Last week, I was on a plane heading to a family wedding in Sydney, flipping through an inflight magazine when I spotted a question that stopped me in my tracks: Where is your happy place? My answer lands squarely on Kenya—a destination that stole my heart five years ago and still pulls me back, time and again.
Kenya was the place I first visited with my teenage twin boys as they turned 18 and had just finished Year 12. Five years on, I’m still drawn back to the land of heart-stirring landscapes, fearless wildlife, and a pace of life that reminds me what really matters.
Quick take: why Kenya is my happy place
Kenya ticks all my boxes.
My love for animals runs deep; sometimes they’re easier to love than humans, which makes the country feel like a sanctuary. The landscapes are generous, the sunsets impossibly cinematic, and the people—kind, humble, with a warmth that is genuine. Then there’s the adventure: moments of high tempo and pure excitement that leave a lasting grin on your face.
One day I’m playing golf on magnificent courses; the next day I’m floating in a hot air balloon above the Masai Mara, watching the world wake up from a bird’s-eye view. Kenya, for me, is a true happy place.
A safari that pulls a rainbow of emotions
A safari can pull a rainbow of emotions from you in a single morning. Being in the Masai Mara, I’ve learned, is not a one-note experience. Like a box of chocolates, it’s a collection of tiny surprises.
On one particular day we were treated to the sight of baby elephants and zebras, but the highlight was watching two female lionesses escort their cubs out of hiding in the trees, across the open plains, protecting them with a resolve that left me humbled. The grace of a family moving as one—these are the scenes that stay with you.
The big-cat crescendo: a “triple treat”
Then came the big-cat crescendo—the “triple treat” that still feels it can never be repeated.
Two male lions taking down a baby hippo on the river’s edge, a leopard enjoying a midday lunch after a kill—upper branches a safety rope from hyenas—and a cheetah stalking a group of Thompson gazelles. We put down our cameras and held our breath, knowing we were in the middle of something special.
Our guide quietly said, “we will not get closer, we will not interfere with an animal and a kill.” It felt like the right compass in a place that can, if you’re not careful, spin out of control.
The cheetah’s charge came in a blur of dust, and the moment before the kill was as thrilling as any climactic scene in a movie.
Kenya golf: more than a round, it’s the scenery
And then there’s the golf. Kenya’s golf courses are not just venues for sport; they are scenic experiences in their own right. We played at Muthaiga, Karen, and Segona—three courses that are all conveniently close to Nairobi, each with its own character.
Karen Golf Course sits in a district named after Karen Blixen, author of Out of Africa, tying literature to landscape in a way that feels symbolic as well as charming.
Muthaiga, the current host of the Kenya Open, has a history that glows in the stories told at the 19th hole—especially the Par 3 - 2nd hole, a challenge that still gets everyone talking. This signature hole has water hazards that require iron accuracy and strategic bunkers that guard the green. It feels like a test to be enjoyed rather than endured.
Those rounds of golf were elevated even more with the caddies, their fabulous smiles, not to mention their astute guidance. I wish I could have teleported my caddie, Benjamin, back home to Australia with me. I would be ripping up my home course by now.
Kenya: the adventure unknown (and the memories you take home)
For some people their happy place is a secluded beach, a stunning sunset with a margarita cocktail on speed dial. For me now, I crave something more active, more of the adventure unknown. Kenya fits that desire perfectly. It invites you to participate in the moment and carry those memories home.
From a visit to the Kibera slum to cook with a family, to the sight of a leopard lunching high in a tree, the experiences are a collage of delight. And yes, there are lighter, quirkier moments too—like teeing off while a curious giraffe ambles across the fairway, stopping the swing with a nod of regal indifference. Each day offers a new scene, a new story to take with you.
Kenya ticks all my boxes—and then some. It’s like a box of chocolates: you never know what you’re going to taste next, but you know it will be unforgettable.
I’m already counting the days until September, when I’ll return with fresh plans and bold ideas to add to the journey.
Why don’t you join me? >> Kenya Golf & Safari Tour <<
Because the blend of heart-pounding wildlife, vibrant landscapes, and sport-infused adventures is an invitation to live fully in every moment.
