| ping Kenya safari means a tented camp with no | | | | water buffalo, and then very close to Galdessa |
| fence or wall, and is a much better part of an in | | | | two very large bull elephants, one of whom we |
| Kenya safari than sleeping in a lodge. Of course in | | | | passed at about fifteen yards, and exciting that |
| a camp with no fence the animals you have | | | | was too. |
| come to see, do come into the camp especially | | | | We hardly passed a vehicle, and whilst our |
| at night. Close encounters with an elephant | | | | journey was just before the long rains arrived in |
| browsing three feet from your tent is what a | | | | April, the weather was clear and warm. The rains |
| camping Kenya safari is all about. | | | | howver came a few days later, and even |
| As a family our first experience of an in Kenya | | | | overnight this was seen by a considerable rise in |
| safari was at the famous Galdessa Camp in | | | | the water level in the river due to rain up country. |
| Tsavo East. With two small children and | | | | We duly arrived at Galdess for our first night |
| apprehensive parents we felt that a fixed camp | | | | ever on a Kenya safari, nd were led to our |
| was going to be about as close to the wilderness | | | | banda, being shown on the way, elephant tracks, |
| as we could cope with, and so in the purest sense | | | | lion footprints, and hippo prints as well, all on the |
| of the word it wasn’t a camping Kenya | | | | path inside the camp. We were told in no |
| safari, but Galdessa is a camp with no fences or | | | | uncertain terms that on a camping kenya safari |
| walls. The ‘tents’ were thatched | | | | site like Galdessa, we were not under any |
| bandas and a great deal more civilized than we | | | | circumstances, even in daylight to leave our banda |
| expected with electricity, running water, and | | | | unless we were with a member of staff, because |
| comfortable beds. Most important of all we were | | | | of the high chance of an encounter with an animal. |
| sealed in, zipped up at night with good well fitting | | | | After dark, we had to get into a safari vehicle to |
| mosquito nets. | | | | go the the dining area, because there was a bull |
| On he way to Galdessa, and by the way we had | | | | elephant in the camp, and indeed on returning to |
| our own family vehicle and driver arranged hrough | | | | our banda later by vehicle the bll elephant was |
| the Manager at Hemingways. He wisely said that | | | | browsing outside our back door, an we crept past |
| for our first in Kenya Safari it was the best way, | | | | about 10 feet away to the safety of our tent. |
| because we could stop when we wanted and | | | | A visiting hippo in the middle of the night, right |
| view as long as we wanted, and how right he | | | | next to the tent, and the early morning evidence |
| was. | | | | that a lion had been within touching distance of |
| The few vehicles we saw were mainly like mini | | | | the tent really made our stay at Galdessa. |
| buses crammed with tourists, which looked no fun | | | | The food at lunch and dinner was spectacularly |
| at all. | | | | good, the views of the river from the central |
| He aso said that if a luxury african safari was our | | | | lounge/dining hut was excellent, and the |
| ideal, then to start at Galdessa would be best, and | | | | surprisingly hot shower in our ten all adde to |
| how right he was again. | | | | make the first night of our first in Kenya safari a |
| On our six hour drive from Malindi we had already | | | | memorable one. |
| seen several giraffes, elephants, but several | | | | Galdessa is a must on any Kenya safari tour, and |
| hundred yards away, a lioness looking for her | | | | a definite stop on a luxury african safari. |
| cubs, and a whole variety of bambi like creatures, | | | | |