Terra Nova Travel

Professional trip designing for the inquisitive, independent and intrepid

Karisia Walking Tour, Kenya 2010

On my third trip to Africa, I set off for East Africa-Northern Kenya and Tanzania with a wonderful beach/island finale in Zanzibar. I went on numerous game drives in Northern Kenya's national parks of Meru, Shaba, Samburu, Matthew's Range, the private concession's of Lewa Downs and Loisaba, and then continuing on to Tanzania's national parks of Tarangire,Serengeti and Selous . During my three and half week marathon, my most unique safari was my 4 day/3 night Karisia walking safari. My walk in the "safari" park began from the Nanyuki Airport with a two hour drive to the hills just outside the "town" of Il Polei and ended with my "game drive" transfer from my final campsite to the Nanyuki Airport.

Nancy and her 10 Samburu warriors traversed the North Kenya countryside on foot and on camel back. The Samburu are related to the more familiar Masai of the Masai Mara. These northern country cousins share the Maa language and many customs, including the nomadic life style. The school and village visits are of course designed to accommodate tourists, but still do afford us "outsiders" a glimpse of their daily lives, without a hoard of other tourists.

While not quite the same adrenaline rush as witnessing a lion pride taking out a wildebeest, there is nothing more exhilarating than being on the trail of a leopard whose recent baby warthog kill is still warm and the fresh vermilion blood path leads from the corpse to the tree where the leopard had attempted to stash her carrion. Along the trail observing the freshly "minted" spoor of the wild dog and tracing the habits/ life cycle of the African elephant from destructive foraging, scat to skull await close inspection and in their own way are no less amazing.

Discovering the insect world of worms, spiders and ants is not for everyone, but understanding the role they play is crucial to the survival of the fragile African ecosystem. The flora of this stark landscape also has a symbiotic relationship with the indigenous animal/human population. From the croton to the sisal to datura (white trumpet flower), both animals and man over the centuries have learned the secrets of their medicinal powers and harnessed their "industrial" use.

The icing on the cake was the drive from the camp site across Ewaso River along the Impala Ranch Corridor where I spotted not only elephant, giraffe and zebra but I saw my FIRST WILD DOGS!!! Gabriel, head guide, and all of the crew were fantastic! I can't thank them enough for sharing their part of the planet with their MAMA!

I invite you to take a "walk" with me on the wild side.