Kenya in March 2020: Volunteering, Safari Adventures, and a Race Against the Pandemic

In March 2020, just as the world was beginning to stir with uncertainty, I embarked on what would become one of the most unforgettable journeys of my life. Alongside 15 incredible volunteers from across the U.S., I spent a week in Kenya—part volunteer mission, part cultural immersion, and part safari adventure. What began as a hopeful trip of connection and learning ended with a dramatic race against time as the world rapidly shut down in response to COVID-19.

Giving Back in Nairobi

Our time in Kenya began in Nairobi, where we volunteered at Rehema Orphanage and School, located in the Korogocho slums. We helped finish the set up a new library (one of the volunteers was a librarian from Austin) and celebrated the opening of a newly constructed building—a space filled with hope and promise for the community.

One of the most joyful days was our “Activity Day,” where each volunteer led a session to share a skill or activity with the students. There were drum circles, recorders playing melodies, science experiments, friendship bracelet making, sewing projects, and games galore. My friend Harold and I led a session teaching and playing board games—an unexpectedly delightful way to connect, laugh, and build camaraderie with the kids. Their enthusiasm and curiosity was heartwarming.

Wildlife, Culture, and Beauty

During our time in Nairobi, we carved out a few unforgettable moments to experience the city’s rich blend of wildlife conservation, culture, and history:

🐍 Nairobi National Museum and Snake Park
We explored exhibits on Kenya’s rich history, art, and culture—then took a fascinating (and slightly spine-tingling) walk through the Snake Park, which houses an impressive variety of local and exotic snakes.

🐘 Sheldrick Wildlife Trust
We visited during feeding hour, where we watched rescued baby elephants—including orphaned calves—being lovingly bottle-fed. It was nice to see the care this organization provides to vulnerable wildlife. A moment I’ll never forget: out of the crowd, one-year-old Mukkoka trotted straight toward me and nestled his trunk against my side—curious, affectionate, and hungry.

🌀 Kazuri Beads Women’s Cooperative (Karen, Kenya)
We browsed and shopped for beautifully handcrafted ceramic jewelry and pottery made by local women artisans. The cooperative empowers single mothers and women from disadvantaged backgrounds with steady employment and skills training.

🍃 Kiambethu Tea Farm Tour
At Fiona Vernon’s family-owned tea farm, we learned all about the history and production of Kenyan tea. Fiona guided us through:

• A tea-tasting session and educational talk on different tea varieties.
• A delicious farm-to-table lunch made entirely from organic ingredients grown on-site.
• A guided walk through a patch of untouched rainforest, where we learned about the medicinal uses of local plants and trees.
• Getting to know the resident Colobus monkeys—and winning them over with bananas.

Then came the second leg of our adventure—a 7-day safari and cultural journey that took us deep into Kenya’s breathtaking landscapes.

Into the Wild: A Safari to Remember

Our safari adventure was full of awe-inspiring wildlife encounters, rich cultural exchanges, and breathtaking landscapes:

🌅 Treetops Lodge in Aberdare National Park

• Our first stop on safari was the historic Treetops Lodge, famously visited by Queen Elizabeth.
• From the lodge’s viewing blind, we watched a family of elephants gather peacefully at the watering hole at sunset—a magical introduction to the Kenyan wilderness.

🦏 Ol Pejeta Conservancy and Sweetwaters Serena Tented Camp

• We stayed in comfortable canvas tents where resident waterbucks roamed the grounds, enjoying morning and afternoon game drives.
• We had the rare opportunity to see some of the world’s endangered rhino species up close—and also the sobering sight of a rhino graveyard. While some had passed from natural causes, far too many fell victim to poaching. The reserve is also home to a heartbreaking legacy: the last two remaining northern white rhinos on Earth, both females, who are now protected around the clock by armed guards.
• While at Ol Pejeta, we made a quick stop at the Equator line for the classic photo op—because how often do you get to straddle two hemispheres at once?

🏞️ Great Rift Valley Drive and Lake Nakuru Lodge

• We traveled through the stunning Great Rift Valley to Lake Nakuru Lodge.
• We enjoyed a morning game drive in Lake Nakuru National Park and where we saw rhinos and a variety of wetland birds.
• Back at the lodge, a waterhole within view of the terrace attracted wildlife throughout the day. A Maasai guard stood watch to keep cheeky baboons from swiping tourists’ lunches—an amusing detail of the stay.

🐦 Lake Naivasha Sopa Lodge

• We spent a peaceful stay at this lush, lakeside retreat, where zebras, giraffes, and vervet monkeys roam freely among the grounds. It was the perfect pause before diving into the heart of safari country. It was a little intimidating to be within a few feet of a giraffe while I’m standing on the ground, but (I named him) Bob could care less about little ‘ol me.

🦁 Masai Mara Game Reserve and Mara Simba Lodge

• Spent two nights at Mara Simba Lodge, where we were the last group of tourists able to visit. The staff was amazingly warm and welcoming even as the pandemic loomed and they approached uncertain times.
• Experienced morning and afternoon game drives, spotting lions, zebras, giraffes, wildebeests, and more in their natural habitat.

🎶 Ol Boma Manyatta Cultural Visit

• Visited an Ol Boma Manyatta, a traditional Masai homestead village.
• Welcomed with Maasai Morani warriors singing and dancing, and shopped at the village’s market of handmade crafts to support the local community.

A World Turned Upside Down

As we drove back toward Nairobi on March 21, everything had changed. Kenya had reported cases of COVID-19 and there were curfews, closures, and a growing sense of uncertainty. Although our return flights had been arranged through a U.S. travel agency, it was our small Kenyan travel agency that worked around the clock to reroute all 14 of us onto what would become some of the very last flights out of the country before the borders shut down.

I’ll be forever grateful to Milton, the agency’s owner—not only for securing our way home, but for personally escorting us to the Nairobi airport to ensure everything went smoothly. His calm leadership and care in a moment of global chaos meant more than words can say.

My originally scheduled route through Frankfurt turned into a long, winding path: Kenya → Qatar → New York → Charlotte → Austin. Despite the detour and layovers, I was incredibly grateful. While we’d heard horror stories of packed airports and endless security lines, our group was lucky—we navigated it all relatively smoothly. With Global Entry, reentering the U.S. was surprisingly uneventful, and by March 23, the same day the Kenyan government announced all international flights to and from the country were suspended, I was finally back home.

Gratitude in the Midst of Chaos

Looking back, it feels surreal. We left the U.S. when the pandemic was a growing concern but not yet a crisis. We returned to a world that had transformed.

But what remains with me most is not the sense of helplessness in those final days—it’s the resilience, kindness, and beauty of the people we met. The students and teachers at Rehema, the artisans and market vendors, the guides and staff at the lodges, and the wildlife conservationists—all of them shared their world with us so generously.

📷 Photo Gallery from Kenya

Want to see more from the trip? Check the photo gallery:

🐾 Kenya Wildlife Gallery – Elephants, lions, giraffes, big cats, birds and more from our safari adventures
View Kenya Wildlife Photos »

📍 Our Trip Map