Wednesday, November 10, 2010

Trek to the Mara River




















After lunch, we resumed our trek towards the Mara River, in anticipation of what we might find there. Of course, we all hoped to see the scenes shot by the TV crews on "20/20" and "60 Minutes" etc., but would we be so lucky?

Alas, we saw amazing sights! We saw enormous crocodiles just hanging on the banks and in the shallows of the river's sharp curve, apparently a crossing point for the migration judging from the huge numbers of eager spectators waiting for some action. But no wildebeest herds were willing to go for it during our brief stay there. We saw a huge herd of hippos hanging out in the river just around the sharp bend and downstream from the crocodile pile. It seemed the herds of wildebeests gathered there waiting were afraid to try to cross. We even saw some groups head back away from the river. We finally gave up and headed back to the plains to see what else we could see.

That afternoon, we saw more elephants, but in droves as I had witnessed at Amboseli Park three years before. Usually, we saw only a solitary male now and then, and finally a mom and her baby before dusk. We enjoyed an afternoon break from the van at the elegant hotel whose name I can't recall just now. The monkeys were pesky, just like they were at Ol'Tukai Lodge at Amboseli.

I will display some of Courtney's photos from this river visit, as mine are on my new camera that I haven't learned to download yet. Next post, plus the second sunset on the way out of the park...stay tuned.

Saturday, October 30, 2010

Safari Day 2- Picnic Lunch and Afternoon Shoot








We broke for Lunch next to a solitary acacia tree on a random gently sloping hill in the middle of the Mara, and we could see other vans spotting the nearby hillsides doing exactly the same thing. Must be the routine there. Took lots of photos and enjoyed acting silly together, reveling in the beauty of the landscape, and the luck of the morning hunt.

Saturday, October 23, 2010

Safari--Day 2--Morning Hunt























Saturday, August 14th was a long, lovely day in the bush. We headed out at sunrise and returned at dark, and our cook pack a picnic lunch for the full day of hunting. The morning was filled with excitement--migrating water buffalo herds, male and female ostriches, and wonder of wonders--a female lioness gnawing the face off of her brunch of baby wildebeest. Top that off with a triplet of sleepy cheetahs snoozing in the shade, and you can see we had quite a morning! Enjoy!

Kenyan Sisters, Kenyan Friends












Friends are treasures from heaven above. Sometimes it seems that God orchestrates the crossing of our path with those of some pretty special people. Although some believe these events are just "luck" or "chance", I don't believe that for a minute. Mercy and Jael, two Kenyan sisters, just showed up in our lives at the Tiwi Beach in Mombasa during Easter holiday in April 2007. Thanks to modern electronic communication tools, we've maintained our friendship over the years. What a joy it was to be reunited with them this summer! They embraced Courtney too, so the four of us set out on an Explore together, to Masai Mara for the Great Wildebeest Migration. Here are some photos of the first day of our 3-day weekend together.