Normally, a typical safari day begins at 5am wake-up with coffee/tea and cookies. And in the trucks by 6am for the morning game drive. Breakfast in the bush somewhere around 9:30 and then back to camp by noon to freshen up for lunch at 1:00. Then tea and treats at 3:30 and back out for the game drive at 4:00. We then stop at 6:15 to watch the sunset with our sundowner cocktail and back to camp for dinner at 7:30.
This post will cover what we did before and after the white rhinos!
Our 6am game drive begins and our drivers Peter and Simon find a small pride of lions. No cubs in this pride and some very handsome young males. But not before we get some lovely sunrise photos!
Not much is happening with the lions but they are cute to watch. They are so graceful and relaxed. To watch them saunter up close to the vehicle still amazes us. How can they not care about the Land Cruisers?
After we leave the lions, Peter begins driving in search of what else might be out there. Nothing much to see so we decide it might be a good time to pull over for a “bush break” in order to relieve our bladders. Just as we get out of the vehicle, Peter gets a call on the radio- African Wild Painted Dogs have been spotted! Nancie, our host says- hurry up and it was the quickest ‘p’ break ever. What felt like 60 mph was probably only 25-30 but we were flying across rocky, bumpy fields in the direction of the dogs. The wild dogs are very rare and hardly ever seen.
We arrive in time to watch them kill a warthog. Not a pretty sight but it was over quickly. The lions we had just visited heard the commotion and came over the hill to check things out.
At this point the dogs scattered and Peter took off to follow two of the dogs. How he was able to track these animals was incredible – especially as they navigated the dense bush quickly. They finally slowed down and we got to snap a couple more photos.
The fascinating part of the wild dogs was a specific call they emitted when trying to get everyone back together. My video isn’t very good but I may post it on Facebook for the sound.
Off we go in search of something else as the dogs have now eluded us and are in search of a new adventure themselves. Actually – they ghosted us 😁
We grab a quick bite to eat in the trucks. It’s barely 9:30! We drive around for a bit and see some black rhinos… that I DO NOT pet and finally make our way back to camp for a shower and lunch.
Back at Laikipia Camp we are served a lovely meal. I tried not to take pictures of the food- but had to snap one of dessert. It’s beautiful AND tasty.
After we visit the rhino center we continue on in search of animals.
The grey crowned cranes had a little baby chick they were escorting through the tall grass. It is hard to see but zoom in to where the mom has her head bent down and you can see its’ little head.
It’s getting on towards sunset time at 6:30 and our drivers find a place for us to stretch our legs and have a cocktail. The wind has picked up and once that sun goes down it’s cold again. But the sky is endless. We literally have a 360° view of the sky. Simon says the equator is nearby but he’s not sure where.
Dinner again is spectacular and we are off to bed with full tummies by 9:00pm. Up at 5:00 again for a game drive and head to an airfield to fly to our next camp.
Sweet dreams
Leslie and Vickie
🦒🐕🐘🦁
Leslie & Vickie’s 2026 Safari 
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