The Fashionable Frequent Flyers

Have you ever wondered what it’s like to sleep under the stars in the wild, listening to nothing but the sounds of nature and wildlife throughout the night? I’m here to tell you that you can stop wondering and actually experience such an exhilarating night. Deep in the heart of Laikipia, Kenya, there is an incredible property called the Segera Retreat, which boasts 50,000 acres of a private game reserve. Somewhere deep in that vast land is the Nay Palad Bird’s Nest Hideaway.

The accommodation is like nothing you’ve ever experienced. The property is three stories high, with the ground floor being a lavish outdoor shower, the first floor being a luxurious indoor bedroom and restroom (in case it starts to rain), and the top floor is the open-air bedroom and luxurious living area. The top floor, which is perched atop an actual tree house, is without question the highlight of the property. From here, you have a 360-degree view of the vast grasslands and plains around you, and you can hear the various wildlife around the nest living and existing uninhibited.

The Staff at Segera elevates this already incredible experience by providing a one-of-a-kind overnight spread. We were provided with hors-d’oeuvres, plenty of wine and liquor to give us the courage to survive the night, a wonderful boxed dinner (which was just as exquisite as dinner on the property), and plenty of gear, including binoculars, flashlights, and a walkie talkie for emergencies since there’s no cell service at the Nest. The evening starts out with a sundowner at the Nest with the Staff of Segera, enjoying some drinks and watching the sunset. Thereafter, the staff leave and you’re left to your own devices atop the Nest for the night.

So how did it go, you must be thinking? Well, within the first hour after the staff left, we heard a leopard and some baboons have a fairly loud disagreement. We tried finding them using the flashlight, but we struck out. A couple of hours later, maybe around 9:30 PM, some hyenas were laughing hysterically somewhere close by–my guess is that they thought it was funny that we thought we could handle the experience without bouts of panic here and there. And of course, around midnight or so, some lions made an appearance close by too, and let themselves be heard. It was exhilarating and terrifying. But with each distinct sound, you better believe we tried searching for the animals with our flashlight. I did get a brief glimpse of the lions, but only for a couple of seconds. And if the wildlife wasn’t enough, it was a gorgeous night under the stars; the kind of clarity you can really only get in the Savannah. It was a tad chilly, but the bed on the top floor had two hot water bottles to keep us warm all night, and boy did they! In all, it was an amazing experience; one I’d definitely love to have again.

In the morning, our guide, Ngimat, brought us some morning tea. We watched the sunrise atop the Nest before heading back to the retreat. That night will forever live in my head rent-free until the day I die.