Feb 9

Feb 9 Leila Antakly Shares a Visual Diary from Kenya

Culture, Photography, Travel, Creative People

I'm just settling back home after a beautiful and unconventional trip to Kenya. Instead of a traditional Masai Mara safari, I opted for an adventurous mix of kitesurfing and a wildlife sanctuary retreat (thank you, Lodo!) along the stunning Mombasa coast.

There are too many inside jokes and moments to recount—from "Hakuna Matitties" to the overarching lesson of the trip: the art of doing absolutely nothing.

Some unforgettable highlights:
– Opening the shower drain each morning with a stick to check for snakes
– A visit to a church in Ukunda
– Feeding bush babies at sundown
– Hopping on matatus (local minibuses), including one wild ride where I befriended a very tipsy Masai warrior with fish-glazed eyes and a mysterious relationship with his spear (still unclear whether it was for sale or just for show)

But the best part was spending time with old friends and meeting new ones—like the incredible Danish nurses and Austrian social workers we met, now working in remote villages, fully dedicated to helping others despite the challenges and risks.

Mombasa’s coast feels like a place suspended in time, uncertain of its next chapter—but magnetic all the same. I left a piece of myself there and hope to return soon. Next time, I’ll be ready to downwind on my kite—strapless board and all. Poli Poli (slowly slowly), as they say in Swahili.

Here are a few snapshots from the journey: