Ever wanted to get away to somewhere new but not sure where? How do you decide? Thow a dart at a map and see where it lands? Go to the airport and buy a ticket on the next departing flight? Those are possible methods, sure, but if you’re a little more discriminating, and also on a budget, a better way might be to research the most economical flights during your upcoming travel window.
Bridges Photographer Ashley Quinn did just that a few years ago, and the process took her nearly 8,000 miles away from her home in Bellefonte, Kentucky, to the East African city of Nairobi, the capital of Kenya. “I wanted to go somewhere I hadn’t been and didn’t have a lot to spend,” Quinn said. “It turned out to be a wonderful choice.”
A round trip flight in early 2020 cost just $600, and after studying up on all the various options for hostels in the area, Quinn selected Wildebeest Eco Camp, a permanent tented camp located on the outskirts of Naroibi, at a cost of $25 per night.
“It was perfect for me. I had read a lot about traveling for solo women and was trying to be responsible. The camp was a great location, and everyone was super friendly. I felt safe there the entire time,” Quinn said. “Nairobi is abolutely beautiful, and it was very easy to navigate.”
The single mother of four then-teenagers made sure she got all the required pre-trip vaccinations, didn’t drink the local water, and remained vigilant throughout her nine-day stay. Perhaps the most worrisome part of the trip was the ongoing concern of a new virus emerging from China – something that would drastically alter the world’s landscape and everyone’s ability to travel, just a month after Quinn returned home.
From her camp base, Quinn easily traveled throughout the Nairobi region, including on a safari adventure, to an elephant sanctuary, and to the home of one of her female idols Danish author Karen Blixen. Transportation was either arranged through the camp or, in many cases, Quinn just took an Uber. Because her trip came during Kenya’s rainy season, several of Quinn’s African adventures included changes or delays due to muddy conditions. “We got stuck in the mud quite a bit, but people always stopped to get us unstuck, and we did the same.” Only once did a “stuck in the mud” situation cause Quinn concern, and that was because her driver, in an attempt to reassure, said she’d be safe up on top of the vehicle – except from panthers, which can easily jump to that height. But, after about 30 minutes – during which time Quinn constantly scanned the horizon for moving objects – help arrived to pull them out of the mud.
Visitng the former home of Blixen, whose book “Out of Africa” (and the 1985 Oscar-winning film) is based on her years living in Kenya (1914 to 1931), was one of the trip highlights for Quinn. “Her home is now a museum, and many things and places around Nairobi are named Karen, after her. I really enjoyed seeing where she lived and learning more about her.”
On her second day at camp, Quinn met another solo traveler, a woman from England, and the two paired up for many of their adventures. “There were actually several solo travelers at the camp. It was great to be able to meet different people from all over the world and hear their stories.”
The camp offered community, family-style dinners each evening, featuring local cuisine. Not one to shy away from trying new things, Quinn dined on giraffe at a Nairobi restaurant. “I wouldn’t say I’m a fan but I’m glad I tried it,” she replied after being asked how it tasted.
What impressed Quinn more about giraffes than their taste was their strength. During a safari tour, Quinn got up close to the world’s tallest living terrestrial animal. “I didn’t realize how physical giraffes are. They use their head as a weapon – they swing their necks to head-butt each other and sometimes people.”
Another animal aspect of the trip that Quinn found surprising was the number of monkeys absolutely everywhere, including at her camp. “They can really be quite vicious. You have to be careful around them.” The number of armed men she saw throughout Nairobi, including many guarding private homes, was a bit unnerving, Quinn said. She was also amazed by the people she saw walking absolutely everywhere. “It’s a very poor country, so not many people have cars. They have to walk. You see them everywhere – even on major interstates.”
Despite their hardships, all of the African people Quinn met were warm and welcoming, proud of their beautiful country, and happy to help a woman from Kentucky feel right at home in Kenya. “It was truly just a wonderful trip, and just what I was looking for.”