WCGA Golfs Kenya - August 2025

What started as a friendly conversation at our home course, Pinecrest Golf Course in Alexandria, became a two-year planning journey culminating in an unforgettable golf safari in Kenya.  Our WCGA contact, Noni, special events coordinator within Fairfax Golf, champion of women’s golf in the region, and native of Kenya, approached us about her focus on supporting women’s golf and safari trips.

Our leadership enthusiastically said yes to the idea, sparking a relationship with Twiga Golf and Designer Safari that would shape our trip of a lifetime.

Trip Preparations & Logistics

After securing our spots with a deposit a year in advance, we paid the full balance three months before our departure. As the trip approached, we received accommodation confirmations, applied for our visas, and held a video call to finalize our agenda with our destination management company contact, Eunice of Designer Safari.

We each booked our own flights, with some of us connecting in Europe and others stopping in Dubai to break up the long 18-hour journey.

In preparation for the trip, naturally, a few questions came up:

• Q: What's it like to golf in Kenya?

  A: Wild!

• Q: Is wearing black inadvisable?

  A: Yes, but not forbidden like camouflage.

• Q: Will we see the Big Five?

  A: Yes, we did! Over multiple game drives!

Nairobi: City, Culture & Golf

Upon arrival in Nairobi, we were seamlessly transferred to Deerpark Luxury Stays, our home for the first four nights. This serene and secure location provided a perfect blend of city access and natural calm. The staff welcomed us warmly and went above and beyond to cater to our comfort. They even delivered hot water bottles to our beds for turndown service (with temperatures dropping to 55 degrees).  The kitchen prepared made-to-order breakfasts each morning alongside a cold buffet of fresh juice, yogurt, cereal, and breakfast breads.

Activities in Nairobi, included visiting the Giraffe Centre to feed giraffes and the Kazuri Beads center, where a women’s entrepreneurial empowerment program is established.  A highlight of our Nairobi visit was a Wine Tasting Dinner at Wine Box Cave à Manger where we enjoyed a 5-course menu and delightful wines.

We played 18 holes at the Karen Country Club, where we were struck by the stunning flora and fauna.  With over 100 species of birds on record, our bird enthusiast had a blast identifying them.  Referencing the bird book elevated the experience of viewing and identifying birds, making it so much more fun to seek them out!

A few of us also played nine holes at the Windsor Golf & Country Club, where we were joined on the course by monkeys!

Our first Game Drive was in Nairobi National Park, overlooking the city. Famously known as the "World's only Wildlife Capital", it is a haven of peace with diverse wildlife, including 100 mammal and 400 bird species.   We were greeted by baboons at the entry gate, a lioness sauntering down the road, and we viewed giraffe, zebra, buffalo, crocodile, a rhinoceros, and more!  The gravity of seeing the city landscape in the background was just awesome.  It was a humbling reminder of the coexistence of urban and wild life.

We also visited the  Sheldrick Wildlife Trust to learn about and watch rescued baby elephants being bottle-fed—a truly heartwarming experience.

Lake Elmenteita & The Great Rift Valley

Leaving the city, we drove north to the Great Rift Valley Lodge, where we golfed another 18 holes. This was a new kind of golf experience, as we encountered Impalas, Zebra, and Warthogs on the course!

Our journey continued to the Serena Camp on the banks of Lake Elmenteita within the Soysambu Conservancy. We stayed in luxurious tents with verandas overlooking the lake. At Lake Serena, we witnessed the stunning Flamingo migration and enjoyed nature walks and views of Sleeping Warrior Mountain. Our game drives in the Soysambu included viewing: Waterbuck, Impala, Thompson Gazelle, Zebra, Cape Buffalo, Eland, Baboon, Warthog, Flamingo, African Fish Eagle, Great White Egret, Crested Crane, Great Cormorant, Guineafowl, Superb Starling, Lilac-breasted Roller, Spoon-billed Stork, Blacksmith Plover, Spur-winged Plover, Crowned Plover, and Black-winged Stilt.

Maasai Mara: A Once-in-a-Lifetime Experience

We then continued our journey to the Masai Mara - Ilkeliani Camp.  Ilkeliani is an elegant oasis in the center of the world-famous Maasai Mara and situated in a picturesque setting on the banks of the Talek River.  We enjoyed luxurious and spacious ‘tent’ accommodations (imagine the makings of a hotel room with thick canvas walls).  Maasai Mara is a 580-square-mile wildlife conservation in Kenya. It also hosts the Great Migration, which is known as one of the Seven Natural Wonders of Africa, and as one of the ten Wonders of the World. The Great Migration occurs in July & August, depending on weather, as the wildebeest move in large numbers (1 million with up to 300,000 zebra) crossing the Mara River from Tanzania.  Our timing was perfect!  

At camp, we were treated to stellar meals, service gracious hospitality, and security.  Once it became dark, we were required to be escorted to/from our tents by a trusted Maasai staff member.  As my head lay on my pillow to sleep, I could hear the hyenas in the near distance. I needed no convincing.  Alas, this was Africa.

Our game drives in the Mara were thrilling thanks to our trusted guide, Morris.  He was educated specifically for his role as a guide in the Mara and expertly identified birds, helped us understand the mating and hunting behaviors we had witnessed, as well as inspired us to seek out wildlife!  We spotted leopards hidden in plain sight!

On a typical game drive in the Mara, we viewed: Elephant, Zebra, African-spotted Hyena, Impala, Warthog, Buffalo, Wildebeest, Ostrich, Topi, Thompson Gazelle, Lion, Fiscal Strike, Black-shouldered Kite, African Elan, and Giraffe.  We found Hippopotamus, Leopard, Cheetah, Brown Lapui, Tawny Eagle, Black-headed Heron, Barefoot Go Away, Vulture, Crocodile on another drive.  Each drive was a lottery of wildlife winning views!

While on the Mara, we upgraded a few experiences that were so very special.  The first was our Sunrise Hot Air Balloon with Champagne Brunch and game drive to follow.  What an awesome way to start the morning at 5:30am —  Floating a hundred feet over the savannah with daybreak and really taking in the vast migration of the wildebeests.  I’d toast to that again!

We also enjoyed a Sundowner, which was our sunset happy hour in the Mara as well as a Bush Dinner featuring traditional foods like ugali and chaptis with BBQ meats and stews.  A personal highlight for me was our last morning’s Bush Breakfast.  The staff set us up a short drive from the camp in the Mara, close to the river’s edge with Zebra and Giraffe in the background.  We enjoyed a tasty breakfast, took in the breath of it all, and shared our appreciation for the stewards of our cherished experience.  A perfect, tranquil ending to our Maasai experience.

Saying Goodbye

Our departure from Ilkeliani was a scenic 40-minute flight to Nairobi from the Olkiombo Airstrip. We used our last day together to prepare for our flights and repack.  We were able to take advantage of the generous space with our extended evening departures at the Deerpark Stays to freshen up and enjoy the beautiful space.  What a luxurious benefit!

We extend our deepest gratitude to our incredible hosts and organizers, Eunice and Noni, as well as our drivers, Francis and Steve, for their thoughtful and informative service. A huge thank you to Twiga Golf and  Designer Safari for making our dream trip a reality.

This is the third international trip for WCGA.  Our travel plans to the UK for St. Andrews in August 2026 are secured and currently on a waiting list status.

Asante sana ❤️