Sosian Lodge – Iris Grace Painting

*Baboon Rock, Sosian wildlife conservancy, Kenya.*

A Dreamy 16th Birthday

In September 2025 we visited Sosian Lodge in the Laikipia Highlands. Months later we are still dreaming of Africa.

We are so thankful to all of the team at Sosian and also the expertise at Aardvark Safaris, they made this trip possible. As you can imagine the planning was immense and I needed helping hand from the initial stages of finding the right country, area and lodge that would be autism friendly to the logistics and finer details. They took my list of ideals and special requests with Iris’s safety in mind and created the most spectacular holiday of a lifetime for her 16th Birthday.

Here are some highlights from this unforgettable and inspiring trip combining safari drives to see the wildlife with culture and the arts.

The Reticulated giraffe (Giraffa reticulata) is distinguished primarily by its striking coat pattern. These distinctive block-like spots extend onto their lower legs, tail, and face. Each individual giraffe possesses a unique coat pattern, much like human fingerprints.

An afternoon with the Samburu tribe. Their leaps to the rhythmic clapping and chants are a celebration of their physical fitness and endurance. We share a love for music, movement, community and the natural landscape. They jump to express joy and an act of communal unity.

The Samburu children playing at their camp.

Iris watching the Samburu tribe dance with her violin and wearing her Morris Dancing jacket from England. Iris’s little violin was her anchor, a comfort, her joy, a loyal friend that travelled everywhere with us. It turned out to be more than I realised. It was a link to socialising and connecting with the tribe, the staff at the lodge and the other guests.

The children playing with Iris’s violin.

Craftsmanship

The creation of traditional Samburu attire is a labor-intensive process requiring skill and artistry. Women engage in communal beadwork, passing down techniques and designs through generations. This cooperative effort strengthens community bonds and ensures the continuity of cultural practices and also now provides vital income to the community with visitors buying their beautiful crafts.

The Samburu people of northern Kenya are renowned for their striking traditional attire, which serves as a vivid expression of their cultural identity.

The traditional dress is more than mere clothing; it is a powerful symbol of identity, pride, and heritage. Each garment tells a story, reflecting the wearer’s social status, age, marital status, and personal achievements. In a society where community and kinship are paramount, these symbols play a crucial role in social interactions and cultural continuity.

Colours

The language of colours in Samburu clothing:
Red: A symbol of bravery and strength, often associated with warriors.
Blue: Represents the sky and water, vital elements for survival in the arid landscape.
Yellow and Green: Symbolize wealth and fertility, reflecting the importance of livestock and agricultural success.
These colors are often combined in intricate patterns, each unique to the wearer, which allows for personal expression within the framework of cultural tradition.

The Role of Beadwork

Women’s traditional dress is characterized by intricate beadwork that can weigh several pounds. This jewelry is not only decorative but also serves as an essential part of a woman’s identity. The patterns and colors of the beads can indicate her marital status, age, and even her family’s wealth.

The Wildlife

Sharing all of the animals we saw on our game drives on one blog is impossible so I will write some stories about our experiences in further posts to come. Sosian is a haven for over 70 species of mammals, 30 species of reptiles and over 350 species of birds.

The Hippopotamus in the Ewaso Narok River , weighing almost as much as a car, fast & aggressive. A cool hippo fact – their bodies produce sunscreen, a fluid under the skin protects them from the sun and water keeps them cool and prevents the skin from drying out.

Impala, one of the most gorgeous looking antelopes on the plains, with shiny coats of red with white markings. They can jump 3 meters high and over 10 meters far to escape from predators.

The density of the wildlife population in Laikipia ranks second only to the Masai Mara, in Kenya and the area supports more endangered mammals than anywhere else in East Africa. Rare species in the area include the endemic Jackson’s hartebeest, Grevy’s zebra and reticulated giraffe. Laikipia also boasts the second highest population of elephant in Kenya, with around 6000 resident in the area, of which several hundred can be seen on Sosian at one time.

Discovering the beauty of Laikipia is something we shall never forget, we have left with a deeper understanding and love for the wildlife which motivates a sense of responsibility to safeguard it.

“It seems to me that the natural world is the great source of excitement: the greatest source of visual beauty; the greatest source of intellectual interest.

It is the greatest source of so much in life that makes life worth living.”

~ David Attenborough