Kenya: The Wild Beauty That Stole My Heart

July 14, 2025

There are few countries I’ve visited more than Kenya — and for good reason. There’s something magnetic about this place: the sparkly coastline, the warm, welcoming smiles of its people, the vast and breathtaking savannahs. It pulls you in and keeps pulling you back.

A Well of Wild Inspiration

Kenya has been a wellspring of creative inspiration for me. Many of my paintings and surface patterns are born from the wild creatures I’ve encountered on safari — leopards, lions, vultures, elephants, antelope, zebras, monkeys... it's like ticking off a dream checklist of Africa’s wildest beasts, all roaming free.

The Camel Incident: A Lesson in Humility

I’ll never forget one particularly eventful beach walk in Kenya — tide coming in, sun low, and the kids happily exploring… until we found ourselves cut off from the main beach, face to face with two very large camels.

My partner (who, at the time, fancied himself a bit of a camel whisperer) decided to approach one of these towering beasts, thinking he could charm it. Spoiler alert: he could not.

Within seconds, the camel charged and kicked him to the ground like a scene out of a wildlife documentary gone wrong. Meanwhile, our three children screamed and scattered in all directions, convinced they were all about to be crushed.

Thankfully, everyone escaped with just a few bruises and some lasting trauma. But let’s just say: lesson learned. Don’t mess with the wildlife — even if they have long eyelashes and look chill.

Into the Wild: Our First Safari

Our first safari was in Tsavo East National Park, a land so vast it swallows you whole. Out there, you’re at the mercy of nature. One wrong move and you’re reminded just how fragile human life is. You learn quickly to respect the wild, to leave your ego at the park gate and surrender to something far greater, far older.

Stay Sharp, Stay Humble

We heard stories — cautionary tales, really — of tourists who wandered off for a toilet break, only to be met by lions. Of children who strayed too far and encountered snakes. Of tarantulas and terrifying elephant charges. Kenya teaches you to stay sharp, stay humble. Even the monkeys will ransack your tent if you’re not watching. Lock your doors. Stay alert.

And yet... despite the odd health scare (I still have a scar from a bizarre rash that turned into pus-filled sores — thanks, mango flies?), the pull of this place has never loosened. Something ancient, something knowing, something primal draws us back time and time again.

People of Heart and Soul

Even the healthcare — unexpectedly efficient and high-quality — offered reassurance when we needed it most. And the people? The people are the heart of Kenya. Big smiles, gentle souls, generous spirits. They adore children. They share what they have. There's a class divide, yes, and poverty that’s hard to witness, but there's also dignity, resilience, and pride.

The Maasai people stand out — draped in red tartan shukas, a fascinating cultural fusion of their tradition with Scottish influence. They are among the most stylish, serene, and wise people I've met. They inspired us, taught our children, and left a deep impression on our hearts.

Light Amidst the Contrast

Of course, there’s a darker side — poverty, hardship, and inequality — but somehow, those realities never eclipse the light we’ve found here. Kenyan children don’t whine. They are raised with discipline and respect. It’s humbling. And it puts our Western problems into perspective.

Kenya in My Work, and in My Heart

My art — my paintings, my patterns, and even my upcoming children’s book — all carry traces of Kenya. It’s in the brushstrokes, the colour, the creatures, and the stories I want to tell. Kenya has left its mark on me — quite literally and spiritually.

Despite the challenges, the chaos, and the occasional wild infection, I feel only warmth when I think of Kenya. It’s a place that’s brought my family joy, perspective, light, and life. And always... always... it calls us back.