Our Journal

There are journeys that stay with you, carried not just in memory but in the rhythm of your heartbeat. Soul Fire Safari was one of those. It began with laughter and long-necked company in Nairobi, and ended with misty mountain mornings among gorillas. Between those bookends stretched a story of wild places, timeless skies, and the joy of sharing them with people who arrived as guests and left as great friends.

Giraffe Manor & the Sheldrick Trust

Our first chapter opened at Giraffe Manor, where a garden lunch drifted into an afternoon of fruit picking with a glass of Chardonnay in hand. After settling in, we visited the Sheldrick Trust for a private encounter with the orphan elephants. Each young giant carried its own story, and the bond between them and their keepers was moving to witness. The love flowed in both directions — a reminder of what true care looks like. We were fortunate to be part of their evening feed, a fantastic chance to see them run to their stables and observe them with their keepers.

Back at the manor, high tea was served with giraffes joining us on the veranda. Here we learned how to make friends with the giraffes — no food, no friends! After some practice we were pros, and a few of the group even leaned in for a giraffe kiss. Dinner came beneath a sky scattered with stars, fires crackling and conversation running late into the night.

Before dawn broke, giraffes appeared again — this time poking their heads through windows to say good morning. We had an early pajama party with the giraffes. We laughed our way through coffee and eggs Benedict, giraffes nudging for the froth of cappuccinos. Joy was contagious. Shopping at the manor boutique rounded off our stay before we boarded a Pilatus PC-12 with our pilot, Christian, and set course for the Mara Conservancy.

Mara Plains Camp

Even before reaching Mara Plains Camp, the wild offered its greeting. A heavily pregnant cheetah was expertly spotted in the golden grass. Over the next hour she spent her time with us, slowly leading us to the rocky outcrops as if sharing her secret spot. We left her there, grateful for her trust.

Camp life was pure comfort: tents filled with light, arrival drinks cold and refreshing, lunch delicious. After a midday nap, we set out for an evening drive along the river. Thirty hippos jostled and splashed, their restlessness a warning of the storm rolling in. Soon lightning ripped across the sky and rain fell in sheets, rare for the season. It was something else! Duncan, our guide, drove us safely home through the downpour. Spirits were high, laughter loud, and dry clothes at camp never felt better. That night’s storm became a running joke — getting even more hectic with wine.

Over the following days the drama of the Mara unfolded. A herd of buffalo grazed, one calf injured at birth left abandoned away from the herd. Nineteen lions began their stalk, blending into golden grass as the sun dropped. The hunt was swift, and then chaos erupted: eighteen hyenas swept in, their calls echoing as they challenged the pride. Lions fought lions for space, jackals darted at the edges. It was raw Africa, played out against the fading light. We drove back in silence, each of us carrying the power of what we’d just seen.

Legendary Camp & the Migration

From Mara Plains, our path took us north into Tanzania, to Legendary Camp in the Lamai Triangle, timed with perfection. The migration had gathered at the Mara River, and we arrived just in time for the second great crossing of the season. Thousands of wildebeest surged across the river, hooves pounding, dust hanging in the air. Predicting such a moment is almost impossible — but this time, luck was on our side.

The following morning brought an adventure from the sky. A balloon ride over the migration revealed herds stretching to the horizon. Buffalo, giraffe, and countless zebra created a living pattern across the ground below. Floating above it all, the silence broken only by the burners, felt like being part of another rhythm altogether. The laughter that morning was pure gold.

Singita Sasakwa Lodge, Grumeti

From the moment we arrived at Singita Sasakwa Lodge, the view stopped us in our tracks. Perched high above the plains, the lodge looks out across the vast Grumeti Reserve. The horizon seemed endless, rolling in soft waves of grassland that shifted with the wind, dotted with elephants and giraffe in the distance. The lodge itself felt both timeless and welcoming — stone walls, wide verandas, and a sense of grandeur softened by warmth. It was the kind of place where you could sit for hours, simply taking in the view, and never feel the need to move.

