I am a freelance writer and live in the Great Rift Valley of Kenya on the shores of Lake Naivasha. I grew up in South Africa and have had the privilege of travelling extensively in sub–Saharan Africa.

I’ll be honest—I didn’t fully “get” the magic of safaris until I went to Safari West in Santa Rosa, CA. Riding in an open-air vehicle while giraffes and zebras wandered just a few feet away felt like ...