We met Petra at Sandai farm. She is one of these people who has a unique ability to make you feel at home super quickly.

Steve at Laikipia Wilderness Centre also runs the place in a way that creates that same kind of belonging feeling quite quickly.

In leaving both places I felt like I had been somewhere so special and both places I knew I would return to if I came back to Kenya.

They both are running a safari hotel/ lodge. They have designed their places with large communal spaces for guests.

When we arrived at Petra"s place we were shown the campsite and then brought to the main house/ communal area. The next guests who arrived just after us were shown into the same space. It seems the most natural thing that they sat down next to us and enjoyed a coffee as we all chatted and introduced ourselves.

We booked to have dinner with at Petras lodge. Dinner we were told was at 7 and would be served at the extensive dining room table along with the other guests and Petra.

On our first night at Laikipia we were offered a drink, no mention was made re dinner. I remember being ravenous after a huge cycle acrosss the dry dusty savannah. I started thinking maybe dinner is not happening! Then guests started arriving back from their game drives and came and sat and chatted with us in the communal seating area. Then we were ushered over to the dining area all together and again enjoyed sharing a meal all together, much chat , laughter and sharing of stories. It was remarkably relaxed considering we had just met all these people.

We found these experiences to be so so rich.

Petra and Steve are both the lynchpins of their safari experiences. Their interest and care for those staying with them seems to set the tone for your stay. It explains why on leaving both places you naturally turn to hug them, even although you have only been there for a day!

Petra runs safari holidays. She also weaves on a traditional weaving loom. She has taught the skill to some local people and now they are salaried employees of her making the most beautiful rugs and blankets. She also runs a children's home, a farm and makes candles.

It was a privilege to be shown around her farm. She was delighted to show us her 'dream house' which is currently being built. It is made of mud bricks with each room circular in shape. In showing us around she encouraged us to also pursue our dreams and said with a smile " nothing is impossible".

In both places we therefore had such a pleasure in meeting the staff that worked there as well as a real diversity of other guests. Simple set ups with a great vision which ended up becoming some of our most memorable experiences here. I might not be dreaming of running a safari Lodge but I am dreaming of having a space, a place where many can come, feel at home and be very blessed by knowing they have belonged somewhere even if just for a short time. Thanks to these guys for enabling us to experience the value of that.