Days 3, 4 & 5 - Masai Mara

Day 3. Sorted.

We left Lake Nakuru at 7:00am and braved the rough road of the Mau Escarpment. Imagine a deeply potholed dirt road that streches on for 60 miles up and down through rain and dry heat, creating a thick layer of muck on the car. Then imagine it's twice as bad as that. This was the worst road up to this point in the trip. Notice I said "up to this point"? We'll get to that later...













Eventually we arrived at the Mara Sarova Tented Camp in the Masai Mara. It was really exciting to be staying in permanent tents in the Mara, sort of upscale camping.















After we checked in, we went on our first game drive in the Mara. It was absolutely incredible.













Elephants crossing the road. These pictures should be viewed side-by-side.


On the drive into the park, we could see several manyattas from the road. These are small circular villages in which the Masai live and keep their cattle. On Day 4, we visited one and met a few Masai.

Photos from Days 1 (The Ark) & 2 (Lake Nakuru)

The gang at the Ark

So many elephants at the water hole

The viewing area was a perfect place for a cup of tea

Cutest little elephant

The equator

At the Lake Nakuru Lodge, site of Lord Delamere's estate

A third of the world's population of flamingos live in Lake Nakuru

Our first game drive. Woo-hoo!

The rare white rhino

Safari: Days 1 & 2

Internet access has been sketchy at best this past week, and we haven't been able to update the blog as much as we would like. Getting the photos up was a Herculaean effort! After a week and a half of game drives, buffet food and early mornings we are now relaxing by the pool overlooking the Indian Ocean in Mombasa. Yesterday we went swimming in the Indian Ocean after a day trip to Old Town Mombasa where we were the only tourists. It was muddy and it rained hard whilst we were there, making it a very authentic experience, and the staff at the hotel were horrified that we went alone. BUT - it was easy, everyone was friendly and the worst part was the muck. Amy and I bought Kangas!

But, so far, need to give details on our amazing experience up to now.

Day 1: Road trip up to Aberdares Country Club where we boarded the bus to The Ark, an ark-shaped hotel stuck up on the side of a hill in the middle of the jungle. A herd of 40 elephants were awaiting us at the water hole outside the hotel!! They were 10 feet away from us and we could hear them breathing!

Day 2: Left The Ark and drove on to Lake Nakuru. First game drive. Sorted. One third of the world population of flamingoes live in Lake Nakuru. Amazing sight. Also saw Black Rhino (one was VERY close), White Rhino, zebra, impala, elands, cape buffalo, baboons.

More days soon, with more photos to come.

Amy & the Giraffe

King of the Savannah

Money shot

Then the cheetah had lunch...

Not us (in the Maasai Mara - different cheetahs, these ones were in the wild)

Even more

Petting the cheetah at the Nairobi Animal Orphanage

More

With the Maasai

PHOTOS!

View from The Ark, with a nice cup of tea

The Day Before...

Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage, Langata Giraffe Centre, Karen Blixen Museum and the Animal Orphanage.


So much to tell! Maybe we'll do this later with A&J. But briefly, stroked 3 cheetahs, Amy was nibbled, Joe's ear licked and Andy's arm exfoliated by a very laid-back cheetah. Played with a 6 month-old cheetah too! In the morning saw a baby rhino and 7 baby elephants (all orphans) with about 300 school children at the Sheldrick.

Kissed giraffes at the giraffe center - feeding them by mouth and hand. Needless to say, Amy was in giraffe heaven!!

Saw baboons patrolling near Nairobi National park and strolled around Karen Blixen's house. Had fast-food for lunch at a gas station :)

Everyone here is incredibly friendly and considerate. We've had amazing service. Nothing is scary AT ALL. Well, maybe the traffic...

Last night, The Carnivore - we did it! Camel, Crocodile and Ostrich steak in addition to every other meat you normally eat. And we tried them all!

Safari, The Prequel

We've been having a brilliant time. Amy and Joe arrived yesterday and can't quite believe that the safari only really starts today. We are being picked up by Edwin our driver and guide and are heading to The Ark which is about 3 hours away.

But, previously on Safari Tour:

Mount Kenya Serena Lodge

Andy and I stayed here for 2 nights while A&J were in Brussels. It was amazing. All teh rooms face the water hole and when we arrived there were Cape Buffalo out there, milling around and eating the "salty soil" (as another guide, Benson loved to say really dramatically!) Hope to post some photos soon, but not enough time right now.

