Just wanted to give you the scoop on the safari and wrap up the blog since I'm back from Kenya. We departed from Kijabe last Monday and set out for the Masai Mara with our driver, Michael. Along the way, we passed many waving children and a lot of Maasai shepherds. The last 1 1/2 hrs of the journey were on a rugged dirt road. After about 5 hrs, we arrived at the Sopa Lodge in the Masai Mara National Reserve (http://www.sopalodges.com/masai-mara/home.html). The lodge was fabulous and highlights included a beautiful pool, sumptuous buffet (loved the Indian food and our waiter, Jacktone), spacious cabanas decorated in rustic safari style, and evening animal feedings of the bush baby, hyena, mongoose (mongeese?), and wild pigs. The Mara is sunny and hot in contrast to the sunny but cool Kijabe days.
At about 6:30 in the morning, the Wazungu all gather in front of the hotel to climb aboard matching white touring vans with pop-up tops. We went on 4 game drives and enjoyed the vistas of the Mara. We knew the game drive was about the get interesting when Michael would get a hot tip on the radio and would bee-line off the road toward a collection of Wazungu Wagons. One such occurrence revealed a mama giraffe pacing around a tree. Michael said, "the meat is in the tree," and tried to point out where a leopard had killed a baby giraffe and drug it up the tree. We saw no evidence of this the first day, just a grieving giraffe looking for her lost baby. The following day we were able to spot the crafty leopard as well as the giraffe in the branches. The animal kingdom can be brutal. Leopards are hard to find, so we were grateful that we spied one. We made up a grading system of animal viewings with levels 1-6. Seeing a donkey or sheep grazing on the side of the highway is a level 1, while a baboon or a dikdik is a level 2. A giraffe in a tree is a level 6 ("rare animal behavior and unusual sightings") for sure.
We also got to see 3 lionesses strolling around with 7 bouncing baby lion cubs. I have a great video of the lion family sunning themselves on some rocks until they are on the move when bunch of elephants approach. The herds of elephants were truly incredible. We also saw a few wildebeests and zebras, although Michael pointed out that these animals were "confused" and missed the migration to Tanzania a few months ago. We were only eluded by the cheetah.
The long trip back to Nairobi was a hot blur of bumpy roads and city traffic. We had about 5 hrs in the Jomo Kenyatta Airport to spend the rest of our schillings shopping for curios. The flights back were relatively uneventful. We spent about 3 hrs in the early morning in Heathrow. I had a "flat white" at an Italian coffee shop in the airport and then spent Matt's last 5 quid on a tiny wallet at Cath Kidston, which appeared to be Vera Bradley's British cousin. The Continental in flight entertainment en route to Houston was amazing! Where else can you watch Motorcycle Diaries, Beyond Borders, and The September Issue in one sitting? Unfortunately, my cell phone did not make the last flight to Seattle and is currently hanging out in Houston with a gate agent named Jamie. (She managed to call the last number I dialed, "Mom Work Cell," but the exact whereabouts of my cell phone remain a mystery...)
Although still jet-lagged, I am adjusting little by little to pacific time zone. (I slept for about 16 hrs the first night I got back!) Hopefully I can return to Africa and specifically to Kijabe someday. I will miss the peaceful routine of rural life and the equatorial sunshine. I also really enjoyed the supportive, friendly culture of Kijabe and the lack of egos in medicine. However, I will miss the relationships I made in Kenya the most. I am so grateful for the warm hospitality of the Kenyans and the missionaries.
Asante sana for reading my blog and for your support. Your comments and emails helped me feel connected while I was away. Kwaheri for now!
