1st day of Safari

Well, when you thought this trip could not become any more memorable, you leave for Safari. On the way, the road was bumpy and scary, but beautiful at the same time. We saw a huge group of people lining the road as we were coming down into the Rift Valley which leads to the Serengeti Plain. There were hundreds of people sitting along the guard rail. When we got in the curve and looked down a huge truck had gone over the side. They were manually walking up probably 100 pound bags of something. It was amazing. We stopped at an overlook and it reminded me of the Caribbean because there were crafts people coming up and saying, “come take a look….take a look.” It was intimidating. But, I did not buy anything. Carroll did buy the sweetest bananas I have ever tasted, though.

Then we went on down through the valley. We stopped in Naruk for Samosas – we got 40 vegetable and beef ones. They are like fried turnovers with meat or veggies inside. They have some spice to them, so you know I liked them. The toilets actually had a toilet instead of a hole in the floor like at the stadium. It was quite interesting. The town was very busy and the road (if you want to call it) was pretty crazy. There were beautiful colors of laundry everywhere below the little café where we got the Samosas. The women were in the river doing their wash. It was really a pretty cool site.

We also saw Masai tribesmen bathing the in river out in the country side. Sorry, I did not get a photo of that! J

The Masai were all along the road. It was so beautiful because you were basically looking at mud huts(made from cow dung so the termites would not come in), brown straw grass waving and dark trees, then out of no where you will see this beautiful read show up. There will be a Masai guarding his cattle, goats, or sheep. The women might be carrying water on their heads with bands which is really a site. The colors were just beautiful. I really want to find a blanket or cloth like they wear to bring home. It is incredible. Mom, kind of like the beauty you saw in Guatamala.

As we left the Rift Valley and headed towards the game park, the driver, Stephen, would tell us what we should look for in that part. I was so excited to try to spot something, even though the trip was about 5 hours, I could not close my eyes to rest. If I had, I would have just ended up with a sore spot on my head. The roads were really rough and they say they have gotten so much better! YIKES!

The first animal to be spotted was by Bethany. She saw a beautiful young giraffe standing under a Acaicia tree. It was a thrill! It was so graceful.

By then my cheeks were hurting because of the smiling. Little did I know that would just be the first of 30 animals!!!

Black horn billed stork
Thompson Giselle
Ostrich
Giraffe
Antelope
Impala
Water Buffalo
Wart hog
Hienna
Grant’s Giselle
Topi
Secretary Bird
Heron
Mailbu Stork
Guinea Fowl
Zebra
Striped Mongoose
Baboon
Monkey
Wilder Beast
Water buck
Bat eared Fos
Hartabeast
Lion more than 12
Red neck spur fowl
Serval cat
Retro brown bustard
Vulcher
Owl
1 kill of a leapord

So, tonight while I am sitting here in this beautiful bed surrounded by mosquito net feeling quite like I am in the movie “Out of Africa” there are so many sounds outside that are uncanny and unreal to listen to.
The place we are staying at is really cool. This afternoon as soon as we got here there was a baboon on the other side of the river from our front porch, which overlooks the river and is right on the river bank. After we came back from Safari, there was an elephant drinking water out of the river. There are monkeys everywhere. It really doesn’t seem real!

The roads were really slick black mud because it rained for the past 3 days which is completely unheard of in July in Africa. It rained on much of our late afternoon safari, but none of us really minded. The van slid all over the place. It was a little scary. One of our 3 vans did get stuck and some of our group had to get out and push.

It was all worth it after seeing a lion pride that had at least 12 females and 1 king! It was so cool. They were all just taking a nap.

I have thought of the kids so many times today. I really miss them. I can’t wait until we get back on Tuesday.

****Yesterday when it was time to leave the valley, I really did not want to go so I was joking with the other girls and said, “No, I’ll just stay here.” They knew I was kidding but beamed at the idea that I really did not want to leave. It was a great moment between the me and the girls.