My Africa with Bernard – Watamu, Kenya

Ever since I was little, I had heard people talk about the 'Africa bug'. Which isn't a disease... or at least if it were, I believe every human being would want to catch it!! I have visited several countries around the world and was fascinated by some places for their customs..clothes..monuments. But at the beginning of 2010, caught in a very peculiar and at the same time somewhat critical moment of my life, I decided to take a trip, and I must say that the choice of Africa was almost random.. more precisely Kenya.

As soon as I set foot on this land, I was pervaded, wrapped...surrounded by a positive energy. (I swear it was a most pleasant feeling but at the same time it bewildered..amazed me) Clearly my base was a tourist village. I left for the savannah the following day, heading exactly for Tsavo East Park with the beach boy Bernard. It took 2 hours to get there and during those two hours so many children along the sides of the road, queueing to go to school, at the mere sound of the minibus engine struck up their "jambo..", all in chorus and with arms raised to greet us.

Once we arrived at the park, my gaze began to range to infinity...everything I had always seen in documentaries..now I was seeing it with my own eyes..and just a few metres away I had giraffes, gazelles, zebras, warthogs….and I even managed to see lionesses with their cubs! It was thrilling to be able to sleep in the savannah in the tented camp, (I recommend it more than sleeping in the lodges). But I must say that the experience that marked me most was being able to be with the African children, they are wonderful, marvellous... Their eyes, their smile …fill the heart with so much happiness… Besides meeting them on the streets where they run up to you to ask for a sweet, or for a simple greeting, I went to visit them at the TIMBONI orphanage.

I was able to have all these experiences thanks to the boys who work on the beach, the so-called beach boys, who organise excursions, in particular I can speak of BERNARD, a wonderful young man who gave both me and my travel companions unforgettable holidays. Bernard is a very professional, precise person and on top of that he speaks Italian very well and is extremely kind, it's hard not to grow fond of him. In fact when we left for Italy none of us managed to hold back the tears. To anyone about to set off for Kenya I advise you with all my HEART to rely on him for your excursions, I am certain you will be delighted...!!!!!!

I'll leave you his e.mail: berni_safaris@hotmail.com cell. +254 721 487 033 for information you can contact me: taty1973@tiscali.it