One week in the bush
by jessica schuler

The anticipation for our time at Olimba Mara Camp was immense! Even the flight to get there was an adventure, as our plane seemed to operate like a bus with planned stops – something new for us. Our guide, John, greeted us as soon as we got out of the plane. Before we knew it, we were on our first game drive even before we had a chance to see the camp.

Over the next few days, we experienced so much. We could choose our daily schedule freely, and each day was different. We saw a wide variety of animals, expanded our knowledge about them, and our guide always delivered the best spots for guaranteed top photos. We got to see everything we wished for, except for the rhinoceros, which remained in the distance. Instead, we witnessed a hunting lion, a newborn zebra, a rarely spotted serval, and so much more!

From the beginning, we felt right at home in Olimba Mara Camp. The staff welcomed us with a welcoming dance, and from the very first second, they pampered us. Our tent was always clean, and everything was promptly restocked. The food was delicious and tailored to our preferences. There was never the same meal during the entire seven days, except for breakfast, but even there, there was a lot of variety. My boyfriend, who always had a hearty appetite and requested larger portions, always seemed to get twice as much as me, so it worked perfectly for both of us. We felt safe the entire time, even though the camp was not fenced. We had no fear of cold nights because the bedding was super cozy, and we always found warm water bottles in our beds after dinner.

We were particularly impressed with the staff. They were like a big family and made us feel like part of that family. We were very interested in their culture, and they were open to showing us their culture. They taught us how to shoot a bow, took us on a short hike to see the hippos nearby, prepared a traditional Kenyan meal for us, and joyfully answered all our questions. One day, when my boyfriend was doing some outdoor exercises, instead of receiving odd looks from the staff, they joined in and gave it a try. This ultimately led to group workouts where we could show them a bit of our culture, and we all had a lot of fun.

On the last day, we even had the honor of planting a tree each in the camp – we wanted to contribute to the camp’s greening. When it was time to say goodbye, we not only knew the entire team by name but had also grown fond of the entire team, and we had firmly resolved to come back someday. Our expectations were exceeded by far! Many thanks to all who made our time there unforgettable!