The Magic Of Kenya - Saturday, November 06, 2010

Wow!! After 1 and a half months break I have already started working on High Life Dubai SEASON 6. Time flies like the Peregrine falcon!! I started my shoot with The Luxury Global Travel segment. In the past, I have covered destinations like Hong Kong, Macau, Maldives and Turkey- Istanbul, Bodrum. This time, I went for an unparalleled African Safari…to the world’s best wildlife game parks where you can spot the Big 5- KENYA!!

DAY ONE

After waiting at Dubai Airport for 6 hours due to delayed flight, I was extremely exhausted. But thanks to Kenyan Airways for making my 5 hours journey so comfortable. As I landed Nairobi, the HTT Tours team welcomed me and the entire team of HLD, from there we headed towards Fairmont the Norfolk Hotel, which is one of the leading hotel companies in Nairobi. It has culture and history that goes beyond 100 years and it continues to be Nairobi’s finest and best-known luxury hotel. This beautiful hotel offers accommodations in 165 guest rooms and suites, all of which are luxuriously furnished, with plush carpeting and deep velour soft furnishings. That night I enjoyed a delectable grilled lobster which was cooked specially for me by Chef Davidson at Tattu Restaurant-the chef’s table. Tattu in Swahili means 'three', and the restaurant believes in offering three most important elements- good service, good ambience and most importantly good food! And definitely they satisfy all three categories very well J

DAY TWO

Next day I had a quick lavish breakfast and left the hotel to meet the giraffe’s at the Giraffe Centre in Langata.

The African Fund for Endangered Wildlife Kenya (A.F.E.W Kenya Ltd) also known as the Giraffe Centre is a non profit making organisation, which was founded by the late Betty and Jock Lesilie Melville in 1979. The late Betty, Jock's American born wife, had earlier discovered the sad plight of the Rothschild giraffe and there were only 120 left on an 18,000 acre ranch in Western Kenya that was scheduled for sub-division and settlement. The first effort to save this sub-species was to bring two young giraffes to their property in Langata and later Betty founded AFEW USA. 

Funds were raised to move five groups to different safe areas in Kenya namely; Lake Nakuru National Park, Mwea National Game Reserve, Ruma National Park and Nasalot Game Reserve. Funds raised via AFEW USA. also built the Giraffe Centre and have bouhgt 60 acres, and is in the process of buying 40 more acres for the Sanctuary.

I learnt so much about the giraffe’s that day….its truly prodigious! Did you know that giraffe’s sleep standing up, they are deaf and dumb, they have highly antiseptic saliva and they are the tallest animals of the world. Now, isn’t that fascinating to know ! I fed Laura the sexy giraffe who looked extremely elegant and yet was a grand mother of many giraffe’s ;)

Later we proceeded to  the Daphne Sheldrick’s Orphanage, where I met a huge number of cute baby elephants. They were all extremely naughty and one of the baby elephants (6 months old) was so playful that it came running towards me.

After all that, I was definitely famished. So I headed towards Carnivore Restaurant , which is amongst the top 50 restaurants of the world. The Carnivore is a unique experience. This open-air meat specialty restaurant has become a standard stop on the safari trail. Every type of meat imaginable, including four choices of wild game, is roasted on traditional Maasai swords (skewers) over a huge, visually spectacular charcoal pit that dominates the entrance of the restaurant.

The waiters then carry these swords around the restaurant, carving unlimited amounts of the prime meats onto sizzling, cast iron plates in front of you. A wide selection of salads, vegetable side dishes, and a variety of exotic sauces accompany the meat feast. Dessert and coffee follow this. The full meal including a soup course, is a flat price.

I started my food with a very unique drink called the “Dawa” which means medicine in Swahili. This drink hydrates, refreshes and sharpens your taste buds…..and it surely was a dawa for me after a hectic shoot.

Legs of lamb and pork, haunches of venison, rumps of beef, spare ribs, sausages, chicken wings, skewered kidneys, crocodile, ostrich and so much more This was my scrumptious lunch at the Carnivore Restaurant. I recommend each one of you, if you are adventurous with food just like I am…then you MUST visit the Carnivore Restaurant in Nairobi and eat till your contended.

After that I headed towards ‘Libra House-African Heritage’ to explore the African ornaments and to meet a talented local designer to know what her take is on fashion. As you all know, I love to promote local talents…so I thought we are in Africa, lets do like the Africans do ;). I was flabbergasted by the amount of colours used in their local jewellery, which can compliment any plain white or black dress.

DAY THREE

I woke up early morning and got ready to depart from my private jet to Masaai Mara- where you get to see the Big 5. As soon as I landed, the Masaai’s gave me a warm welcome with hot hand towels and a Masaai dance followed by a very rejuvenating Masaai drink…now that was truly high life in their style! ;)

Situated on a wonderful rocky promontory, I stayed in Ol Seki Mara Camp, a luxury safari camp. The beautifully designed luxury tents offer you that rustic experience in the midst of nature, with a generous dose of luxury. Truly a delight for all senses!  And what an exciting experience to live in a luxury tent in the middle of nowhere, having a view of the entire jungle from my room and I got to see the elephants, deer’s, rhinos, gazelles and so many more animals in front of my luxury room in Ol Seki Mara Camp.

