My journey to Kenya has been a lifetime in the making – one that began in childhood as I pored over my parents’ bookshelf, captivated by books on Africa and its majestic predatory cats. Growing up in unusual & eccentric circumstances in the USA, I found solace in nature. Animals became my refuge, a source of comfort and healing. While horses later played a profound role in my personal growth, it was those early stories and images of African wildlife that ignited my imagination and planted the seed of a dream to one day experience it all firsthand.

    As an artist and journalist, I’ve long been influenced by the life and work of Peter Beard, whose raw, visceral documentation of East Africa and conservation efforts in Kenya spoke deeply to me. His legacy led me to research wildlife conservation and follow the work of icons like Jane Goodall, whose lifelong dedication to animals continues to inspire my path.

    After many, many years of waiting, I finally made it to Kenya in 2025. The images I captured reflect more than just a trip – they represent 25 years of work as a professional artist and photographer, a journey that began with painting at age 18, then analog darkroom printing in 1998. 

   There were a multitude of locations to choose for exploring and safaris. I chose three places which, at first, was difficult to narrow down but after hours and months of reading and research I decided on Amboseli Park, Shompole Wilderness and Masai Mara. I had a budget and was traveling solo; I had an idea in my mind of what I’d like to experience, leaving room in my itinerary for local activities or exploration. I took my time with research. The planning involved a lot of back-and-forth, and ultimately much serendipity. I didn’t want a cookie-cutter safari and lodging experience. 

   The first place I booked was Kili Springs Camp. I randomly found it whilst searching for places at Amboseli Park. It was an Airbnb tented cabin style lodge owned by a Maasai family. The price was good and there was the option to pay a little extra for a private game drive safari guide who knew the area very well. The food was deliciously home made, and despite some road traveling snafu, it was the best place to begin my adventure after a week in Nairobi. The first day out my guide, Benjamin, drove us towards the park and suddenly we were in the midst of the bush, there were no more roads, we were driving over wild vegetation and I had no idea where we were going. Suddenly I saw a large tree moving in the distance. Benjamin stopped the car and as I looked out, there was Craig: a magnificent giant elephant bull, one of the few remaining super tuskers on the continent. Benjamin assured me of my safety, and eventually we relaxed and were able to take our time and enjoy a simple but delicious breakfast with food grown locally which he casually placed on the bonnet of the Range Rover.

   Benjamin shared with me that he had a dream since the late 1990’s of having his own lodge and safari business. Now he runs Kili Springs Camp with his family and it continues to grow and expand with new lodgings made from local materials and hand crafted details in each room. It is named after a fresh running spring that originates from the snowmelt of Mount Kilimanjaro. I highly recommend booking a stay there. Just watch out for the monkeys!

   A highlight of my journey was visiting the Shompole Wilderness Hide – a dream come true that included a deeply spiritual encounter with a giraffe, confronting mortality and countless other magical moments. This luxury tent-lodge is in the Great Rift Valley, and run by a lovely family. It is quite a journey to get there by road…a few hours of near non-stop bumpy roads, so make sure to do your core strengthening exercises before this journey! If you have a large luxury budget you can opt for a charter plane to arrive at the local airstrip. I was welcomed with smiles, cold drinks and fresh, cool, eucalyptus scented towels for my face and hands. This place is what I’d describe as laid back luxury. Being from California, I was more interested in an “Indiana Jones” style adventure, however, this place sort of gives that experience but with lots of comfort….and incredibly good food.  They now have a brand new second hide…all the more reason for a follow up visit. I cannot express enough just how magical this place is if it’s your first time on safari and – as a professional photographer – it is unparalleled and world-class with exceptional opportunities for wildlife surprises.

The Shompole Hides were built by Johann du Toit in collaboration with renowned wildlife photographer Will Burrard-Lucas, the creator of Camtraptions and BeetleCam. Together, they’ve developed some of Africa’s premier wildlife photographic hides. Thoughtfully constructed from sunken, refurbished shipping containers, these hides offer unobtrusive, ground-level views over a small waterhole – providing rare, intimate access to elusive and shy wildlife. Will’s extensive experience in wildlife photography has been instrumental in making the Shompole Hides a success, and I feel incredibly fortunate to have witnessed the magic they allow.  

   My next stop was a short flight from Nairobi to Masai Mara. I was picked up by my safari guide at the Keekorok air strip, where we drove through the park on our way to a lodge in the Siana conservancy area, before sunset. My expert guide took his time, allowing for me to take in the scenes of the savannah, stopping to observe the gentle giraffes greeting us and three curious but unbothered silly hyenas ambling unambitiously down the road. Zebra and impala were plenty, as were the topi, and a vast array of birds, both large and small. The following days were filled with wonder as I finally saw, in real life, what I’d only seen on a screen, wall calendar or zoo. Herds of wild cape buffalo, a lonely ostrich, kingfishers, herons, Egyptian geese, magical plumed birds, tuxedoed vultures and to my great surprise…the elusive Nile crocodile. The hippos, however, were hiding beneath their bubbles. My time in the Mara was filled with early morning sunrise game drives, relaxed camp style breakfasts in the bush, lots of quiet time to reflect on the fascinating wildlife information given to me by my supremely educated guide. I never once felt rushed…the days extended themselves like the lazy yawns of full-bellied lions napping in the shade of trees. In the evening there was delicious food,  a campfire, good company and a hot bath. 

   Another highlight were the visits to local Maasai villages, both at Amboseli and Masai Mara. I could write a separate blog about this because it opened my mind, heart and eyes in a profound, beautiful way. All said and done, this journey to Kenya was more than just a trip – it was a homecoming to the part of me that always believed in the healing power of nature and the stories we tell through art.