Going somewhere new to me gave me the thrill that many of my clients experience when I plan a trip for them. I love traveling to Europe, but I have done a lot of it lately so exploring something different allowed me to be wowed! I think a variety of destinations and types of travel are on the horizon over the next few years.
What is a FAM Trip?
Angama Amboseli
Here is something you may not know about going on safari … you will fly on small aircraft and land on airstrips. We were fortunate to have enough people to warrant chartering an aircraft which meant we were able to have the plane to ourselves and land at a private airstrip on the reserve where we were staying.
We were then whisked away to a surprise location for lunch, complete with Kilimanjaro (aka Kili) views, a full bar where I enjoyed my first (of many) Gin & Tonics of the trip, and a pizza oven – because who doesn’t expect a pizza oven in the middle of the bush!
Then, it was back to Angama where I spent the afternoon at their pool with views of Kili and then got ready for an afternoon game drive on Kimana Reserve where the lodge is located. We saw all the animals within minutes!
Amboseli National Park
- Super tuskers are elephants with extraordinary tusks, sometimes weighing up to 100 pounds each!
- Rare and majestic, they are living symbols of nature’s grandeur and resilience.
- With fewer than 20 left in the wild, spotting a super tusker is a once-in-a-lifetime experience!
After our time with Craig, we were treated to a lovely breakfast set up in the bush by our Angama guides.
During our day in Ambo, we saw all the animals already pictured plus a few more. From afar, we witnessed hyenas trying to steal a kill from lions, lions defending their kill, and elephants stampeding into the scene for no apparent reason since they don’t eat meat! It was like watching a documentary – even the guides were excited by the scene. However, what I was most excited about (aside from Craig) was seeing hundreds of flamingos! Why you might ask? Because every time I have traveled to a place famous for flamingos, they are never around!
We enjoyed some free time in the afternoon and then we all met by the fire pit to enjoy adumu, a traditional jumping dance performed by the Maasai people. This captivating dance is often part of ceremonial rites, such as the warrior initiation ritual known as “Eunoto.” During Adumu, Maasai warriors, or “moran,” form a circle, and one or more dancers enter the center, showcasing their strength and agility by jumping as high as they can in a vertical leap without letting their heels touch the ground. The dance is accompanied by singing and rhythmir chanting, celebrating community spirit, strength, and cultural pride
After the dance, one of the men stayed behind to answer questions about their culture. It was so enlightening and was a great starter for everything we would learn in the coming days when we traveled to the Maasai Mara. More on in the next blog! If you have any questions in the meantime, please reach out!