Our days here balanced adventure and comfort beautifully. Drives brought us to lion cubs tumbling in the grass, cheetahs surveying their hunting grounds, and an enormous herd of elephants moving steadily across the open spaces. With our guide, Toti, we also stepped out of the vehicle and walked barefoot through the Grumeti River. Feeling the cool water and soft sand underfoot brought us into the reserve in an entirely different way — grounding, humbling, and unforgettable.

Back at the lodge, the food became part of the story. At lunch one day, Vichyssoise was mentioned almost in passing, part of a conversation about favourite dishes. That evening, to everyone’s surprise, it arrived at dinner — smooth, delicate, and perfectly chilled. The thoughtful gesture drew laughter and applause around the table, a reflection of how the team listened and created small moments of joy.

The spa became another highlight. Massages here were more than just relaxing — they felt like a reset after days of travel and drives. Many of the group returned for a second session, reluctant to miss the chance to sink deeper into the calm.

There was also a touch of sparkle. An afternoon of tanzanite shopping ended with one stunning stone chosen and carried home — a reminder of time spent here, transformed into something lasting.

Singita Sasakwa gave us more than sightings and luxury. It gave us moments of rest, of wonder, of indulgence, and of grounding, all set against one of the most spectacular views in Africa.

Singita Kwitonda Lodge, Rwanda

Our final stop was Rwanda, at Singita Kwitonda Lodge, perched on the edge of Volcanoes National Park. The lodge itself was a sanctuary of warmth and elegance: coral-hued linens, interiors designed to reflect the soft tones of volcanic rock, and wide windows framing views of cloud-draped peaks. Paths led through native gardens, where every detail was carefully thought through — a place where comfort and conservation live side by side.

The highlight, of course, was venturing into the forests for our two gorilla treks. From the moment we began walking, guided by expert rangers and supported by the tireless porters, the experience carried a rhythm of care and camaraderie. These men and women added so much value — sharing stories, steadying us on slippery paths, and reminding us that every step was part of something bigger.

I will always remember the pride I felt as a guide, watching an 86-year-old guest enjoy the trek with determination and joy. To share such a rare moment together — to stand side by side in the presence of gorillas — was profoundly moving.

Being in the forest itself was an experience: the cool damp air, the dense green alive with sound, and then the unmistakable scent of gorillas close by. And when our eyes finally met theirs, time seemed to pause. We were able to spend time with two families — the Sabyinyo group, formed in 1987 and now 15 members strong, and the Kwisanga group, established in 2021 with 13 members. Watching them interact, from playful youngsters to silverbacks asserting quiet authority, felt like stepping into a living story that has been unfolding for generations.

After the treks, the return to Kwitonda Lodge felt like a warm embrace. Afternoons brought pottery workshops and tree planting, grounding us in Rwanda’s culture and its commitment to protecting these highland forests. Evenings were spent by the fire, sipping wine as moody clouds drifted across the volcanoes. The lodge was more than just a base — it was an extension of the forest itself, a place where every guest carried home not just memories, but a sense of responsibility to protect what they had seen.

Soul Fire Safari was more than an itinerary; it was a tapestry of moments stitched together across countries, cultures, and countless shades of wild. From giraffes joining us for breakfast, to lions and hyenas locked in battle, to the quiet eyes of a mountain gorilla, every chapter carried its own spark.

The group, almost all strangers, blended in a way no group had before. So much respect and kindness flowed between us that it felt as if we had all been meant to meet in Africa.

What made it sing was the time we allowed ourselves to be present. No rushing, no clocks to obey — only the slow unfolding of Africa at its own pace. And in that slowing down, we found something rare: the chance to simply be.

If you are looking for a journey that feeds both spirit and memory, perhaps it is time. Time to gather with those you love, to sit beneath vast skies, to listen to the calls of the wild, and to ignite your own soul fire.