We don't have to go to South Africa: We went on a women's journey in Kenya

Imagine waking up while the birds are starting to wake up the nature reserve, the sun is shining its pleasant rays, and you find yourself with a group of women exercising in a local yoga class, by the pool, at a moment when all is good for you.

I embarked on a journey that combines safari and wild nature, pampering lodges in the heart of the savannah of the Masi Mara tribe and basking in the sun in a magical resort at Diani Beach, which is one of the blue and impressive beaches of Mombasa and I came back in love. Those who are looking for a slightly different vacation to freshen up, have fun and experience in reality scenes from National Geographic - Kenya is absolutely the destination.

I traveled as part of a unique women's journey by Iris and Yoel Amit and it was the perfect break. The heart of things in Africa, and also of the journey, was keep it simple - to keep everything simple, both about nature and about the heart and thoughts. We kind of forgot that in our country.

After a short connection in Ethiopia, we arrived in Nairobi, where we boarded jeeps and drove deep into Kenya towards Lake Naivash, to the Sopa Resort Lodge and arrived straight for a night's sleep. The plus in arriving at a new place at night, is from the very discovery and awakening in the morning to a different world from everything you knew. The green outside immediately grabs you, the huge trees, the exotic flowers and in between you will suddenly discover little monkeys jumping or zebras and giraffes walking freely, as if you are part of a scene from "Jurassic Park".

And those who are already starting to itch just hearing the word 'lodge' (a combination of luxury hotel and glamping) should know that the lodges themselves are huge and spacious. The rooms in the lodges combine king-size beds with mosquito nets around them, spacious showers with modern bathroom facilities, and there is also a balcony overlooking the gardens with the possibility of watching the animals walking around you.

In the central lobby there is also a dining room that is all decorated with carved wood, and in the buffet you will find a lot of vegetables and fruits, some of which are familiar to us and some less so, but my recommendation - you must try! There were also omelettes and pancakes that are prepared on the spot, and a wide variety of pastries and breads, salads and cheeses that will remind you of an Israeli breakfast, so that you will feel at home.

From breakfast we continued sailing in motorboats and canoes in the heart of the famous Lake Naivasha, alongside wild animals such as pelicans and eagles, and species of birds that had just stopped for a break, on their way to Israel. We also met goats, zebras, giraffes, and even a family of hippos. From a state of alertness and vigilance that we brought from Israel, we felt how slowly Kania begins to seep in and calm us down. Instead of taking pictures with a cell phone, we started taking pictures with our eyes, to burn the experience.

We continued to a village in the Mara Sarova Camp reserve, where we had the privilege of meeting the warriors of the Masi Mara tribe and the women of the tribe, and sitting down for an introductory conversation with the chief's son and his weapon bearer. We listened to the trumpets that invited the other members of the tribe to come closer to us singing and local dances of the villagers, we got to experience one of the rituals used in the tribe in which the men jump to crazy heights on the spot like a real spring, and understand the origin of the custom and how it was intended to be part of the courtship rituals between the men and women in the village itself.

We drove a short distance to a relatively new cultural museum, established by the women of the village with the help of an Israeli, Etti Dayan, a research and anthropology woman, who fell in love with the charms of Africa and became almost "one of their own" as the name of her book states.

The small museum curates items of jewelry and clothing from different tribes and from different periods as part of the evolution of handwork in Kenya, and tells their story about the change of women even in traditional and conservative areas such as the Masi Mara and other tribes. The change is slow and small but noticeable and substantial. The trainings are conducted by the women of the tribe and this creates a connection and a different experience, and you can renew yourself at their arts fair as well.

In the "GAME DRIVE" trips, which are the daily jeep trips into the savannah and back to the lodge, we were also treated to tremendous scenes at the National Geographic level. Already on the first day, we watched how two mothers in Palo, who moved away from the herd in order to give birth, find themselves giving birth and a few minutes later already fighting for their lives and the lives of the little ones that were born against hyenas who came to look for dinner, and then against lionesses who came to hunt. We quickly realized that there is a scene here not only of good and bad, but of real survival when each side tries to stay alive. The entire food chain. We witness another day on a Kenyan safari, where in a second of lack of concentration or thought, you can be someone else's meal.

The return to human and animal nature is thought provoking and awakens a slumber. The senses work at full speed and the heart beats with fear or enthusiasm and adrenaline. Every moment there are scenes of a group of tigers nibbling on a doe that was unlucky that day, or a huge group of elephants roaming the space and some tiny "Dumbo" elephants, who make davins at us and taunt us with their trunks, to deter us from getting too close. And after every such encounter with nature in its wildness, you need a moment to yourself to process and breathe in the experience.

We continued our journey with a direct and short flight that allowed us a glimpse of the beauty of Kenya also from a bird's eye view, and we arrived at Baobab Beach Resort and Spa on the magical Diani Beach.

This resort is suitable for the whole family, but there are also enclosed areas for adults only for peace and quiet. The area itself is huge and the central path brings guests together with a multitude of infinity pools adjacent to the beach, open and closed bars by the sides of the pools serving soft drinks and alcohol, and the spa complex (for an additional fee) consisting of a number of cabins carved out of wood next to tropical vegetation, and a varied menu of treatments at an affordable price for the Israeli pocket. In the center of the resort there is a large dining room with a variety of buffet stations that combine local dishes alongside poultry, fish, meats, soups, desserts and natural juices and fruits. In the evening you can enjoy watching African dance performances by the local entertainment team or witness the amazing sight of the tides next to a full moon and pink sunsets.

Snorkeling enthusiasts can also enjoy a sea safari, which allows water sports along with sailing in a glass boat to the island opposite the resort, created as a result of the tides in the area. 

We enjoyed diving in the turquoise waters of Diani Beach, drinking sweet coconuts on the island, snorkeling with marine equipment provided by the ship's crew, and also learning a little about the coral reefs and the fish and starfish that grow there. We came back with a lot of loot, don't worry, we didn't take starfish home, just a collection of photos and experiences.    

An important part of the female journey is the connection between the being of the place and you, and we felt this all the time thanks to Iris and Yoel, who constantly tried to slow down the experience and allow us to truly merge with Africa. Iris is responsible for the workshops that combine the emotional connection between us and our environment, and the change we wanted for ourselves at that moment. She makes sure to also combine yoga or African Zumba classes and cocktail time and a pool party, to move and dance and move the body along with the mind.  Joel's job is to make sure that we don't just stay in the ivory tower, but go outside to witness a spectacular sunset or enjoy a happy picnic among lions and rhinos, visit a school for boys and girls in Mombasa or the village of the Masi Mara tribe.  While everyone in Savannah is looking for the "Big 5" (the buffalo, the lion, the elephant, the tiger and the rhinoceros), Yoel made sure to remind us to look not only at the 'kings of the safari' but also at the tiny and colorful birds, as if asking us to lower the resolution and notice the small and special animals as well of Africa, which do not take up space and volume or stand out in the landscape, as calling us to emphasize and pay attention to things that others may not always delve into. The journey is the connecting point between all these moments that combines pleasure and experiences alongside lots of soulful conversations and time for yourself to write, think, vent and build up.

And if I've made you want to take a wonderful trip to Kenya, I highly recommend the feminine journey of Iris and Yoel Amit. All the details on their website https://yoelamit-safari.co.il/

Dana Setoi - Tourism Reporter Tour guide in Neve Tzedek The owner of the "Quality Time" blog for travel and leisure. 050-5418675 |  https://linktr.ee/danatime