Three nights at Sirikoi in Sirikoi House
A short transfer from Saruni Samburu took us to open plains of the Lewa Wildlife Conservancy and Sirikoi House, our family’s home away from home for the next three days.
We relaxed and pottered around our master cottage, while the kids – already settled into their two-bedroomed suite – helped collect eggs and fresh vegetables from the garden for a wholesome meal prepared by our private chef. We enjoyed lunch in the open-air dining cottage, with the jagged peaks of Mount Kenya a picturesque backdrop, laughing as both children made friends with a tame giraffe. While my daughter spent the afternoon horseriding with the private guide, my son enjoyed the children’s swimming pool, giving us some valuable couple’s time before we all reconvened for bush sundowners.
In high spirits (even after a dawn breakfast!), our family boarded the chopper that flew us over Kenya’s north. We soared over the treetops, spotting elephant at a waterhole, and up and over the Rift Valley Escarpment. Agog with excitement, my son told us that he was going to be a helicopter pilot! Meanwhile, my daughter was most impressed with the soda lake covered in pink flamingos, after all pink is her favourite colour! After flying over the jade waters of Lake Turkana, we stopped to picnic before the last leg of our helicopter safari and the awe-inspiring sight of Mount Kenya.
Our third day at Sirikoi House was spent exploring Kenya’s untamed wilderness with the help of our knowledgeable guide, Legei, who patiently answered our endless questions on our morning game drive – leaving us thankful that we had our own vehicle and nobody else to disturb. While we enjoyed a romantic couple’s spa treatment, Legei spent hours teaching the kids how to make a bow and arrow and to hone their tracking skills. The air was abuzz with chatter when we all met again, thrilled to share our adventures over another tasty dinner created by our chef.
For our final morning at Sirikoi House, we opted for a forest walk. We were pleased to count an incredible 25 different types of birds flitting between the trees before it was our turn to fly, all the way back home.
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PHOTOGRAPHY: SARUNI