At 83, Hélène joined a Kenya and Uganda safari. She ballooned over the Mara, went white water rafting on the Nile, and met a silverback. Her journey proves that safari adventure is possible, comfortable, and thrilling at any age.
Adventure isn’t owned by the young.
Hélène, born in 1942, was supposed to visit Japan before her travel companion cancelled at the last minute. She looked around for an alternative, and having travelled with African Budget Safaris before, chose an overland tour to Kenya and Uganda. This tour would tick off two of her bucket-list items: Kenya’s Masai Mara and gorilla trekking in Uganda.
Travelling alone, Hélène joined her small group in Nairobi. While she had done a budget safari with basic camping, this time she chose the glamping option and set off on a 15-day accommodated overland journey across East Africa.
The small group was never more than 12 people, and the ages on the truck ranged from 18 to 83. Hélène said that the group adopted her completely, and it felt like family. They even nicknamed her “Miss Daisy” after the 1989 classic starring Jessica Tandy and Morgan Freeman.
I never felt out of place. Everyone looked after each other. We laughed every day.
This is the beauty of overland travel: strangers become travel tribe. And, as it turns out, there’s no such thing as too old for it.
On a previous safari, Hélène had done the Serengeti and had seen a part of the great migration. The Masai Mara was, however, more rewarding. She described the Masai Mara as;
smaller, and packed with animals, so that it was easier to see them. We saw so much.
Though the migration was in full swing, her group was prevented from getting too close to the Mara River. This was a result of the chaos seen at the river crossings earlier in the year, which has seen an increase in protections around the animals. While disappointing for everyone, this does underline the unpredictability of a safari in Africa.
To brighten the mood, Hélène signed up for a hot-air balloon flight (her second after Turkey), which is popular throughout Africa, and for her, this was magic.
It doesn’t go very high, you just float, and you see hyenas, wildebeest herds, the river line… It’s very special. Champagne breakfast at the end, as usual!
The tour also included a cultural element. She visited a Maasai homestead, danced with the community, stepped inside the chief’s house, and saw how these nomadic people live. The most surprising thing? The simplicity of their music-making took Hélène aback. Rhythms made using only their voices, feet stamping, and a single horn.
Was it worth it?
Yes, absolutely. It is important to see how these nomadic people live.
Learn more about this African tribe, the Maasai people of Kenya.
After the Mara, Kenya kept surprising her.
At Lake Nakuru, she was expecting flamingos, which she had seen before, but instead, was greeted by a lake covered in pelicans. “Millions. Flying in groups. Huge birds. Incredible.”
On the roads, she got a raw sense of East Africa: when the good tarmac came to an end, the potholes, the long lines of trucks waiting at border posts. 16 km of trucks waiting for days. But, as a tourist, it's not so bad; you go through quickly. This is what an overland safari gives you: real context. Real Africa. You don’t just see wildlife. You see how life unfolds between the sightings.
Hélène says that she was grateful to their driver, who was excellent throughout the tour, driving safely and navigating the challenging terrain.
Uganda delivered contrast.
Murchison Falls wasn’t wide, but the power of the water shocked her. The Nile cruise was also a highlight; this vast river was filled with hippos and crocs, and life everywhere along the banks.
The Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary was a joy with plenty of white rhinos. Getting to see them up close, walking safely with professional guides, was a real treat.
Chimp trekking in Budongo? Harder. Hot, steep, and the chimps were high up. But that’s the truth of it, some wildlife gives you everything, some makes you work for it.
Lake Bunyonyi surprised Hélène as a hub of activity. There were island visits, ziplining, and cultural encounters at a pygmy village. Several of her group headed off to Kigali to visit the genocide museum. Not Hélène, however.
No, this 83-year-old decided to go white water rafting on the Nile. She had been on the Zambezi and knew what to expect. She sounded quite delighted that they even had some grade 5 rapids! The downside, she says, the Nile is so massive there is a lot of paddling, and she was tired by the end of it.
Overall? The Nile blew her away.
It starts big in Jinja. Other rivers start tiny, but the Nile begins large. The source is a spring bubbling up from a small island in the middle. We even swam in the Nile!
Gorilla trekking was high up on Hélène’s bucket list and one of her major reasons for heading to East Africa.
When they arrived, they had a bit of a fright with a crowd of about 80 people. But it was well organised. After the briefing, the crowd of 80 was split into 10 groups that each headed into the forest to visit a different troop.
It had rained the day before, and the dirt track was slippery. The guide led the way with a machete, clearing the way. Helene says that she slipped and fell several times and, at one point needed to be rescued:
Once, 3 people had to pull my leg out; it had sunk so deep.
It was about 90 minutes in, through mud, vines, and hills, before they reached the gorillas. And then everything changed.
At gorillas, we stand still. The gorillas sit and eat in the forest. Eat the branches, take the bark off, eat the sweet part of the plant, a bit like sugar cane, then move on. Very relaxing. I sat on a stump and watched the silverback, a female, and two youngsters. The young jump and play and climb, and the adults just eat. The silverback got up to move, and the guide told me to be still! The silverback walked 1m from me! It was a major highlight.
She says that they could see them very well, and that the troop was very relaxed, habituated. It felt very natural, but very exciting...
I was a bit stressed being the only blonde (with a laugh), but we were never threatened. We stayed with the gorillas for an hour and then trekked for 1.5 hours to get back... all my friends are so jealous!
If you are curious about gorilla trekking, read our Gorilla Trekking FAQ guide.
Hélène’s advice for fellow travellers is as down-to-earth as it is encouraging.
Expect bumpy roads, it’s part of the adventure! (she laughs).
Her Kenya and Uganda safari combined comfort with a fantastic itinerary. She opted for a more comfortable package with private bathrooms, warm showers, and freshly prepared meals made with produce bought along the way.
“The accommodation was perfect,” she says. “Comfortable beds, mosquito nets, and wonderful food from our own cook.”
One of the highlights was experiencing the joy of local life.
People smile, children wave, and run along the road. There is such joy in life in both countries.
The pace of the 15-day itinerary was, in her words, “excellent, just enough.”
See the tour: 15-Day Kenya & Uganda, Masai Mara & Gorilla Trekking Overland Safari
Even long drives were made enjoyable by a comfortable, well-maintained vehicle where “everyone had a window seat.”
Hélène praised her driver, Boyd, for his skill and calmness on the road:
He was such a good driver. Even with hundreds of lorries on the road to the Masai Mara, he handled it perfectly.
To celebrate the journey’s end, her group enjoyed a final night in Eldoret at a luxury lodge. The hotel surprised the group with freshly baked cakes, a sweet ending to an unforgettable adventure.
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Summary Tips for East Africa Overland |
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Hélène says, for her, Africa feels like home, warm, welcoming, and easy to connect with.
Most people speak English; they’re happy to see you, and life is taken with a smile.
For seniors considering this safari, she offers simple reassurance:
Don’t worry, it’s very doable. The gorilla trek was the hardest part; you must be fit, but otherwise it was fine.
What about the duration?
15 days were enough for me. It was a wonderful adventure, interesting, rewarding, and just the right pace. By the end, I was ready to go home.
If Hélène can do the Masai Mara, Murchison Falls, Lake Bunyonyi, and Bwindi’s mountain gorillas at 83, you can do it too.
Explore our accommodated Masai Mara & Gorilla Trekking Safari, or talk to one of our safari experts about building a Kenya + Uganda journey that matches your pace, comfort level, and appetite for adventure.
Adventure does not belong to a specific age.
It belongs to whoever says yes.
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