THE EARLY MORNING WAKE UP
Shompole guests and staff are up at first light to prepare for early morning game drives. The animals of Africa wait for no man! At 5.30 am there is a gentle cough (there are no doors to tap on) and the sound of a tray being softly put down. You awaken to the sight and sound of the African bush.When your eyes adjust, a wooden tray laid out with coffee, hot chocolate, tea and biscuits to ease you into the early morning and ward off the hunger pangs, as breakfast isn’t for many hours is a welcome sight.
BREAKFAST AFTER THE SAFARI DRIVE
Breakfast can be eaten in your own villa, but ideally it’s nice to start the day at the main outdoor dining area and try the simple but substantial buffet . Muesli, yogurt, fruit, cheeses and breads are on display to start - as well as à la carte hot options such as eggs, and pancakes can be ordered with Evans or Jacton our beautiful butlers in the main pavilion.
Not only were the staff so attentive, but they had taken Sheira’s dietary requirements on board and were well prepared with soy milk and rice cakes. If you have dietary requirements, Shompole will look after you!
BREAKFAST IN THE BUSH
An incredible experience is the BUSH BREAKFAST in the fig tree forest just 20 minutes away.
They even supply a wooden table that holds a porcelain wash basin and white towels to wash off the African dust.
The chefs from the main camp set up the most beautiful long table. With cutlery, linen, napkins and all the trimmings. There are 2 chefs that cook a full breakfast on an open fire. The gourmet breakfast of fruits and muesli’s, fried eggs, baked beans, sausage, bacon and mushrooms, tastes even better outdoors too and we shared this amazing morning with our friend and guide Sammy.
At Shompole, as with most safari lodges, if you want to snack during the day, they will prepare anything for you. There was often a tray of coffee, tea and biscuits in the lounge to keep us going. But funnily enough, for such an otherwise impeccable property, we found lunch almost uncomfortably skimpy.
We are not huge eaters or precious about food - we like it simple and healthy. In the main pavilion lunch is served on a timber sideboard, with an array of salads, cheeses, pesto pasta and teeny chicken legs – two per person - would have made a great starter; it didn’t really work as a main meal.
I would suggest to those who like a more substantial lunch to tell the kitchen in advance. It is such a service oriented camp that with proper notice I am sure they will accommodate your needs.
In the morning after breakfast the chef’s assistants come and talk to you about the dinner menu. The highlight of all our meals here were the lovely smiles of the restaurant staff, Evans and Jacton - you’ll know them by their wide, incredible smiles! We also enjoyed meeting the charming chef, Wycliff.
Dinner is served either in the relaxed open dining area (or in your private villa), with candles lighting up the expanse of pale quartz stone with a warm, flickering glow. Dinner is a highlight at Shompole - The long days in the African heat, incredible game drives and relaxing afternoons in your private villa are only exceeded by the casual but sophisticated dinner.
A beautiful chilled soup began our three course meal. Tender chicken curry with saffron rice, pappadams, naan bread and all the freshly made yoghurt and chutney trimmings made this Indian inspired meal incredible. The chef was more than happy to make a modified version for Zoe. Even though we are not big desert people, it’s hard to resist chocolate pudding with fresh fruit and fabulous Kenyan coffee.
The open-air setting, starry sky and full bodied South African wines all adds to the magic, as does the presence of the Masai guards, who protectively carried Zoe back to her room when they saw her wilting. This is a meal you’ll look forward to after every long and fulfilling day...
We felt great as soon as we crossed over to the East ..
Read Story
