By Traveling Light Columnist: Liz Pond
Posted: April 1, 2026
The Ark Lodge Safari in Aberdare National Park, Kenya, Africa
Photo: View from my window at the Ark Lodge
I rest, drowsy in my cabin-style bed, mulling over the wild adrenaline-pumping adventures of a full day of exploring the savanna. I am exhausted. I can feel the ache settling into my neck, undoubtedly from the constant jostling and sudden jerks of today’s jeep safari and the near escape from an angry elephant. (See March blog submission for the full story) I acknowledge these pains and wear them with a badge of honor. I am still alive, and that is worth celebrating.
The sound of a herd of elephants from the salt lick lulls me to sleep with their rhythmic vibrating snorts, intermittent barks of conversation, and occasional distant trumpeting. Unlike earlier today, when we were inches from an angry elephant, thick walls now muffle the sounds. It is surreal to think I am actually in Kenya on an African safari, with abundant wildlife roaming free on the other side of my window. “Was the rustle in the grass that I just heard a lion or the wind?” I thought to myself, fighting my tired eyes to stay open.
I am safe in a lodge called the Ark, built adjacent to a salt lick that attracts a variety of animals. The Lodge is shaped like Noah’s Ark, only with big windows for viewing and a deck you can use for animal spotting during the day. The lodge is a quiet place, with restricted vehicle access, and a focus on the natural habitat. It also has a bunker at ground level, offering an incredible opportunity to observe the animals up close. Unlike Noah’s Ark, where the animals came two by two, the purpose of this Ark is to keep the animals out of the lodge. We are unable to leave the property without an armed escort, even for a daytime nature walk. We came to Kenya in search of big game on the savanna. Except for the leopard, we saw the big five. We saw cheetahs with extended bellies right after a freshly caught meal. We stopped to see giraffes eating from the tops of trees. We witnessed the Wildebeest migration and a family of lions. It was a day of fresh adventure and an unimaginable shared experience.
Photo 1: Baby elephant at the Ark salt lick. Photo 2: Zebra among the Wildebeest. Photo 3: Cheetah with a large belly, just after a meal. Photo 4: Acacia tree on the savanna with vultures patiently waiting their turn. Photo 5: Giraffe eating leaves from the top of the tree. Photo 6: Wildebeest that broke loose from the herd.
As night approaches, a shift happens on a safari. Safe in the Ark, we realize that we are sequestered behind glass, while the animals roam unconfined. This is their home, and we appear as suspicious wanderers on their land. Just as dusk sets in, the watering hole is illuminated by a man-made light. Although comfortable, the Ark feels like a zoo where we are locked inside, and the animals live free, observing our every move from just beyond the spotlight that brightens the dark space engulfing the lodge.
As this luminous glow reaches the acacia trees, the ombre of the sunset abruptly dissolves into blackness. Just past the light, we are blind in the pitch-black of the African darkness. We don't have the night vision that many animals possess. The only sight we all share in the evening is the painted sky, creating a mural of glowing stars showering warm light from above. As my eyes become less useful, my other senses become sharper. I notice the smell of dry grass, wild sage, and the musky animal scent I recognize from trips to the zoo. This place is remote, otherworldly, and far away from the city lights. There is a constant buzzing which hints at modern electricity, but it is the sound of busy male cicadas staking claim to nearby females and the land. I am aware of how disconnected we are from everything. It is both thrilling and unnerving.
Now, resting in my rustic bed, I am attempting to sleep fully clothed. I need to be ready to leap out of bed and sprint to the viewing area at the sound of the buzzer. The Ark has a special system that alerts guests who want to be woken up to see the animals. The in-room alert notifies visitors of wildlife sightings by staff who monitor the floodlit area at night for animal arrivals. One buzz in our room means elephants. Two buzzes signal the rhino. On rare occasions, travelers hear three buzzes, indicating a leopard sighting! It had been over a week since a leopard visited the Ark and this was our last night. Even rarer is the four-buzz notification announcing a giant forest hog or bongo.
It's now after 1 AM, and we were lucky earlier to see rhinos and the most amazing herd of elephants. I watched for hours, fascinated by the elephants’ interaction and how the mothers kept the calves close, sometimes circling them so they would not wander. The longer I watched, the more pronounced the different elephant personalities became. I noticed the elephants used their trunks all the time as if it were a way to express emotion in conversation. I watched one mother guide her calf back into the center of the circle with her trunk and use it to pat the calf like a mom would pat a baby to soothe the child.
Photo of the Ark in Aberdare National Park courtesy of TripAdvisor
As I watched the elephants, there was some trunk-wrestling. It ended quickly after the trumpeting of a larger female elephant with nicked ears, a squared forehead, baggy skin, and a saddleback. Perhaps this was the matriarch? I pictured the interaction as a parent scolding two adolescent boys who were roughhousing. Some elephants were playful and noisy. Others were serious. Some appeared shy, barely uttering a sound. I saw two elephants rub together a few times, which I later found out was a sign of affection. (1) The largest elephants would look toward the darkness and softly flap their ears. I imagined this was to signal that, beyond the light, other creatures in the dark wanted their turn at the salt lick.
