Culture, Community, Connection, & The Circle of Life…
Exploring Kenya with Y Travel’s Cate Cave
“Africa has been on my bucket list for so many years. It’s a continent I’ve always had such a fascination with - from sponsoring several African children, to my life-long obsession with elephants. To see how community projects are providing life-changing opportunities and life-saving medical care to the locals, as well as finally getting to see the incredible wildlife - including my beloved elephants - in their natural habitat was actually quite an emotional experience for me!”
Cate Cave
For as long as she can remember, Y Travel's Operations guru Cate has felt a deep connection with Africa. When the opportunity arose to experience Kenya first-hand as a guest of Forth & Wonder, Cate knew this chance to embark on her own real-life Attenborough documentary couldn't be missed.
Arriving in Nairobi, Cate was whisked to the serene suburb of Karen, named after "Out Of Africa" author Karen Blixen. Her first night was spent at Hemingways Nairobi, a luxurious boutique hotel with colonial-style architecture and full butler service. Walking into her suite, Cate discovered a large photographic print of elephants adorning the wall—a promising sign of adventures to come.
Segera Retreat - Laikipia
A short charter flight the next morning brought Cate to Segera Retreat, a "splash of green in a golden savannah" in the Laikipia region, north of Nairobi. This private conservancy operates on the principle of the "4 C's": Conservation, Community, Culture, and Commerce. With guest experiences including cooking classes, school visits, tree planting, and even the option of spending an evening sleeping under the stars at the Nay Palad Bird House, an elevated, bird’s nest-style accommodation with breathtaking views.
Evenings at Segera were filled with delicious meals prepared by talented local chefs. The staff shared their personal stories openly, creating connections that went beyond the typical guest experience. Art installations in former cattle stalls, and sculpture gardens dotted throughout the property added cultural depth to the already rich experience.
Of course, the main attraction is the wildlife, and it was here that Cate experienced her first emotional sighting of elephants wandering across the distant plains. The daily 'dawn and dusk' game drives proved especially memorable, guided by Mannu, a Maasai who had spent seven years alone in nature as part of his initiation. His deep connection to the land allowed him to track animals with remarkable intuition. Despite unusual rains making wildlife spotting challenging, Cate witnessed lions, zebras, hyenas, warthogs, impalas, cheetahs, giraffes, and of course, her beloved elephants.
A particularly moving moment occurred when Mannu helped reunite a baby zebra with its parents who had been separated by rhino fencing—a heart-warming effort that nearly caused the group to miss their flight but resulted in a joyful reunion.
Rekero Camp - Maasai Mara
From Segera, another charter flight took Cate to Rekero Tented Camp along the Talek River at the edge of the Masai Mara. The nine-tent camp offered a truly immersive wildlife experience. Hippos vocalised through the night, and traditional Maasai warriors armed with spears (used only to scare off animals) escorted guests along the bushwalk between tents.
One evening whilst walking back to her tent, Cate's escort pointed out fresh buffalo tracks and spotted a hippo grazing in tall grass - a reminder of just how close to nature she truly was. With no mobile reception and tents spread along the river, the experience was wonderfully disconnected from the modern world. The only means of communication between tents and the main lodge was via walkie-talkies and waving torches.
Rekero’s game drives revealed similar wildlife to Segera but with the addition of hippos due to the riverside location. During certain times of the year, guests can witness the great wildebeest migration crossing the Talek directly from the camp—a spectacle that occurs between July and October.
Angama Mara - Maasai Mara
A 3.5-hour drive across the Maasai Mara brought Cate to Angama Mara, perched dramatically 1,000 feet up on the Oloololo Escarpment - a scene literally straight out of the iconic 'Out of Africa' image. Angama Mara's contemporary African-style permanent tents offered luxury and comfort, while the property provided abundant amenities: an outdoor pool, gym, spa, photography studio, map room, and library.
Special experiences included lunch in the property's self-sustaining vegetable garden and an "Out of Africa" sundowner at the film's shooting location. Cate even had the privilege of dining with the camp's owner, Kate Fitzgerald Boyd, who shared stories of growing up in Kenya and her parents' vision in creating this extraordinary camp.
Another dimension of Angama's community commitment - and local pride - is the Angama Foundation’s Medical Centre that provides free treatment to staff, guests, and locals within a 50km radius. The Centre houses the only snake anti-venom in a 70km radius (a common hazard for local women working in the fields), a defibrillator, range of antibiotics, and dialysis machine, and serves as a vital (and free of charge) resource for the surrounding communities.
Though game drives from Angama required a descent down the escarpment to reach the national park, the reward was worth it: monkeys and chimps crossing their path, and at one point, a fleet of jeeps converging to witness cheetahs, hyenas, and vultures taking turns at feasting on a fresh kill.
Sanctuary Olonana
The final stop on Cate's African journey was Sanctuary Olonana, a 30-minute drive from Angama Mara. Set on the Mara River, this lodge featured contemporary solid villas connected by paved walkways. The spacious suites included sunken lounge areas overlooking the river and luxurious bathrooms with triple shower heads.
Here, Cate participated in a meaningful cultural exchange at a Maasai village, learning about their traditional way of life - women handling domestic duties including building mud huts, while men cared for animals. Like the other properties, Sanctuary Olonana demonstrated strong community ties through safe water and lunch programmes for local schools.
The communal areas of the property encouraged mingling with other guests, many of whom were Australian, creating a convivial atmosphere of shared experiences and wonder at the natural beauty surrounding them.
Throughout her journey, Cate witnessed the "Big Five"—elephants, lions, leopards, rhino (though distant), and buffalo. But more than ticking boxes, her time in Kenya connected her to the land, its people, and its wildlife in ways that transformed her understanding and appreciation of this magnificent country. From the excitement of seeing elephants protectively trumpeting to scare away lions, to the warmth of children waving as she drove past, Kenya revealed itself as a place of remarkable generosity, adventure, and natural splendour.