A DAY AT SIRUAI MOBILE CAMP

Have you heard about our traditional mobile camp in the remote wilds of Laikipia? Intimate, authentic and off-grid, it’s the ultimate safari location in which to escape into nature with no one else in sight. Bookable on an exclusive basis only, this private, under-canvas camp is ideal for families or groups seeking a highly personalised adventure in the Kenyan wilderness. The camp is currently situated on the privately owned 43,000-acre Suyian Ranch in central Kenya, Laikipia. Intrigued to find out more? Here’s a snapshot of what a day at Siruai Mobile Camp might look like for you!

A DAY AT SIRUAI

6:00 am – Awaken at dawn and enjoy tea/coffee (with a homemade cookie) brought to your tent or at the main mess area. Take in the panoramic views as the sun begins to rise over the horizon.

6.30 to 7:00 am  – Set off straight from camp for guided walking safari in the cool of the morning, just as nature is beginning to come alive. This is a leisurely hour-and-a-half walk led by your experienced safari guides (armed with a rifle for safety whilst walking in the wild). Highly attuned to their surroundings and familiar with the territory, they will lead you expertly though the bush, pointing out different trees and plants, animal tracks and all manner of interesting little details you don’t get to notice on a game drive.

Make your way down from the high ridge where the camp is located, following game trails towards the Ewaso River in the valley below. Look out for animal tracks from the night before, such as leopard or hyena. You might spot Grevy’s zebra, elephants, impala and Reticulated giraffe. Upon reaching the river, follow its meanders, spotting an array of birdlife and hippos in the river.

8.30 am – Arrive at your private bush breakfast set up on the riverbank, a heavenly way to spend an hour or so watching hippos wallow in the river and other wildlife come and go. Enjoy fresh fruits, pancakes and eggs cooked to order on the customised pull-out vehicle stoves.

10:00 am – After a bush breakfast that’s hard to beat, continue your leisurely safari walk for another hour (or however long or short you wish). Scramble up the giant granite boulders for spectacular views down the river valley. Look out for klipspringer, a small, stocky antelope species whose name means ‘rock jumper’. They are artfully camouflaged against the rocks and can jump 10 to 12 feet into the air, leaping from boulder to boulder and landing on their tiny hooves. Drop down off the boulder strewn ridgeline and continue to wander downstream, encountering different flora species and wildlife as you go.

11:00 am – Arrive at a waterfall and natural river pool below. Those that wish can finish the morning with an exhilarating wild swim, or for the ultimate adrenalin rush, leap off the high cliff into the deep pool below! There are kayaks for anyone wanting a relaxed little paddle around this section of the river which is free from hippos.

12:00 pm – Hop in a vehicle and game drive back to the camp, which takes around 45 minutes, depending on what wildlife you stop to see. For anyone interested in ancient rock art, there is a nearby cave where you can see cave paintings from the ancient Kushite people who inhabited the Nile valley around 1700 BCE.

1:00 pm – Enjoy a delicious three course lunch cooked by the chefs back at camp, before relaxing for a few hours and contemplating your morning’s adventure. Perhaps a siesta in your tent, reading, journalling, sketching or whatever takes your fancy! You’ll find lots of lovely scenic spots to take in the views and enjoy nature’s silence.

4:00 pm  – Meet back at the main mess for an afternoon cup of tea and a homemade treat of some sort, before heading out on an evening game drive.

4:30 pm  – Set off for an evening game drive, perhaps exploring the flat plains on top of the plateau behind camp. The wide-open grassland is a little like a mini Masai Mara and you might find herds of oryx, Grant’s gazelle, cheetah, lion and elephants. For those interested in trying to spot the elusive black leopard, you can drive further down the valley and follow the river.