ON SAFARI

ELEWANA COLLECTION OFFERS KENYAN AND TANZANIAN SAFARIS WITH A TWIST – LET’S STEP OUT OF THE 4WD

The Game Drive

The classic safari game drive in an opensided, canvas-roofed Land Rover, complete with spotters’ seat up front, is one of Africa’s quintessential experiences, allowing uninterrupted views of the unfolding landscape and its inhabitants. Four wheel drive vehicles, built for the most demanding environments, have long played a central role in the safari experience. However, there are other enticing options available for Elewana Collection guests in both Kenya and Tanzania. Try these:

E-BIKE

E-bikes are a perfect fit for exploring the rugged terrain of Laikipia in the 57,000 acre Loisaba Conservancy – which houses Loisaba Tented Camp, Loisaba Star Beds and Loisaba Lodo Springs. Guests are accompanied by guides and rangers on half-day, tailor-made excursions, making access to scenic vantage points a breeze. Once there, stop to survey the land, while tucking into a scrumptious bush breakfast or evening sundowner.

On Foot

The thrill of striding across the wide-open savannah is brought to life with your guide’s insights as you look for tracks, marks and droppings. Guides drawn from local communities, such as the Masai at Serengeti Pioneer Camp and Tarangire Treetops, and the Samburu at Loisaba, share their ancestral knowledge on the eco-systems of each area, the traditional uses of local herbs and plants, and how the seasons effect the land and its inhabitants.

Horseback

Horse-riding is available at a number of Elewana Collection properties, with all abilities catered for at both The Manor at Ngorongoro and Loisaba Conservancy

The stables include English thoroughbreds, Ethiopian ponies and other mix breeds, which are ridden using English saddles. The horses are very relaxed and stay calm – even in close proximity to wildlife – offering a unique, visceral connection. Some safari rides, such as Lewa Safari Camp, are suited to more experienced riders.

Camel

For a novel experience, why not try a camel ride? Lewa Safari Camp’s dromedary trio are led through the savannah by Samburu handlers as the evening draws in for a picturesque, though somewhat bobbling, experience.

Balloon

Being on safari in the Serengeti is a once-ina-lifetime adventure (that many repeat!). Experiencing it by air is literally taking the adventure to another level. Ballooning is an almost soundless experience, other than the enticing roar of the jets which keep you at optimum height. Any wind will push you along at the same pace, so you neither feel it nor hear it. It’s possible to sail along, drone-like, over vast swathes of The Great Migration in the morning, then take a game drive and see those same animals cross the Mara River later the same day.