Went on bush hike the first day with Vincent and two armed guards - the guns are for the animals. You can't trust a 2 ton Cape Buffalo. Second day hiked up Mount Kenya to 3400m (11,292 feet) with Benson and armed guard Danny. Stepped in elephant footprints and around huge piles of dung but saw no elephants, which was probably best!

Third day returned to Nairobi via the equator (!) and Nanyuki Spinners and Weavers project where we bought a hand-made rug. The women making the rugs, sweaters and throws are single mothers who are trained to spin the wool and make a living to make it on their own. Then had lunch at the Trout Tree restaurant which was the largest tree house we've ever been in. Good BBQ trout too!

More later!

First Animals!

Cape Buffalo
Defassa's Waterbuck
Elephant
Marsh Mongoose
Bush buck
Genet - Ring-tailed Cat
Syke's Monkeys
All from view of our room and amazing Moorland hike we took this morning. Came back to champagne and very friendly welcome from all the staff- BRILLIANT!!!

We Made It!

After 3 flights, 20 hours total flight time, a lot of water and countless missionaries, we made it!

We arrived at Nairobi International Airport at 8:00 on the dot and breezed through immigration and customs, only to emerge into a sea of humanity. There were so many signs with names on them that we had to make two or three passes. Ultimately we found our hotel's kiosk 30 feet away and made it to our hotel safely. This morning we're grubbing up and heading off to Mount Kenya for three days of hiking. We can't wait to see the countryside, as we were unable to last night when our flight arrived in the darkness.

More coming soon! Amy & Joe arrive on Wednesday after a three day jaunt in Brussels!

I really hope we end up with a shot like this...

Helen and I started taking Malarone (malaria pills) today, so I guess we're almost on our way.

Kenya Itinerary

Our safari is booked with www.africapoint.com


FLIGHTS:

Leave LAX to JFK on AA #34 at 8:00 AM
Depart JFK to Brussels on AA# 172 at 6:05 PM

Andy and Helen continue to Nairobi on SN Brussels #481 at 10:40 AM arriving 8:05 PM.
They will be in Nairobi June 18th, 21st and 22nd.

They will be staying in Nairobi on June 18th (see hotel info below).
From June 19-20th, Serena Mountain Lodge in Mount Kenya.
Phone # 254 061 203 0785

Hotel in Nairobi: The Stanley
Kenyatta Avenue, Nairobi
Phone # 254 20 316 377

Amy and Joe stay in Brussels June 18, 19 and 20th.
In Brussels - Hotel - Brussels Marriott
Rue A. Orts 3-7/Grand Place
Phone # 32 2 5169090

Fly to Nairobi on June 21 on SN Brussels #481 at 10:40AM. Amy and Joe will be in Nairobi June 21st and 22nd.

NAIROBI

June 22: Half Day Nairobi Excursion: Karen Blixen House, Animal Orphanage, Carnivore restaurant! (No one will be eating giraffe)

SAFARI

June 23
Day 1: NAIROBI – ABERDARES 0800 hrs - From Nairobi, take a 2.5 hour drive to the Aberdares Country Club. Relax at the Club before lunch is served at 1300 hrs. At 1500 hrs transfer in a lodge vehicle to The Ark, one of the two famous tree hotel in the Aberdares National Park.
Dinner and overnight at The Ark

June 24
Day 2: ABERDARES – NAKURU After breakfast at the Ark, transfer back to the Aberdare Country Club. Then drive to Lake Nakuru in time for lunch at Sarova Lion Hill Lodge. At 1530 hrs proceed for an afternoon game drive in Lake Nakuru National Park.
Dinner and overnight at Sarova Lion Hill Lodge

June 25, 26
Day 3 & Day 4: NAKURU –MAASAI MARA 0800 hrs - Drive via the Great Rift Valley to arrive at Maasai Mara in time for lunch at Mara Sarova Camp. 1530 hrs- go for an afternoon game drive till dusk.
Dinner and overnight at Mara Sarova Lodge

June 27
Day 5: MAASAI MARA – NAIROBI – AMBOSELI 0830 hrs - check out and commence drive to Nairobi. You will have lunch in Nairobi at the Flame Tree Restaurant, Panafric Hotel. Then drive via Namanga at the Kenya- Tanzania border to Amboseli National Park.
Dinner and overnight at Amboseli Serena Lodge

June 28
Day 6: AMBOSELI 0630 hrs - early morning game drive in the Amboseli National Park. Return to the lodge for breakfast. After lunch at the lodge, proceed at 1600 hrs for an afternoon game drive till dusk.
Dinner and overnight at Amboseli Serena Lodge

June 29
Day 7: AMBOSELI – TSAVO WEST After breakfast, depart via the Sheitani lava flow for Tsavo West National Park to arrive in time for lunch at Kilaguni Serena Lodge. At 1530 hrs, you proceed for an afternoon game drive within the park until dusk.
Dinner and overnight at Kilaguni Serena Lodge

June 30, July 1 & 2
Days 8, 9 & 10: TSAVO WEST / MOMBASA 0800 hrs- check out and commence drive to Mombasa with game drive en route. Arrive in Mombasa in time for lunch at the Voyager Beach Resort.
Overnight at Voyager Beach Resort
(Andy and Helen will stay one extra day here. They leave on July 4th.)

