Travel:Back From Serengeti West to Nairobi, Kenya. o7/14-15/2026
- Jul 16
- 7 min read
Updated: 2 days ago
Continuation of a trip that started on July 1/2026
Fly from SFO via Dubai > Nairobi > Drive Lake Nakuru (and Lodge) > Fly > Nairobi > Arusha (Serena Lodge) > Drive > Tarengeri Park > Drive > Lake Manyara (Serena Lodge) > Drive > Ngorongoro Crater (Serena Lodge) > Drive Serengeti Central (Melia Lodge) > Drive > Serengeti Western Kirawira (Serena Tent Camp) > Fly back > Arusha > Fly back to Nairobi (Norfolk Hotel) >
Fly back via Dubai > SFO.
dik-dik, , a tiny, pocket-sized antelope roaming the Kirawira Serena Camp Groud at Night
Early morning (on July 14th) a day prior to our returned flight back to California, Silas - our great Masai driver/guide, with whom we spent the past 9 enchanting Safari days, (starting in Arusha), drove us for the last time, on a short Safari outing toward Grumeti Air Strip, which is located about 40 minutes away from the Serena camp,
Silas stayed with us at the Air strip, where we said our heartfelt Goodbyes, until our plane took off into air.
And only then he climb onto the Land Cruiser to make the long drive back (10 hours) alone, to Arusha were his family resides.
The flight odyssey of the day, after departing Kirawira Serena Camp Tent, started at the tiny Grumeti Air Strip on a Coastal Air 10 seatter plane, which included a landing at Soronera Central Serengeti. and changing planes.
There a connecting flight on a bit larger Safari Link plane continued to Arusha. During the two hours lay-over in Arusha's airport, David's sandal which was forgotten 9 days earlier, at the Arusha Serena Lodge, was brought back to him, at the airport thanks to the good graces of Safari Soles -the company, which provided Silas the driver
And then another Coastal Air flight on a 10 seatter plane finally landed us safely back at Wilson Airport in Nairobi, where we checked into the Nortfolk hotel, in which David often stayed with his family during the 1960th, when residing in Tanzania, and where David and stayed, in 2005
On the Way to the Air Strip
At Kirawira Grumeti Air Strip
Silas and David Waiting at the Air Strip
Taking off
Grumeti River's shoot-off Meanderings
Landing in Serenora Serengeti Central Air Strip
This Serenora Air-strip seemed like a Central Station by the volume of travelers that packs it on daily basis
Approaching Arusha Airport
Approaching Nairobi
Landing at Nairobi Wilson Airport
On the last day of our trip (July 15th) Antony - the first driver, mentioned in my first post (here) of this trip to Africa, the one who was late picking us up from Nairibi airport, upon arrival ( July 2nd), was summoned again to drive us around Nairobi, prior to our departure back to Ca..
Antony drove us to : a Masai Art Market Collection Karen
to Wildlife Rescue Center called Sheldrick Wild Life Trust and to take a quick pick at the iconic Stanly Hotel which David had strong memories of from his childhood
Masai Art Market Collection Karen
Magadi Road , Nairobi. +254 117 249814
The Maasai Market is considered the best spot in Nairobi for souvenirs. It offers a wide variety of traditional handicrafts
wood carvings, paintings and trinkets at relatively reasonable prices.
So if one haven't stocked on gifts during the Safari excursions, shopping here is last opportunity..
Protecting Kenya's Habitat - Rescuing Orphaned Wild Life
An Orphans’ Project - Rescuing and rehabilitating orphaned infant elephants and rhinos is at the core of what the Shedrick WildLife Trust (SWT) is best known for.
Senior Administrator - Lina Sideras
+254 (0) 733 891 996 | +254 (0) 733891996 | +254 (0) 111044200
The center invites Wildlife lovers to became a part of their foster family by adopting an orphan elephant, rhino or giraffe for oneself or as a gift for a loved one.
Adoption directly supports the rescued animals in the center's care, helping to raise today’s orphans while ensuring they and their future families always have a protected wilderness to call home.
So we adopted in Leo's name the smallest baby orphan elephant named ZURI
The nursery which is located about 10 km outside of Nairobi, inside Nairobi's National Park, (since 1946) is
open daily only for one hour 11:00-12:00 to visits from the public, and requires, on line confirmed booking, prior to the visit.
The amount of visitors is limited., thus booking needs to be made a way head of time, and no entrance is permitted without confirmed booking., due to the large demand.
The abandoned /hurt Wildlife we saw, that were rescued and brought to the center, on display for the public were only elephants. for which adoption support was pitched, during the hour we visited there, Thanks to Antony the driver and his connections, we got in, as we didn't know that beforehand booking was required....
