First Day in Samburu: A Journey, A Welcome, and Shared Joy
The journey from Nairobi to Samburu felt endless. Hours passed, the landscape slowly shifting into something drier, harsher, and more remote. It was a long day and physically exhausting. But underneath it all was a growing sense of anticipation. I had imagined this moment for so long, and when I finally arrived, every mile/ kilo meter suddenly felt worth it.
Seeing the children for the first time was overwhelming in the best possible way. Their energy, their smiles, their curiosity was immediate and genuine. They gathered around eagerly, each one wanting to introduce themselves, to be seen, to be heard. We spent time just sitting together, talking and laughing, and sharing what little we had.
But alongside their joy, there were stories that carried a different weight.
They told me about the elephants.
During the dry season, with almost no food or water left in the surrounding land, the elephants had come into their homes searching for something, anything to survive. In the process, they had broken through their fence and destroyed the trees the children had worked so hard to nurture. These weren’t just plants, they were hope, effort, and care grown over time. Hearing this, it was impossible not to feel the complexity of it all. The quiet tension between people and wildlife, both struggling in the same unforgiving conditions.
We cooked together too, working side by side in a simple, shared rhythm. There was something grounding about it. Preparing food as a group, each person contributing in their own way. By the time dinner was finally ready, it was late. We sat and ate together under the night sky, tired but content, the kind of tired that comes from a full and meaningful day.
Eventually, one by one, everyone drifted off to bed.
That first day in Samburu held everything distance, joy, hardship, connection, and celebration. It ended not with silence, but with a sense of togetherness that made even the unfamiliar feel like home.
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