July 3
Day 11: MOMBASA - NAIROBI After breakfast you will be free (depending on flight booking) to check out. Transfer to Mombasa Airport for flight back to Nairobi.

FLIGHTS HOME :(

July 3rd, Amy and Joe fly home. Mombasa / Nairobi on Kenya Air at 5:30 PM.
Nairobi / Brussels on SN Brussels flight #481 departing at 9:05 PM.
Brussels / ORD on AA # 89 departing 11:05 AM. (July 4th)
ORD / LAX on AA # 455 departing 2:50 PM and arriving LAX at 5:02 PM.

July 4th, Andy and Helen fly home. Mombasa/Nairobi on Kenya Air #613 at 7:15 PM.
Nairobi / Brussels on SN Brussels flight #463 departing at 11:30 PM.
Brussels / JFK on AA # 171 departing at 10:10 AM. (July 5th)
JFK / LAX on AA # 133 departing at 4:00 PM arriving LAX at 6:54 PM.

Maps

The four of us are flying together to Brussels, then A&J are taking off for an excursion to savour sights of Brussels, Brugge and Antwerp for a few days.












Andy and I go straight on to Nairobi where A&J will join us in a few days.
In between, Andy and I are taking a 3-day trip to Mount Kenya, where we will stay at the Mount Kenya Serena Lodge take a couple of Mountain hikes and then head back to Nairobi to meet up with A&J.

Then it's SAFARI!

Upcoming: Kenya! Watch this space!

As many of you know, we are excitedly preparing to head off on safari in a few weeks now! We're going with Amy and Joe and we leave on June 17th, so hopefully we'll be posting some more fabulous photos up here very soon...

So maybe we'll post a few updates before then, and try to get our act together and put a detailed itinerary up here beforehand so you'll know where we are (don't expect to be able to post that much whilst we're actually in Kenya, but we'll probably manage it here and there).

More soon, just 29 days to go!

Happy New Year!

Hope you all enjoyed the holiday season, we had a lovely time in Manchester, it was heart-breaking to leave, especially since we fell head over heels for new-kid-on-the-block Maddie. We're back in LA now, gearing up for a new year filled with new things. Andy and I have pledged to get our backsides to the gym and I am starting english courses at CSUN at the end of this month. It's all very exciting.

Here are a few more photos from our other brief trip up to the Lake District to see Nanan and Mike between xmas and the New Year. It was very cooooold!

Nanan & Mike's house looking very picturesque in the snow.


Sun, snow and ice - perfect day for a hike to see Ingleton Falls in the Yorkshire Dales.


Andy agrees


The waterfalls were spectacular, we saw several series of them on our 5 mile trek.


The biggest was Thornton Force:


Andy's favourite photo:

Photos from Dublin!

Yes we had a great time in Dublin too. It was incredibly busy with christmas shoppers, but we managed to fight our way into all the good pubs :) Here are a few snaps with the various highlights of our mini-break:


We stayed at the Grafton Guest House, a really nice hotel in the centre of Dublin, with a full irish breakfast included, yum!



St. Patrick's Cathedral.



On Sunday the 18th of December we went to the Christmas Services of Nine Lessons and Carols at St. Patrick's Cathedral. It was a nice service, we sang a few carols because and we got there early so we had good seats up in the pews in the front.


Still felt a bit sacrilegious though...



We visited the Kilmainham Gaol, which was fascinating and a bit scary inside. The gaol was built in 1796 and in 1916 held the leaders of the Easter Uprising and was their place of execution by firing squad.



Andy's in the scary, 18th century part of the gaol and I'm in the newer, improved, porridge-style section built in the Victorian era. Much more inviting...



We also managed fit in the Art Gallery (another surreptitious photo),



The Book of Kells at Trinity College (which is twinned with Oriel by the way - thanks Will)



And plenty of this:



At places like the Temple Bar,



And Gogarty's Bar...