SAFARI DIARY

I have always wanted to see animals in their natural habitats. When I was little, I saw them in zoo cages, and knew that there had to be a better life for them somewhere. I found it in Africa. I first started going there in 1980, and have gone back every three years since then, as I just can't get enough of it. This is a "good" year for me. It's an Africa year.

We first fly to Zurich, where we spend a full day either sight-seeing or resting. (I rest) That night we leave for Nairobi, arriving very early in the morning. After some much needed rest, we spend the rest of the day visiting Giraffe Manor, where there is an ongoing effort to save the Rothschild giraffe from extinction. After I get my fill of giraffe kisses, we go on the the Daphne Sheldrik animal orphanage. Here they take in orphaned babies, and nurture them until they are old enough to fend for themselves in the wild, after which they are released. There are some dedicated Africans that live with them 24 hours a day, and the animals have come to believe that they are their mother. Wonderful place!

The next morning we have a very long and arduous drive into Tanzania, crossing the border at Namanga. More driving until we come to the magnificent Ngorongoro Crater. Here we spend the night, and the next morning we go down into the crater in four-wheel drive vehicles. We spend the entire day in the crater, having a picnic lunch. 20,000 animals live in the crater.

The next morning we are off to the Serengeti Plains, and spend two whole days and nights there, with game drives three times a day. (A game drive is when we go out looking for animals to photograph, but to tell the truth, we don't have to look very long. They are all over the place.) Off we go to Lake Manyara, home of the tree climbing lions. The drive in is through lush jungle, which opens up into a vast plain just loaded with animals. One night at Lake Manyara, and it's kwaheri (goodbye) Tanzania.

We drive back into Kenya, once again crossing the border at Namanga, and arrive at Amboseli National Park in late afternoon. We could arrive earlier, but we get a game drive before we go to the lodge. Amboseli is the best place to see large herds of elephant. Two nights in Amboseli, and we are off again to Sweetwaters tented camp. Jane Goodall has recently opened a chimp sanctuary there, and with a little luck, I hope to get to meet her. (If she asks me to stay, I'm outta here) There are several chimp families living on both sides of a river, and we are in the middle of all the screeching and scratching in a little boat. I have never been there, and am looking forward to it. One night at the tented camp, and we are off again to Samburu Game Preserve. Samburu is a place where you can get to see very unusual animals that are indigineous only to that area, such as Grevy's Zebra, reticulated giraffe and gerenuk. We spend three glorious nights here.

On the road again to Lake Nakuru, stopping at Thompson's Falls on the way. Over one and a half million flamingoes spend their lives at Lake Nakuru. There are both greater and lesser flamingoes here, but there are more of lesser, and less of greater. LOL
The next morning, we are on the move again to the Masai Mara Game Preserve. This is lion country, and you can often see prides of as many as twenty lions resting under an acacia tree, waiting for lunch to stroll by. (One thing we do NOT do on my safaris, is watch a kill. I go there to see life, not death.) Three nights at the Mara, and we are driving back to civilization. One night in Nairobi, and the next day we start the journey home., with enough dreams and memories to sustain me until the next "good" year.

We go on many game drives in all the parks and reserves, but in my book it is never enough. I haven't even been there yet this year, and I am already planning the next one. Every game drive shows us the majesty of the land and it's creatures, and each time I go it seems to get better.

If there are any of you who have an adventurous spirit and would like to join me and my friends, please let me know. There is always room for more.

kenyagirl
fdolce@webtv.net