I’ve always believed that if you want to truly meet yourself, travel alone. But nothing prepared me for what it feels like to be alone—and yet deeply connected—in the wilds of Kenya. My 4-day multi-property journey with Saruni Basecamp through Naboisho and Samburu wasn’t just a safari; it was a rediscovery of how alive solitude can feel.
Dawn in Naboisho
On my very first morning in Naboisho Conservancy, I unzipped the canvas of my tent at Saruni Leopard Hill, and the world was already awake. A herd of giraffes floated past in the golden haze, their long necks bending elegantly over the treetops. Somewhere below, a hyena whooped.
I cradled my coffee on the deck and just stared. There was no rush, no schedule but my own. When you’re traveling solo, you don’t have to fill the silence—you let it wash over you.
Later, on a game drive with Steve, my local Maasai guide, we found ourselves parked within arm’s length of a pride of lions sprawled under a thorn tree. My heart raced, but he sat there calm, smiling, explaining the family dynamics of the pride as if he were introducing me to neighbors. His stories—of growing up herding cattle in these very plains—made me feel like I was seeing the Mara through both wild eyes and human ones.
That night at Saruni Leopard Hill, I slid back the retractable roof of my tent. Imagine lying in bed, all alone, and the sky opening above you—millions of stars pouring down, the Milky Way clear as a brushstroke. It felt like the universe had leaned in just to keep me company.
Samburu: A Wilder Rhythm
If Naboisho felt like abundance, Samburu was raw drama. The flight north crossed rivers that cut like scars through the earth, until mountains rose out of the red dust. When I arrived at Saruni Samburu, perched on a rocky hilltop, the panoramic view made me catch my breath—it stretched forever, endless layers of savannah and sky.
Against the dramatic Samburu backdrop, elephants moved in stately lines toward the watering hole, and in the distance, the ridges of Kalama glowing orange at sunset. The wildlife here felt almost like meeting characters from another storybook: the pinstriped Grevy’s zebra, the surreal reticulated giraffes, the defiant Somali ostrich. Each sighting felt like a discovery no one else had made.
And then came the spa—oh, the spa. After a long, hot morning drive, I stretched out on a comfortable massage bed. As the therapist worked fragrant oils into my tired shoulders, the wind whispered through the cliffs outside. It was the strangest, most beautiful combination: rugged wilderness and complete surrender.
In the evening, I visited the Samburu local community and experienced life in their manyatta. The women danced with such grace and purpose, their necks and arms adorned with beautiful beaded jewelry. They invited me to milk the goats that had just returned from grazing, my clumsy fingers fumbling. Alone, I couldn’t hide behind anyone else’s embarrassment—I leaned into it, laughed with them, and felt the warmth of real exchange.
Life as a Solo Guest
What surprised me most about traveling solo with Saruni Basecamp was how natural it felt. I never once felt like the “odd one out.” The friendly staff had this way of knowing when I wanted company and when I wanted quiet. Dinner could be social, with stories shared around a communal table under the lantern light, or it could be private—a table for one set out on your private deck, the stars glittering above and a lantern flickering by my plate. Alone didn’t mean lonely. Alone meant luxurious. On game drives, I loved that I could just be. I didn’t have to fill silences with chatter. The land spoke for me: elephants rumbling in the distance, birds calling in chorus, the breeze rustling the long grass. Every pause became a meditation.
Leaving Changed
By the time I boarded the small plane back to Nairobi, I realized this trip had done something to me. I came for the animals, the landscapes, the thrill of adventure. I left with something deeper: a sense of belonging. Traveling alone strips away the noise. You notice more, you listen harder, you feel sharper. The warm and hospitable team at Saruni Basecamp made all of this feel effortless: safe, welcoming, unforgettable. It never once felt like I was traveling “by myself.” It felt like I was traveling with the land, with the local people and with parts of myself I hadn’t met before. Solo travel here isn’t about being alone. It’s about being fully, gloriously present.
