Safari with Omar Nero January 2010

We set off for Malindi on 1 January 2010 and stayed at the Flamingo villas, a small resort a little south of Malindi. Although we aren't lovers of holiday villages, here the atmosphere was quite familiar, also thanks to the Italian management (Stella di Roma) which delighted us every dinner with Italian dishes cooked as if at home (the lasagne were surprising!). From Italy, thanks to a friend (Lilla from Jack Bikers, a well-known place in Vigevano with tex-mex cuisine) we contacted Omar Nero, our guide who gave us wonderful emotions during our first short and intense African safari. We saw a great many animals thanks to his experience as a guide and his dedication to this work.

We crossed the Tsavo East park, staying at the Voi Wild life lodge (excellent), and the following day we set off towards Amboseli, where we stayed at the Kibo camp tented camp, at the foot of Kilimanjaro, where you sleep in tents furnished with all the comforts of a hotel room (bed, shower and wc included). Talking with other tourists we found that not all organised excursions (especially those booked through the "classic" tour operators) allow you to experience and see African reality. With Omar the emotions are guaranteed, we crossed and visited Masai and Kenyan villages in contact with the children and the people who enliven these poor but unique places, full of smiles, colours that made us understand how these people, unlike us Westerners, are sunny like their land.

Omar took us to his village, where he lives together with his people (his father is the village chief) half Christian and half Muslim, in a peaceful and civil mingling. With him we also did the blue safari, a beautiful excursion to the Marine Park of Malindi where, taking advantage of the low tide you can stop on an atoll to see the starfish and enjoy a superb grill of lobsters, prawns and excellent sailfish. I almost forgot, Omar speaks excellent Italian and has moderate prices for his excursions: you can contact him on +254****7135 or write to him at the email address mwadhini2@yahoo.com and he will come to pick you up directly at your village as he did with us. Jambo Marco and Morena!