SAFARI RETURN - Updated FLICKR PHOTO SITE

I got back from the Safari last evening - what a perfect time we had! We left on Friday early in the morning from the Children's Home. I was picked up by the safari company, guide and cook. We stopped along the way to pick up George and headed for groceries, Tuskers, etc. Then it was the long drive to Maasai Mara. The roads, as expected, were terrible but the scenery pleasant enough. Soon we were in the land of the Maasai. Tall, red blanketed figures, herding cattle and goats - everywhere. We stopped a few places for gas and drinks and arrived at the campsite, right outside the Main Gate of the Mara. The campsite was difficult to get to - rough dirt roads, rocks and animals cattle etc.) in the way. We arrived at a permanent campsite - great tents, great guy to welcome us and we quickly unpacked the van and were prepared a terrific lunch. Then it was time to pop the top of the van and head out for the first of out Game Drives. I won't go into all of the animals we saw, check out the Flickr site for pics. But we saw a ton of animals and were happy to be in the Mara at sunset.

That evening we returned to the site and were prepared yet another hot meal buy our cook. Then it was off to bed and we quickly fell asleep - until - we heard the sounds that were described to us to be the lions, marking their territory. We also heard hyenas and buffalo throughout the night. George and I agreed to wake each other up if we heard interesting lion sounds. At about 2:30 a.m. we got up to walk to the bathroom, about 100 yards and were greated by a Maasai warrior who was guarding our tent, seated outside the door. He walked us, spear in hand, to the bathroom. He told us there were lions in the area. We had also heard about a buffalo attack the night before where two were injured. (Might write about that sometime). The next morning we had a great breakfast and headed out on a morning Game Drive. We were to be out all day and stopped for a packed lunch at about 1:00pm. See pics. After dinner that night, George organized a small campfire with the young Maasai, son of the owner of the land we were on. George was a great help in translating, making deals, getting us to special places and also talking with the Maasai at the campfire. I fed him questions about killing lions, initiation rites, the attacks from the animals the night before etc. At one point, the Maasai talked about the poison that is made and placed on the tips of their arrows. This is made from some vegetation, boiled and the arrows are dipped. The arrows would kill a man instantly, a lion in five minutes. Then he left us and returned with the arrows and bow. Having had a couple of Tuskers, I was worried about George or me pricking our fingers on the arrows and dying in the wilderness. George, on the other hand, played with the bow like a Christmas gift. Later, George and I purchased Maasai blankets, knives for slaughtering goats (this Christmas) etc. We wore the blankets the next days! George is able to pull off the Maasai look, although he is Kikuyu. I had a little more difficulty and I don't think the tourists were buying me as a warrior. See pics. Again that night, we heard the sounds of Africa into the night. I walked to the bathroom with the warrior a couple of times through the night. The blanket looked great on me. The next morning we took off before sunrise for our last Game Drive in the Mara. What a different look - so early in the morning. The animals were more animated and they often kill their prey very early. The lighting is unbelievable and the pics I took look like postcards. After a late breakfast, we took the long drive to Lake Nukuru.

We stopped along the way for a packed lunch and arrived at Nukuru very late in the afternoon. Nukuru is George's hometown. He grew up there and has many relatives there, his dad included. At the guest House, inside Lake Nukuru Park, George looked at a young girls working there. She looked at him. "George? Is that you?" It was George's cousin Monica. The guide dropped George and I off at a local establishment where I met his sister and brother-in-law. The next day we took off for a sunrise Game Drive around Lake Nukuru. The lake is known for thousands of flamingos, but also for lion, white and black rhinos and other large game. There are also tons of monkeys and baboons. After the Game Drive we headed for George's homeland. It was one of the great things about the safari, being able to meet his family, see where and how he grew up. The place was so simple, dirt floors, sheep, goats, cows and a beautiful view of the hills. More to come.