Today, I had the world’s best experience, which I can never forget. I went for a wildlife safari where I spotted numerous animals walking along with us. The whole family of elephants, giraffe’s, rhino’s, hippos, zebra’s, gazelles, lions, hyena’s and so much more!!! That night I enjoyed a delicious smoked scail fish which derives from the Indian Ocean and being a Bengali…I enjoy fish up to my hearts contentment.

DAY FOUR

This was the most hectic and tiring day, I woke up at 3:00 AM, got ready and headed towards the balloon ride around the Mara plains which was a BEAUTIFUL experience… from a height, where I could spot all the animals of the jungle. After the ride I had champagne breakfast, which was around the Mara plains, in the middle of nowhere. Now I understand the term “adrenaline junkie”… someone who enjoys living the “HIGH” life

Soon after that I had to depart to Mombasa in my private jet, I was heading towards South of Mombasa- Diani Beach, Al Manara Luxury Resort, which is located between the crystal waters of the Indian Ocean and the open plains of the Shimba Hills National Reserve! I stayed at the Presidential Villa at Al Manara Luxury Resort, had two personal chef’s, who cooked for me whenever I wanted to eat my meal. My dinner that night was a seafood platter…yummmm!!!!! The fresh and soft fish, mouth watering squid, juicy prawns and so much more!

This exclusive villa offers guests the chance to enjoy total privacy in one of the most exclusive villas on the East African coast. A magnificent glass walkway crosses your private Koi pond providing a dramatic entrance to the grand reception hall. Fully air-conditioned throughout, the Presidential Villa boasts 5 ocean view double bedrooms and 7 bathrooms. A fully equipped study overlooks the private infinity edge swimming pool and Jacuzzi, with spectacular views of the Indian Ocean.

DAY FIVE

I had a nice breakfast and headed towards the Wasi Wasi Wenu (a small island, which is 20 mins away from Diani Beach) in my Ukunda (a small traditional Kenyan sail boat). Truly a great experience, the water was so pure and serene.

The Cloud Nine Health Spa was the next place I was heading to. And guess what!!?? I had the world’s most rejuvenating massage just by the beach… their special aroma therapy massage. What more can one ask for??......

At 18:00 PM I had a nice mocktail on the rooftop while watching the sun set……complimenting some nice and crispy bites.

DAY SIX

I headed towards Mt Kenya Safari Club, which is a 3 hour drive from Nairobi airport. You can get an incredibly magnificent view of the majestic Mount Kenya here in this hotel which is set over 100 acres of landscaped gardens.

Mt Kenya is the second tallest mountain of Africa, so you can imagine how high we were from the sea level. One more incredible thing about this club is that the line of equator passes through it…isn’t that amazing??

I had a high tea in front of William Holden cottage which was absolutely brilliant, having great weather, great view, and great masala tea…… kya baat!! Followed by an extremely unique and special dinner, the Bush Dinner. Before heading to the bush for dinner, I enjoyed a performance from the Kikuyu dancers, its a ritual in Kenya to welcome any guest by a kikuyu dance :). This dinner was in the middle of nowhere, with bon fires around... where I had Nyama Choma, which means roasted meat in Swahili. My Nyama Choma consisted of chicken, rarrouurots, ugali, fiegetables, roasted lamb and rice….absolutely mouth watering.

DAY SEVEN

On the second last day, I was meant to be going for a helicopter ride but unfortunately it was shifted to the next day. Hence, the team and I went for horse riding, fishing, a game of golf and I walked two Labradors there. All these activities kept me going and it surely was a lot of fun experiencing all these activities in just one club!!

I was inquisitive to know more about the line of equator passing the club, so I thought of doing a little experiment. Do watch the episode to know more about that ;)

After that I went to the Animal Orphanage at Mt Kenya Safari Club where I saw so many lovely animals all at once, the monkeys, lambs, ostriches, turtles- and one of them was 100 years old….. it was great to see so many animals walking with me.

Thanks to Mr. Peter De Melo, the first black hunter, I got to meet Suri the sexy cheetah and his girlfriend in their home. It was an unbelievable experience, having cheetah’s all around me and yet I stayed calm with them. I reckon cheetah’s are super elegant as they walk in the most stylish way…….a great delight to see that!

Having a view of Mt Kenya and beautiful peacocks walking outside my villa, I enjoyed a gemstone martini Tanzanite AAA worth 150,000 Kenyan Shillings. This special gemstone martini is only available at Mt Kenya Safari Club.

DAY EIGHT

We went for the helicopter ride and had breakfast 13,000 ft above sea level. WOW!!!!! What an experience………… everything was filled with tranquility, calm, quite and the best place to meditate ;)

And if you think shooting is all serious business, think again.. cos we worked 18 hours a day High Life Dubai have had a picnic putting this show together for you… watch the fun, the masti and the madness that goes on behind the scenes on High Life Dubai

This was a very exciting but hectic shoot. It was great to be surrounded by real nature and learning so much about the African culture.

HAKUNA MATATA, ASANTE SANA & KWAHERI my friends.

Love,

Uma