Happiness Index.

When Kibaki became our president in 2002, Kenyans were supposedly rated as among the most optimistic people in the world. We could say that high optimism came with a rise in happiness levels, too. According to the 2025 World Happiness Report, Kenya is ranked 115^th out of 147 countries. There has been a drop for two consecutive years. The folks who create the report use factors like GDP, life expectancy, freedom of expression, and perceptions of corruption to determine the ranking. We can all guess why we are getting unhappier year on year. But I still have hope for my country.

I’m a firm believer in focusing on what we have control over. We may live in a country with dropping levels of happiness, but we are responsible for determining our personal happiness index. Plus, I also think we complain too much as Kenyans. My happiness index is pretty high right now because I allowed myself to do something I deeply enjoy. Last week, I took my photo safari to the Mara with an incredible group of three other photographers.

Maybe this is a good time to apologise because I may have affected your happiness levels last week by not posting on Friday. I was in the bush, where the awesome sights and sounds of the wild kidnapped my mind and imagination. Blame Mother Nature here, folks, for she also took Wi-Fi away for most of the time. I hope my apology has been accepted, hehe.

I was last in the Masai Mara in 2023, about this same time. It’s migration season for the wildebeest, and that’s the highlight that many people travel to witness. It’s quite the spectacle. Over one million wildebeest and zebra are attempting to cross the vicious Mara River by hurling themselves over steep embankments and into the murky water. If a jagged rock outcrop doesn’t break them, then huge crocodile jaws await. It’s a suicide jump for the herbivores, but for the crocodiles lurking just under the surface of the water, it must look like manna falling from heaven. Then add the carnivores beyond the river waiting to feast on this huge, approaching fast-food buffet. Nature can be brutal, but then that’s the cycle of life.

When we started talking about this trip about two months ago, I was hesitant to go because of chums. However, one of us was coming all the way from Moscow and wasn’t too flexible on changing dates. While another was celebrating her birthday that week, and Mara is her happy place, so it was ideal. Our five-star host and acclaimed wildlife photographer, Usha from Mara Siligi Camp, was also available and ready to spoil us.

I tried to rationalise why I couldn’t make it until I remembered a question I came across once in my saboteur assessment. I tend to be a pleaser, and it works against me sometimes. The sage to deal with this saboteur asked me, “What would please Lucas?” I asked myself that, and the answer was obvious. Going to photograph wildlife in the Mara would please me immensely. I quickly called Usha and confirmed, then went on to Fuliza to the max. She even offered me one of her cameras to use because I needed an upgrade from mine.

The lesson here is that often (and especially in midlife) we forget that we have accumulated sufficient social capital and it’s okay to spend it once in a while. Our word can be enough collateral to have people grant us some favours. That’s what I did, and I’m glad the team found me worthy to join them. My pal Mike likes to remind us that when we are old, it’s the memories that we will remember and cherish, not the money we spent.

Sitting here writing about my recent trip to Mara makes me so glad I decided to do this, even if I wasn’t fully prepared. I will forever cherish the memories I made. The weather was perfect, and the animals got the brief. It’s like they consulted on their WhatsApp group and decided to put on a show for us. Every day we would share our wish list of the sighting we want to witness. And nature did not disappoint. This was one strong reminder of being careful what we pray/ask for. Sir God really showed up in nature just by how things happened. We can say this safari also grew my faith kiasi.

From witnessing six grown male lions brought together by a buffalo kill, to leopards, lions and ostriches busy having a harusi (it’s not called mating here hehe), our cameras were having a ball capturing these rare displays of nature. Mara was a huge maternity ward as many species gave birth or were nursing newborns. I, too, felt reborn just by being in the wild.

We had long days trying to photograph sunrises, sunsets, and everything in between. Breakfast and lunch under those old lone trees (that act as body scrubs for elephants) in the savannah were also highlights for me. We would sit under their shade, for breakfast and lunch, as we took in the expansive views of the golden savannah with the huge hills in the background, which would be interrupted by a random giraffe or elephant in the distance.

I can’t fully express in words what a rejuvenating week that was. Doing what I love at a place I love with lovely humans. Even back at camp, Usha ensured we ate 5-star food that I couldn’t pronounce. If I took a picture of my food and shared it, you’d be forgiven for thinking we were at those 7000 USD per night luxury camps. If you want a great place to stay that’s 100% value for money, then consider Mara Siligi Camp. It’s a beautiful home away from home, and the staff go beyond customer service to customer delight. They even threw in a surprise sundowner birthday for Shiro on her birthday in the reserve. Few birthday celebrations beat that.

As we drove back home last Friday, I was still processing that week full of nature’s amazing drama. Yes, I will pay for this trip pole pole, but the memories will last a lifetime. This has been my best photo safari so far. I’m sure this time next year, I will not remember what it cost me, but I will remember what I witnessed and how it made me feel. I’m now paying my Fuliza loan with a smile. Like, I’m not feeling bad about having this debt.

Folks, we know that there is good debt and bad debt. For me, going to the Mara last week was a good debt because it made me happy and I felt most alive sharing God’s creation with good folks. In addition, I now have great images that can help the causes of conservation and tourism that I’m passionate about. I hope that what we captured will help preserve these wild open spaces for my baby sharks and their kids. A good debt is one where we build memories that last a lifetime. Folks, if you pay a debt while smiling, then just know it was worth borrowing.