Staying at the Fairmont Norfolk Hotel- Nairobi
Harry Thuku Rd, Nairobi
is an iconic, 5-star historic hotel located on Harry Thuku Road in the heart of Nairobi. It is situated across from the University of Nairobi, just 3 km from the city center,
Established in 1904, the 170-room property is famous for its old-world charm, tranquil tropical gardens, and classic dining spots like the Lord Delamere Terrace and Tatu Restaurant)
We over-night at the hotel, but enjoyed staying 2 full days in this great property, as out flight back was late at night.
African Music Played Across from the Hotel
Adjacent to the Nairobi University grounds, across from the Nortfolk hotel, a very loud rhythmic African music which blasted in the afternoon, captured my attention as it was heard even at the hotel ground.
My curiosity about who was playing, pulled me out of the hotel's gate and directly across the road, into what was marked as " Nairobi Cultural Center" from where the music was played in open air..
It is known as Kenya Cultural Centre, which houses the famous Kenya National Theatre (on Harry Thuku Roa)
Founded in 1952. the space is used to engage, educate, learn and entertain the public through a variety of live performances ,regional plays, music concerts, dance and acts. as well as serve as a primary national venue for Kenyan and East African creative talent.
That afternoon, on our last day in town, we found out that the very jolly rhythmic African music, roused from across the street. was played by a Kenyan singing band ,very well know in Africa and around the world. named Kenge Kenge
The band even visited/played in Israel in 2009.
Kenge Kenge Orutu System Nairobi
George Achieng - Band Manager
+254 722 264573 +254 786 115 624. achidvara@yahoo.com
This Kenyan musical band an acclaimed 8-piece musical ensemble based in Nairobi, Kenya, is known for revitalizing traditional Luo roots music. and is famous for playing self-made acoustic instruments rather than electric ones,
Luo roots music is the traditional and transitional folk sound of the Luo people of Kenya and Tanzania, centered around Lake Victoria, featuring acoustic storytelling, indigenous instruments. They act as guardians of the region's ancient musical traditions
The band's signature sound and lively performances heavily feature:
The Orutu: A traditional, hand-carved one-string fiddle covered with monitor lizard skin.
The Nyatiti: A classic eight-string traditional lyre.
The Asili: A high-pitched traditional flute.
The Oporo: A large, curved, ivory-yellow ox-horn used for melodic
One of their signature songs "Pole Pole" - "Slowly Slowly" reflects African mindset and attitude, toward handling life
Mambo Pole Pole was released on January 1, 2012 by Kenge Kenge Orutu System as a part of the album Opogore
This "Pole Pole" mindset, has become a catching phrase / trend, in past recent years, also in Europe with "Go Slow" slogans, publicized in touristic cities,where cars and screens. are banned. However when experienced in African, airports, restaurants
or other given services, the "Pole Pole" mindset can make a western tourist lose his/her mind.....
Quick Pick into the Iconic Stanley Hotel
The iconic Sarova Stanley Hotel is Kenya's oldest luxury hotel, the first plush hotel in Nairobi, established in 1902 by English businesswoman Mayence Bent. when the city was a railway halt. Since the early 1900s, the Stanley Hotel has been known as the traditional meeting place for those going on safari in Kenya
It is named after Sir Henry Morton Stanley, a Welsh explorer who is best known for his explorations of central Africa and his successful search for missionary and explorer David Livingstone
It began as a modest four-room guest house above a general store before evolving into a legendary colonial-era landmark and the birthplace of several national institutions. (more history)
1904 1913 1950
It has played host to royalty, politicians, movie stars, and authors. and is still used for national business conferences and tourism activities. Stockbrokers held their first informal meetings in the hotel's bar during the 1950s, creating the roots of the Nairobi Securities Exchange. It Hosted notable figures including Ernest Hemingway, Frank Sinatra, Sean Connery, and Princess Elizabeth shortly before she learned of her accession to the British throne in 1952.
And it served as the initial distribution point for Tusker beer and housed Nairobi's earliest pavement café culture.
The Thorn Tree Cafe a bistro-style cafe is named after a towering Acacia Tree planted into the hotel's design in 1959 by the Block family,
It became a hang-out spot for expats and bohemians as well as a landmark spot for the young growing city..
It was on this tree's trunk that residents and tourists alike would post small messages for each other, a connecting point where travelers from near and far would leave notes to be found by lovers, family or friends some hours, days, months & even years later.
The legendary "tree-mail" lives on even after the introduction of email.
At some point, the original acacia tree died and was replaced with the current one, but the hotel kept the tradition alive by ringing the tree with a message board…
The high- rise modern current hotel resembles nothing, what David remembered of it, from his childhood's visits, when the impressive detached hotel, remarkably stood out, within a impressive elegant tranquil area,
Now a days the noisy congested, busy and unsafe area , overflowing with buildings, shops and people at the junction of Kenyatta Avenue and Kimathi Street in the heart of Nairobi's Central Business District. have stripped this historic establishment from its glorified days.
The long flight back home, again via Dubai, was unremarkable and smooth, bringing this amazing trip to its safe end.
THE END!!!
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