Buttling, Scuttling & Buzzing Angama Style

Senior  butler, James Sedera, whizzes through his day, always with the broadest of smiles

05h15: The alarm rings and I think – already? It seems like minutes ago I closed my eyes. But yesterday my day started an hour earlier with wake up calls for our guests departing for balloons. I shower, brush my teeth and get to the guest area while it’s still dark.

05h45: Passing through the kitchen I greet the breakfast chefs and then my colleagues who are already cleaning fireplaces, sweeping and dusting in the guest area. I set up trays for my guests’ wake up calls and do a quick tidy up: an empty wine bottle, a chair slightly out of place, a dessert plate left behind in the butler’s pantry.

06h25: Off to the first tent I go: I knock gently, call out ‘Good Morning’, set the tray down being sure not to spill the coffee and place the biscuit jar just so. I tap again gently on the inner door, and hear shuffling and a muffled ‘good morning’ back. The sun is just about to rise and I know my guests will enjoy coffee in bed watching the dawn break over the lovely Mara.

Back at the guest area I start preparing for breakfast. Today, most guests in camp are coming later for breakfast but as senior butler, I know the importance of teamwork so I set up all the breakfast trays, lay the tables and ensure the guest area is sparkling.

08h30: With breakfast on the go and my co-butlers caring for their guests, I grab a quick breakfast of chai, toast and boiled eggs before heading to our daily HOD meeting. The topic of discussion is always guest delight. For my guests, I suggest a surprise picnic on our Out of Africa kopje. The plan is set. I make my way past the laundry to pick up more napkins and hear on the radio that my guests are almost finished with their morning walking safari. I scuttle up to the guest area to greet them.

10h45: After breakfast I meet with my butler team to go over the updates for today, assign roles and buzz back to my room for a quick lie-down to rest my eyes.

13h00: The lunch picnic is ready, the sparkling wine is chilled and my guests have no clue what’s in store. I walk them up the kopje and by now they know something is up. As we crest the hill, they spy the picnic and then the view! I introduce them to the askari who will be on guard half way down the hill to ensure their safety, give them the walk-talkie to call me when they are ready to come down and encourage them to just relax for the afternoon. Then I leave them for a bit of romance …

16h50: The day is flying by. My guests are back, tea has been set in the guest area, glasses from lunch all cleaned and put away. Check and check. I discuss with the Camp Manager whether Forest BBQ will still be on or if we think the rain is coming. We decide to go for it and off I rush to the BBQ to ensure the set-up is complete.

19h00: The family style tables are laid, lanterns lit, fire bowls crackling, the chefs busy grilling and the bar is stocked. We are ready for our guests. I watch their faces light up as they walk through the pathway of lanterns and into the forest of fireflies, with the smell of grilled food wafting towards the tables. Soon the bouts of laughter rival the hoots of hyenas and my team and I refill the wine glasses. We float in between the tables seamlessly, aiming to be unnoticed but our duty fulfilled.

As the night settles in we escort our guests back to camp. The armoire is laden with desserts, cheese, coffee and liqueurs. Slowly the guests peel away to their tents, and the night becomes quiet. The day winds down and I put away the last few dishes.

23h00: I make my way back to my room, my head swirling with how I can top today’s delights for my guests tomorrow. I have a few more tricks up my sleep, I mean sleeve, but my eyes close as soon as my head hits the pillow. I know I must rest so I can start fresh tomorrow.