Witnessing a dozen elephants calmly going about their lives in their own habitat was an extraordinary experience! I was enamoured with these beautiful, intelligent, compassionate creatures. Elephants have been my favorite animal for as long as I can remember. Even our near-death experience earlier would not change my love for elephants. I am grateful for the last few hours with these beautiful, calm, majestic creatures at the salt lick. Watching this herd was peaceful, enormously satisfying, and a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to open a window into their world.
A loud buzz interrupted my thoughts. A second and third buzz followed. I bolted out of bed and through the door! I took the stairs two at a time, because back then I could. It was the elusive leopard!
In African folklore, the leopard often signifies resourcefulness, protection, and guidance during a difficult time. A leopard sighting often equates to trusting your instincts, as our guide Kudia had done by popping the van in a hard reverse when we had our near-escape from the angry elephant.
In multiple cultures, the leopard symbolizes strength, courage, and patience. The spiritual relevance of a leopard appearing in your life is to remind you of your own strength, adaptability, and resilience. The sudden materialization of the leopard well after midnight was the ultimate finale for our stay at the Ark. (2)
I was one of the first people to reach the room with all the windows, and I immediately noticed the elephants were gone. My eyes were adjusting, and I could not see anything yet. The guide pointed to movement by the edge of the spotlight, where it is mostly in shadow. Something was slowly, stealthily moving around the perimeter of the illuminated area.
This powerful cat looked to be six feet long with another three feet of tail. This was much larger and longer than I expected a leopard would be. Its shoulders were wide, and I am guessing it weighed 200lb. It lumbered directly toward the Ark. I was taken aback by how incredibly muscular this animal was as it sauntered toward us with confidence. I was thankful to be safely in our cage in the Arc zoo. We were told this cat hunts at night and can haul prey three times its own body weight. The cat emerged from the darkness for a brief moment and came directly to the window as if it knew we were there. Perhaps we seemed easy prey? It was as if it could smell us! We were only a few feet from each other, separated only by glass and wood. I instinctively jumped back as it approached and sheepishly asked if all the doors were locked. They were.
Its yellow eyes burned bright like fire, gleaming right against the window before it skirted the side of the building. Was it looking for an entrance, or just continuing along its nightly hunt? I remember its spots seemed muted, perhaps by the darkness, as it avoided the light. One guest thought it was a rare African Black Leopard, but the final verdict was lost in translation. I remember an eerie noise as it circled the corner. A raspy sound like a hand saw cutting wood. It was a low and deep guttural noise, louder than a purr, but not a growl. Then, just as suddenly as its arrival, the leopard vanished into the night.
I felt my heart race with excitement as I rejoiced with the guests at the lodge, celebrating the sight of this rare animal, which is often described as the shy prize on a savanna safari. The leopard sighting felt timely, purposeful, the final act in a day I would remember for the rest of my life.
Kenya is more than a trip you take. The safari reinforced my belief in the significance of travel and pushing out of your comfort zone in search of authentic, sometimes life-changing experiences.
Photo: leopard and rare black leopard, courtesy of National Geographic Nature
Photo 1: Wildebeest migration, Photo 2: Hanging outside the window of the Safari van.
Travel Tip: Be uncomfortable. Push yourself to do more than you thought possible.
Neale Donald Walsch said, “Life begins at the end of your comfort zone.”
RESOURCES:
- wildsurvivors.org , Wild Survivors, Discover Elephant Behavior by Francesca Mahoney
- centreofexcellence.com , Leopard Symbolism, what is the spiritual meaning of a leopard?
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Liz Pond has spent over 25 years leading sales teams across the globe with American Airlines, combining a successful career in travel with a lifelong passion for exploration. Having visited more than 100 countries, she brings a rare blend of industry expertise, cultural insight, and personal curiosity to everything she does. Today, Liz divides her time between global travel and her role as Director of Air, Car, and Rail for a prominent tour operator, where she focuses on creating thoughtful, seamless travel experiences. A strong advocate for accessibility, Liz believes travel should be inclusive and life-enhancing for everyone.
Liz earned her undergraduate degree in Sociology and Urban Planning from UCLA, holds a Master’s degree / MFT from the University of Phoenix, and earned a Global Leadership Professional designation through the Wharton School of Management in partnership with the Darden School of Executive Education at the University of Virginia. Outside of her professional work, Liz is deeply committed to advocacy and service. She serves on the Board of Directors for United Cerebral Palsy of Central Arizona, supporting initiatives that empower individuals with disabilities to achieve their full potential.
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