of it for years and finally it came true! For our wedding anniversary we wanted to visit this land; we had been waiting for it for years, but it had to be a special occasion, and this trip turned out to be truly special. We start contacting various organisations. Usually we like to build our trips ourselves, to start enjoying them from the preparations, looking for where to go, what to see, so that every trip, even just a few days, is only ours. We wanted to see as much as possible with the days available, especially the parks for which Kenya is famous, but we wanted something special. If it has to be the trip of a lifetime, let it really be so! Finding the flight: after much studying and searching, after understanding what we want to see, we look for the flight. Return flight with Turkish Airlines to Nairobi. Then an internal return flight to Nairobi.

Accommodation: we are not backpackers, but neither five-star hotel people; what matters is that they are clean and welcoming. (fully satisfied with all the accommodation!) (To those who tell us that tented camps on safari are not nice… well, let us put it this way: forget the word tent, because we found some so beautiful they were better than many hotels!!) Safari and accommodation: as I said, after various requests to many operators, we find one who meets our expectations. We did not want Italian organisations, but local ones. However, they had to be safe and reliable. Finally, here it is, found: in2kenya, Giovanni's organisation in Watamu.

What we will visit: Sweetwater – Lake Bogoria – Lake Nakuru - Masai Mara – Amboseli – Tsavo West - Tsavo East - Mombasa – Watamu The adventure begins on 1 October: after a flight to Istanbul, a stop and the departure again, at first light we land in Nairobi. After clearing customs (we were already ready with all the forms filled in, as Giovanni had emailed them to us at booking), having paid the visa of 40 euros per person, collected the suitcases, we step out into the African heat. Well… not exactly heat! We expected humid heat, instead it was rather cool. Lucky we had our fleeces!! Waiting for us we find Giovanni, and finally, after so many emails exchanged, we meet! He is a truly capable person. Friendly, but extremely serious about his work. He helps us with the luggage and leads us to our jeep. First surprise.

We see a big jeep, really big; there are 7 seats and there are only 2 of us. We look at each other and think we misunderstood: it was supposed to be just us, this was our trip! Instead we believe, given the jeep, that there are other people. Bruno gets angry with Giovanni, who does not understand and is a bit offended. Luckily I step in, and… by getting angry Bruno made a terrible impression! The jeep was only for us!! We could have danced in it, it was so big! The adventure begins: once we and the luggage are loaded, Giovanni and Thomas get in and we set off, crossing Nairobi — what chaos! There are fine, paved roads, and immediately after dirt roads. A myriad of people, despite the hour, crowd the streets; there are colourful, fast matatu (we discover they are the local means of transport; we will use them too when we are in Watamu!!) We are tired, but our eyes will not close.

Mine are almost full of tears, I am so happy! After a few hours of travel, between naps and waking, we arrive at Sweet Water. It is our first experience of such a real Africa; honestly we did not expect all this. We had been hesitant in our choice; reading various forums we were a bit convinced that Kenya was too "commercial", but what a mistake, here it is Africa! Amid dust, mud villages, paved roads merging into others of beaten earth, women laden with water canisters returning to their huts, trucks you wonder how they can still cover even a few metres, everything fascinates us! Villages lost in the immensity of the savannah, many Baobabs, children who smile and wave. We recommend taking along lots of unused little clothes; toys, pens and notebooks we bought on the spot because, as Giovanni explained, theirs are different.

We stopped several times along our route, and in the villages we gave the things we had brought. We will not talk about all the parks; for these we leave the word to the photos, which will accompany us again and again when at home we think of this trip, which enriched us and made us aware of how lucky we are. Everything is a marvel: raising your gaze during a meal and falling silent — a herd of elephants is approaching the little lake at the foot of the restaurant. It stops just short, too much commotion to come closer, but the spectacle is priceless. Along the lake, herons, ibises; we barely spot a hippo, well hidden in the water, which then starts to "fight" with its huge mouth wide open, with another male. A monkey in a tree screaming persistently: warning the other animals of our presence. A family of lions with cubs trying to steal the adults' meal.

We spot wildebeest, buffalo, wild dogs, rhinos, giraffes, a wonderful leopard that has hunted a gazelle and a family of cheetahs on the hunt, with the mother bringing food to her three cubs! Mongooses always standing to scan around, attentive, funny; zebras, other hippos and elephants very, very close. It is all tremendously tangible, and the only thing we do throughout the whole trip is observe, in silence, the spectacle of nature; this trip will stay with us forever! It was a unique experience! After the safari we relaxed in Watamu, a small town, but for us who do not like chaos it was ideal: many beaches, many walks, some evenings out in the bars. We had dinner, without ever any problem of any kind, even in their restaurants. Excellent the welcome at the resort chosen for us by Giovanni.

In short, a worthy holiday to crown our wedding anniversary! We want to thank Giovanni for the excellent organisation; what we liked most was his professionalism in organising everything — we took care of booking the flight, he took care of the rest of the holiday — in knowing how to be present without pestering us every minute of our holiday. We are used to travelling by organising ourselves, but we were hesitant after reading so much, because we wanted safety, but also independence, and Giovanni gave us all of this! Kenya will win you over, just as Giovanni will; we will return!

Info for the trip: flight: internal flight: accommodation during safari: Sweetwater camp - Lake Nakuru Lodge - Merica Hotel Nakuru - Matira camp - Sentrim camp Amboseli - Tsavo West camp - Tsavo East camp Watamu: Jambo House trip organisation: