By Lisa Christoffersen
 The idea of writing a Girls’ Survivor Guide book began in February 2004. I had arranged a 'girls only’ weekend escape to Samburu with several friends. On checking in at the airport for our flight, I was teased endlessly because of the amount of luggage I had. I have always had a problem understanding the meaning of ‘travelling light’! My theory is, that you never know who you are going to meet or how smart a place may be, and yes, I do carry a few extra outfits just in case I fall into a river or swamp, and because there may not be any laundry facilities where one is staying. I cannot wear the same shirt two days in a row! Once we had arrived at  our bush destination in Samburu, settled into our various tents and freshened up, we met for a chilled glass of Chardonnay on the bank of the Ewaso Nyiro River in a beautiful setting under the shade of Yellow Fever trees.
One of my girlfriends appeared wearing a pair of Jean Paul Gautier nylon hot pants with three large brass buttons down each side - wow - she looked stunning! But she soon got my message:
- We were in Samburu country, surrounded by both local tribesmen and men (who were already staring in amazement at this girl wearing barely nothing on her legs) and I’m sure they were eyeing the brass buttons which could be used for ornaments or mirrors!!
- We were in hot dry country and sitting in nylon shorts, you are going to sweat - not to mention get a very itchy bottom too!! Another girlfriend had only packed one pair of shoes - a pair of slippers on her feet!
 This, of course, made walking in the bush and crossing the Ewaso Nyiro River on foot uncomfortable and very inpractical! We laughed at all the small, yet quite important, things that the girls had omitted to pack...... and that’s when I came up with the idea to write a Girls’ Survivor Guide Book for Kenya that includes an ‘Essential Items To Remember’ check list and more!
The name “Bush Friendly” has been with me for more than 15 years - it was the name of my art and craft shop in Arusha, Tanzania. It is a very appropriate name for the African bush!
Once ideas for this book developed I asked my good friend, Suzie Sardelli to help write and edit this guide book with me. Suzie has updated the Insight Guide Books Kenya edition on a number of occasions and more recently the Berlitz Pocket Guide to Kenya.
I would like to share this book with all my friends, and especially my close family, Grant, who was in the safari business for more than 15 years and has great bush experience, Savanna and Zak, who have shared and been with me on many wonderful and magical safari adventures including last year’s helicopter safari to Kenya’s Northern Frontier. We landed on top of a volcano at Lake Turkana, then flew on to sip chilled Frascati at Desert Rose on Mt. Nyiru, followed by the most breathtaking landing on the top of Ol Lololokwe just north of Samburu and then flying low over the Ewaso Nyiro River - an all together inspiring adventure I’ll never forget.
Kenya is a truely amazing country with so much to offer, so many adventures to enjoy. I encourage everyone of you girls (and your boys) to pack your bags and go on Safari.
Enjoy - Safari Njema
Love Lisa
P.S. Don’t forget to take this book with you & be 'Bush Friendly'!
 Read more about Lisa Christoffersen...
 Back to previous page
 top
|
