Follow My Adventure: Galloping with Giraffes on Safari in Kenya

As the creative director of Dinogo Planet, I have the chance to travel for work and visit some truly extraordinary places.

I typically travel with an overload of camera gear, stacks of paperwork, and a gnawing anxiety that, despite my lack of sleep and the impossibility of catching up, I’m not accomplishing nearly enough. My journeys often revolve around documenting human experiences and following up on recommendations, which means there’s been one type of trip that has long eluded my work assignments: the safari.

So when the luxury travel experts at Tropical Sky contacted me about their safari experiences in Kenya, I seized the chance to swap my desk job for encounters with the Big Five. Here are some highlights from a trip that allowed me to unplug from screens, Google Drive, and the daily hustle.

A journey that left me utterly astonished.

Where did you stay? What was the atmosphere like?

I stayed at two Porini camps: the Porini Rhino Camp in the Ol Pejeta Conservancy, Africa's largest black rhino sanctuary; and Porini Mara Camp, located in the Ol Kinyei Conservancy, the first conservancy established in the Masai Mara region, built in collaboration with the local Maasai community.

Unlike typical safari camp experiences, Porini’s commitment to land and wildlife conservation means there’s just one tent for every 700 acres. It’s hard to grasp what that entails (who thinks in acres, anyway?) – but believe me, it was incredibly tranquil. The accommodations are temporary, ensuring minimal impact on the land, and each tent offers expansive views of the surrounding conservancy and its roaming wildlife. The tents are quite comfortable, almost luxurious, with hot-water bucket showers available upon request and running water in the bathrooms. The staff even sneak hot-water bottles between your sheets to warm your bed at night. One of the greatest perks? Waking up to coffee in bed before sunrise, as a Maasai warrior ensures everyone is alert and well-caffeinated before the morning game drives.

It was significant to me that Tropical Sky emphasized crafting an environmentally friendly journey; learning about how Porini and Gamewatchers sustainably manage the land truly reinforced this. As Simon Nkoitoi, the senior warden of Ol Kinyei Conservancy, expressed, “We believe in partnering with the community because the land belongs to the community and the wildlife belongs to the land.” In practice, this entails a steadfast commitment to creating habitats for wildlife through 22 conservancy initiatives and providing income for the Maasai community by leasing their land. There’s even a wildlife and tourism university at the heart of the conservation project that trains local warriors to become guides.

Did you encounter many other travelers? Locals? Where?

Speaking of our guides, we had amazing tours led by local Maasai. I still keep in touch with Ben, our guide from Porini Mara, to whom I promised a copy of our upcoming new edition of the Dinogo Planet Kenya guide (releasing in November!).

Alongside the locals, I was equally inspired by the company of my fellow travelers. Each night, Porini hosted a communal dinner, allowing everyone on the property to connect. Among the group was the Paradise family from Boulder, Colorado, whom I met on our first evening at the Porini Rhino camp, and we’ve kept in touch since. We bonded over our shared passion for travel and music: Will Paradise owns Paradise Found, the last record store in Boulder, while Annika Paradise co-authored Wonder Year, a guide for family travel around the globe. It felt like destiny brought us together.

What’s your favorite shot from the trip and where was it taken?

I must have taken around a trillion photos during this trip…and I’m at a loss for what to do with them all. There’s the shot of the lioness stealthily approaching a herd of water buffalo, the one of the leopard perched in a tree, and, of course, that adorable baby elephant. However, the most unforgettable moment was one I recorded on video – not just the most striking moment of the trip, but possibly one of the most enduring memories of my travels to date.

After a long stretch of driving, we spotted a cluster of tall shapes in the distance: initially a mass, but soon revealing themselves as nearly a dozen individual giraffes against the horizon. Like a concealed city, this new natural skyline gradually came into focus as a tower of giraffes: a term I later learned refers to a group of giraffes when they’re standing still. However, as we got closer, this tower transformed into a journey – a term used for a group of giraffes in motion. Our cart rolled toward the journey, and the journey circled around us. (“Running” might be a bit generous considering the pace these creatures managed to keep.) It felt as though they were gliding in slow motion, moving gracefully around us.

In that moment, I felt deeply connected to the pack, united with everyone who has ever witnessed such majestic animals in their natural habitat. It was a privileged perspective, an awe-inspiring sight – almost psychedelic – one that I will undoubtedly never forget.

What was something you didn’t anticipate?

What it feels like to run alongside giraffes, for starters.

However, the most remarkable aspect was the sheer amount of time dedicated to game driving. You might roll your eyes and think, “Duh! You’re on safari.” But before this trip, I considered safari just a noun. It transformed into a verb for me, and it turns out, it can be quite an adventure. This is a rave, not a gripe: we were up before dawn with breakfast on the go and often didn’t return until the afternoon. The drives through the conservancies are lengthy, with few other vehicles in sight – a rare delight in such a popular wildlife sanctuary. The intervals between admiring zebras and wildebeests felt meditative. Just you, the wind, the sun, and the vast Kenyan landscape... hour after hour.

What do you regret not bringing?

The domestic flights from Nairobi to the conservancy and between camps are tiny 12-seaters, limiting your packing options from the start. But honestly, you don’t need much. (And coming from someone who usually overpacks, that’s saying something.) Still, I wish I had brought fewer items and more warm layers, as it did get chilly during those early morning drives and after sunset.

Annie traveled to Kenya courtesy of Tropical Sky. Dinogo Planet does not accept complimentary services in exchange for favorable coverage.