A jeep ride through the wilderness where lions and other wild animals move around at a leisurely pace can only give a perfect dose of adrenaline rush. And if they cross your path just hold your breath and hope for the best. Seasoned actor and dancer Vineeth is sharing the thrilling experience of going on a safari ride through the world-famous Maasai Mara national reserve in Kenya. He is also giving snapshots of his journeys to other destinations.
The actor, who had won moviegoers’ hearts with his histrionic and dance skills, loves to travel with his family members. Stage shows and dance programmes have taken Vineeth to many places, including the US, Gulf countries and Australia.
“The opportunity to travel was one of the best things that happened to me as a performing artist,” says Vineeth.
Work and travel
Work and travel go hand in hand for the actor. “The first priority is to perform well and most of the tours would have a tight itinerary with very little time to spare. As there is a paucity of time, we won’t be in a position to visit tourist centres,” he adds. Vineeth started to take his family along with him after marriage for almost all journeys. “After the programme schedule ends, I would take my wife and daughter to places of interest.”
The unforgettable Maasai Mara safari
The Maasai Mara national reserve is in Narok county of Kenya. “I will never forget the exhilarating safari ride. It was an out-of-the-world experience to spot lions, leopards, cheetahs and elephants in their habitat,” the actor says. The yearly migration of wildebeest, zebra and Thomson’s gazelle, among others, known as the Great Migration, from Maasai Mara to Serengeti national park in Tanzania is world-famous.
The safari ride through the forest where lions and tigers are quite common is also a sought-after activity for travellers.
“I went to Kenya to participate in a programme a few years ago. We were free for three to four days after the programme and the organizers suggested a visit to the Maasai Mara national park. The park was a four-hour drive away from the place where the programme was conducted and we stayed there for four days. The park looks like an expansive barren land,” recollects Vineeth.
There were wild animals, ostriches and zebras everywhere, and the actor and others had ample opportunities to spot animals in the wilderness.
“We started early in the morning as we were told that lions hunt at dawn and the chances of spotting them were pretty high during that time. It is a great feeling to watch lions at close quarters. When we saw wild animals, we were all holding breath with excitement. Everyone enjoyed the stay at the Maasai Mara national park,” notes the actor who had essayed many roles in Malayalam and Tamil movies.
Memorable vacay in Bali
As Vineeth’s wife is a teacher and his daughter is in school, they usually travel during school vacations. The last time they travelled to Bali in Indonesia, before the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, and they were in awe of the exquisite architecture found there.
Though Bali is a small island, there are innumerable mesmerizing vistas in that beautiful place. The island has hundreds of temples and what attracts everyone is their elegant architecture, says Vineeth.
“Bali is known as ‘God’s own island and we enjoyed every moment on the island. At times, we had a feeling that we were in Kerala as the island was endowed with lush greenery, pristine beaches, beautiful farmlands and nostalgic coconut farms. Most of the villages in Bali have their own identity as urbanization has not touched them,” notes Vineeth.
Travellers would fall in love with volcanic mountains and age-old temples with outstanding sculptures. “The one-week trip to Bali was very memorable. I want to travel a lot as travelling never ends for me,” says the talented dancer.
