Golf and Wildlife Adventure: A Memorable Journey through Kenya

/

I’ll attempt to capture the essence of our recent journey through Kenya—a land where breathtaking landscapes, rich history, and thrilling wildlife adventures converge. From the lush golf courses of Nairobi to the heart of the Maasai Mara and the Indian Ocean coast, each day of our itinerary offered a unique blend of golf, culture, and wildlife.

Golf in Nairobi

Our golf adventure began at the serene Karen Country Club, a splendid introduction to golf in Nairobi. Despite the course being slightly wet underfoot from the major flooding experienced throughout the country a month before our tour, not even an afternoon thunderstorm deterred us—most played through the rain.

Next, we navigated the scenic fairways of Sigona Golf Club. Designed by Tom Simpson, this course is celebrated for its lush kikuyu fairways and challenging contours. Elevated tees and fast greens added to our golfing experience. In Kenya, logo golf balls are a rare find, so we were thrilled to discover Sigona had them in stock.

Friday's highlight was golfing at Muthaiga Golf Club, known for its fast greens and for hosting the Magical Kenya Open. Designed by Peter Matkovich, the course featured the most challenging layout of all the courses we played, especially the front nine accessed by the highway overpass.

Exploring Nairobi’s Attractions

In addition to our golf outings, we had time to explore Nairobi’s other attractions. We visited Nairobi National Park, the Karen Blixen Museum, the Giraffe Centre, and delved into local wildlife conservation efforts at the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust.

We knew our chances of seeing rhinos in the Maasai Mara were slim, so we jumped at the chance for a mini-safari in Nairobi National Park to spot these amazing animals. The park is home to over 150 black and white rhinos, and the best part is you get to see them with the city skyline in the background. It's pretty cool that there's a national park just 20 minutes from the capital city.

The Karen Blixen Museum is based in the home of the Danish author known for her literary works and her life in Africa. She is best recognized for her memoir “Out of Africa” and the short story “Babette’s Feast,” both adapted into Academy Award-winning films.

The orphaned baby elephants and rhinos at the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust truly stole our hearts. What started as one family's passion for Kenya and its wilderness has grown into the world's most successful orphan-elephant rescue and rehabilitation program. Visit Sheldrick Wildlife Trust to learn more about their amazing projects and how they are making a difference.

The Giraffe Centre was established to preserve the Rothschild Giraffe. Jock and Betty Leslie-Melville founded it after realizing this species was nearly extinct. They began with a breeding program at their home, now the exclusive Giraffe Manor Hotel, and later expanded it into a more extensive conservation effort.

The Great Rift Valley Adventure

After spending a week in Nairobi, we set off for the Great Rift Valley. On the way, we stopped at Lake Naivasha to see its resident hippo families up close. It was amazing to see the giraffes on Crescent Island where ‘Out of Africa’ was filmed and watch the African Fish Eagles fishing.

Teeing off with zebras at the Great Rift Valley Golf Course was surreal, and sharing the fairways with warthogs and gazelles made the experience even more unforgettable.

Maasai Mara

Our four days in the Maasai Mara were filled with exhilarating game drives, close wildlife encounters, bush lunches, and sunset drinks on the plains. What a way to spend one’s days! The cheetahs were my favorite, closely followed by a massive pride of lions striding past our safari vehicle. Despite the abundance of wildlife, the elusive leopards managed to stay out of sight. The rains had left some parts of the Mara quite wet, making it difficult to reach the tree pockets favoured by leopards.

In addition to the game drives, we visited a Maasai village, learning about their nomadic lifestyle, intricate beadwork, and vibrant dances. Some of us also took the opportunity to see the savannah from a hot air balloon ride, which was an unforgettable experience!

Mombasa and Vipingo Ridge Golf Club

We flew on tiny Cessna charter planes from Keekorok Airstrip to Mombasa, enjoying breathtaking aerial views of the savannah, glimpses of the mighty Mt. Kilimanjaro through the clouds, and the pristine white sandy beaches of Diani along the Indian Ocean coast.

Our final two rounds of golf were at Vipingo Ridge, East Africa's only PGA-accredited course and the venue for the season opener of the Ladies European Tour, the region's sole professional women’s golf competition. The natural beauty and wildlife, including zebras, elands, and giraffes, made our golfing experience truly magical.

Unforgettable memories of golf intertwined with wildlife encounters, cultural experiences with the Maasai, and the vibrant life of Mombasa will forever inspire our connection to this exotic destination. Kwaheri, Kenya – until we meet again!

Join Us Next June!

Join us in June 2025 for our escorted tour to this exotic destination, perfect for both couples and solo travelers looking to explore East Africa. Following the success of our 2024 tour, we’ll offer similar extensions in 2025 to the Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater, and Uganda for Mountain Gorilla Trekking.

To express interest in joining our limited 16-guest tour, please email Ria at ria@onthetee.com.au.

Custom Safaris

In addition to escorted golf and safari tours, we specialize in arranging custom safaris throughout Southern and East Africa. Contact us to create an adventure tailored to your preferences and wishlist!