Farewell to Mara

Up until today, our travels in Kenya have gone surprisingly smoothly. But, this morning, we got a taste of the adventure of traveling in another land!

We rose for our last game drive at 6:30am and had a morning full of Masai mara scenery and very few animals (apparently after yesterday's rain they went elsewhere). We returned to eat breakfast and pack up and pay our bill. We were running a little late after getting stuff together and hurried to reception to be informed that our flight would be delayed because there were no flights going in and out of the regional airport that we flew out of because today is heroes day in Kenya (note to self: never book a flight on a national holiday in another country). We took this as good news (we would rather stay in the Mara than go back to busy Nairobi) and set about to watch hippos again.

Bless those hippos -they were out of the water and basking in the sun (something we had not seen)! We watched for a long time and then checked back in at repception where we were told that there was still no flight for us so we explored the other end of the resort. As we turned to go back, a guard at the gate (yes there is a security gate and electric fence around the whole place) called us over and asked who we were and said that they were looking all over for us! The plane was waiting at the airstrip.

We were whisked to the airstrip followed by our bags and loaded on to a very small plane (much to Jeff's joy). The pilot (who also served as flight attendant) said that they were dropping us off at another airstrip to catch a different flight. Hmm.. that was different from before we thought.

Tiny plane served to give us another awesome view of the plains and then landed (about an 8 minute flight) at an airstrip we had not seen before (flight there had 4 stops). There we joined 25 retired Australians who were stranded because of the airport situation in Nairobi. Pilot/flight attendant (there were actiually two pilots, the other one was about 15 years old) was kind enough to call AirKenya to see if we could wait at a local lodge for our next flight since they did not know when it would come.

And so we waited (see photo of us). The Aussies went back too (it was where they had stayed) and were great company while we wondered what was next. After about 2 hours their leader announced that it was time to go. We assumed that we were on the same flight and follwed. We assumed wrong. The were flying Safariair, we were not. Their plane was full so we could not beg a ride.

So we waited at the airstrip which fortunately had a shelter, a few "employee," a bunch of resort drivers waiting to pick people up, an outdoor choo (latrine) and 12 African Elephants hanging out nearby.

Again we waited (maybe only 20 minutes) and then heard the sweet sound of another plane coming in for a landing and to pick us up! We actually got to fly into the regional airport and found a taxi quickly and now we are tucked into the Hilton until tomorrow morning.

All in all, a pretty good adventure. I am recommending a Kenyan safari to everyone. For those who like things a little more controlled, I would also recommend a tour service.

So many more stories...

K

Not a Jaguar

Correction from my last post: the part that says Jaguars are very rare is an understatement. Jaguars do not live on the African Continent, they are found in parts of Asia and are thus, not part of the "Big Five." What we saw today, which is very rare, but a native to Africa, was a leopard. His photo (which revelas that he is indeed a "he") is back in the tent, so here is another friend from today.

I'm not lion...

We saw this guy from about 11 feet from our truck! He was as interested in us as he looks in the photo (he is yawning for about the 4th time, not roaring).

What you cannot see in the photo is that it was raining which is why this character was parked under a tree to rest and wait it out. It rained for most of our 4 hour drive this afternoon. It was cold and wet but we persevered and completed our "Big Five" which means we have seen: 1) Lions, 2) Elephants, 3) Rhinos, 4) Buffalo, 5) One Jaguar (which are very rare).

All of this is thanks to our driver, Henry, and spotter Abednego, who have taken us places I never dreamed a Land Cruiser could go! They also found a safe spot for us to get out and "mark our territory" without getting eaten, trampled, or charged (I mean by a buffalo, not with a fine).

Back here at the safari club (which turns out to be one of the nicest places we have stayed -our tent here is way nicer than our room was at the Hilton in Nairobi), we have our share of exciting finds too! Today we watched the hippos do what they do all day -hang out underwater and periodically come up for air (it is strangely fascinating) and then we chose sides with a crocodile, watching it loll around underwater in hopes of nabbing a sheep that came down for a drink. The sheep won; none of the got eaten. We felt a little bad for rooting against them. Not too bad, though, circle of life and all...

Back to Nairobi tomorrow for my mom's birthday which coincides with Jomo Kenyatta Day (also known as Heroes day). Should be some celebrating somewhere!

Tell my girls we will be home soon!

Kris

Long-necked girls

So, Kris, if you were an animal what would you be?

I would be this long-necked beauty and bat those eyelashes wherever I would go.

This girl was minding her own business when we pulled up in our safari truck to watch her eat leaves and walk those long legs across the plains. She now appears in our photo album with the likes of zebras, elands, cape buffalo, warthogs, a secretary bird, a variety of gazelles, one ostrich (and one ostrich egg) dick-dicks, and two white rhinos named Kofi Annan and Elizabeth(they have both been to Kenya).

It was an awesome afternoon. We spent 3 1/2 hours driving around looking for animals and finding them! We will take a shorter drive at 6:30 in the morning when they are all waking up and looking for breakfast. We hope to see a lion, elephants and wildebeests.

Jeff says I should be on Facebook because I would have more followers, but I think 19 is enough for me. Maybe "something" will follow me tomorrow and I will have a story to tell.

Here is something interesting about the Mara Safari Club: fast internet but no electricity from midnight to 4:40 am. Guess I won't be curling my hair in the night.

Kris

"Crocodile Dock"

New Neighbors

Jambo all! The yawning friend to the left is the appointed welcoming representative for the new neighborhood we have moved into! From the deck of our "tent"we look down on the Mara River and the hippos and crocodiles that live there. (Do not worry, mom and GG, we are high up the bank and do not plan on going to the water's edge.)

We left Nairobi this morning and flew to the Masai Mara Game area on a plane that was much too large for Jeff's sense of adventure. He was terribly disappointed that our plane had 4 engines (I was delighted). We were the 4th stop on the route and so we saw three dirt airstrips before the one where our safari club picked us up. From the plane we saw elephants, wildebeests, buffalo, zebras, impalas, and maybe a rhino (it was far away). On the drive from the airstrip to the club we saw hippos, crocodiles, zebras, impalas -and we haven't even gone on a game drive yet! In an hour we jump in a Toyota Land Cruiser (I should be right at home) with open sides and roof to get closer to whatever our driver can find.

If you have any ideas about coming here, I can say that already, it is worth the hard work fo getting oneself to Kenya!

Kris