Above the Samburu women greet me with traditional songs, a dance about cattle and those warm Kenyan smiles that make your heart melt. I also found in comparison, I don’t have as much rhythm as I’ve been bragging about.

I have over 600 photos in the first couple days of my trip!  The selection below has been carefully edited for your viewing pleasure to give you just a taste of how just one place, can have so much variety. Saruni, Samburu is:

• A luxurious tented lodge
• with delicious Italian food, the owner Riccardo hails from Italy, served by Sebastian (he will always claim it’s squirrel– it’s not, it’s pasta)
• surrounded by some of the most ruggedly beautiful settings
• with five species that can only be found in Eastern Africa (namely Kenya– the pictures are all below)

BUT…what makes it truly unique is the dedication to the local community, through employment, co-operatives and renting the land from the people. Including driver and guide LEPAYON (below)

who managed to hold his calm when the elephants decided we had gotten a bit too close (below)

and we even met some of his family.

THE UNIQUE FIVE YOU WON’T FIND ON SAFARIS OUTSIDE OF NORTHERN KENYA/EASTERN AFRICA
1) Beisa Oryx

2) Reticulated Giraffe

3) Somali Ostrich

4) Grevy Zebra

5) Gernuck

AND WHO JUST DOESN’T GET EXCITED ABOUT THESE GUYS?

The lioness patiently waiting to feed her two cubs.  She was hunting alone and ended up feasting on a baboon…

Baboon, and no, not the same one that the lioness above ate.

ELEPHANTS!  These guys are everywhere.