Sunday, December 15, 2013

Safari! The animals (and a few people)

Steven and our safari car


Having fun watching zebras 




Lioness and cubs

Beautiful sunrise over the mountains

Maasai Giraffe 



An old buffalo 

And a new buffalo 

My favorite safari animal 

We got to watch them pretty closely 


This Maasai woman asked our driver whether the elephants were far enough away
from the road that it would be safe for her to pass

Rhinos at the rhino sanctuary 









Sunrise through the safari car

Vi helping Steven spot 


Hippos


Tired and chilly 

Saturday, December 14, 2013

Safari! (Ngerende Island Lodge)

Christina said that I couldn't visit Kenya without going on safari. This was probably the part of my trip I was least interested in. I have never had a burning desire to go on safari but I thought I'd be a sport. I am SO glad Christina insisted that we have this adventure. I was blown away by the lodge we stayed at, by the employees who served us, by the people who live near the Mara, by the beautiful landscape, the animals and such an overwhelming appreciation for the Creator. Everything was perfect and I was not ready to leave after our short, two-night stay.


Animals on the rocky road on our way to Maasai Mara 

Ngerende Island Lodge staff lined up to welcome us 

Maasai warriors greeted us



They made us participate and it's true what they say: white men (and women) can't jump. 

We were welcomed with fresh mango juice 

Across the beds, it says Home Sweet Home 

Our tub (that our personal butler filled nightly) overlooking the Mara River complete with hippos

Violet watching the hippos

We were surprised with a "bush breakfast" after our morning game drive complete with a toilet

Chef James ready to prepare our breakfast of choice 

Vi loved the swimming (yes, those are hippos in the background) 

Vi posing in her bathrobe 

Andrew, the artist, and the picture he painted for our house 

The fire made by our butler for our comfort after the "chilly" afternoon game drives

The Maasai warrior who guarded our "tent" while we slept 

Relaxing in the beauty - I didn't want to leave 

Wine, juice and potato chips... why not?

Last week I was sunbathing and this week I am buried in snow :)

I love the colors, clouds, the Mara River and the hippos in the background 

Butternut bisque 

The bush breakfast 

More swimming and hippos