Jan 30, 2020 - Thurs Jan 30, 2020 - Karen Blixen Cottages Nairobi

Today is a glorious free day! Everyone makes their way down to breakfast at their leisure. I check in on Diane as the ride yesterday was gruelling and she is not well at all. I made a quick decision that another hospital visit was mandatory to deal with the pain she was experiencing. Within the hour we were in a taxi to the Karen Hospital (this entire area is called Karen, after Karen Blixen). The hospital is very efficient and within the hour she was speaking with a specialist. He was very thorough with his questions and tests and...

Jan 29, 2020 - Wed Jan 29, 2020 - Ashnil Luxury Tented Camp to Nairobi

Well both Rod & I had a restless night. Me, listening to the torrential rain and raging river wondering if we will get out safely. Rod thinking how he could save Charlene & I from the hyena he could hear close by. Oh how the mind plays with us!! Breakfast was early and once light we could see just how high the Mara River was - it looked like it doubled overnight!! The locals said they hadn’t seen it that high. Oh dear. John and the drivers are optimistic the roads will be fine and we are all happy to be departing early. And off we go!...

Jan 28, 2020 - Tues Jan 28, 2020 - Ashnil Luxury Tented Camp in the Masai Mara

A wonderful quiet sleep last night! Once the lights were out it was pitch black, no visible light anywhere due to the heavy cloud cover. Seven of the group woke up at 3:45am for their Hot Air Balloon 𯎈 adventure. So exciting for them. Three are off on a safari drive and Diane & I have opted to relax at the camp. As I write, I am looking out to the Mara river and watching the hippos swim by. I have only seen the head of one but have heard several coming up for air. Wow! The Safari group return and stories of the crazy muddy roads abound....

Jan 27, 2020 - Mon Jan 27, 2020 - Lake Naivasha Country Club to Ashnil Luxury Tented Camp in the Masai Mara

John & I arranged that Jimmy would stay back with Roy, Diane & I and we would leave a couple of hours later to let Diane rest a bit. That way we could head straight through rather than the Safari drive and other various stops. We said adieu to the group for the time being and it was nice to sit and rest on the beautiful patio at the hotel. Our departure was at 11:00am and we slowly drove over the potholed road. I was a bit off as well so looks like I picked up a bacteria or two, but not as severe as Diane. I jokingly said we Roy & the...

Jan 26, 2020 - Sun Jan 26, 2020 - Elsamere to Lake Naivasha Country Club

Charlene and I awaken early and head to the dining room in nighties and sweaters to get a coffee. We then sat on our patio and listened to the sounds of the jungle - the Colobus monkeys make a very loud guttural sound for such small animals! Along with the Colobus chant, Various other birds chirp and screech - it is quite the cacophony of sounds, and we loved it! Breakfast time and we all gather in the dining room except for poor Diane. She has been getting increasingly unwell over the night. So much so that with John’s help we called an...

Jan 25, 2020 - Sat Jan 25, 2020 - Aberdare Country Club to Elsamere at Lake Naivasha

We say a fond farewell to our lovely home for the last few days and start on our next journey to Elsamere. http://elsamere.com Unless we want to go over the very long & bumpy road over the Aberdare mountains we need to head north past the equator and around and south to Lake Naivasha. The ride was mostly uneventful and we made a few stops along the way for lunch and a ATM, pharmacy stop. We arrived at Elsamere just before the end of High Tea, and sat down immediately. What an absolutely beautiful setting and the cottages are marvellous!...

Jan 24, 2020 - Fri Jan 24, 2020 The Ark to Aberdare Country Club

Up early for our departure back to the Country Club - would have loved to stay longer. The bus took the short, less potholed route (thankfully) which was less than an hour. Back at the Country Club we put our things away and came back down to the lobby for the Coffee Tour. Nine of us clambered into the jeeps and drove a short distance to the Dedan Kimathi University of Technology. They have 5000 students that study primarily engineering and agriculture technology, and for the extremely intelligent students there is a group working on robots...

Jan 23, 2020 - Thur Jan 23, 2020 Aberdare Country Club to The Ark

Good morning Africa 𯇰𯇪! Today we are taking an exciting mountain drive in the Aberdare National Park to a remote viewing lodge, The Ark. It is affiliated with the Aberdare Country Club, although it existed first and is truly magnificent! The Drive takes approximately an hour, however John would like to show us Chania Falls & Karuru Falls so our journey is much longer! Our first stop is a view of Treetops, the famous lodge where Princess Elizabeth’s and Prince Philip stayed in 1952. The king passed away while they were there and they had...

Jan 22, 2020 - Wed Jan 22, 2020 Aberdare Country Club & Solio Ranch

Well today started as usual, however ended in excitement! In the early morning we went to Solio Ranch, recognized as one of the most successful private rhino breeding reserves in Kenya. We encountered the white Rhino (initially called ‘wide’ mouthed, however the British heard white, hence the name today), black Rhino, zebras, wart hogs, and a golden jackal or two. Lumbering along the rough pathway someone spotted a male lion - wow, the excitement. Our first cat in plain view! After many, many photos we moved along and then STOP 𯛑, here is...

Jan 21, 2020 - Jan 21, 2020 - Samburu National Reserve - Buffalo Springs - Aberdare Country Club

Today is a busy day, we are moving from Samburu to the Aberdares. We are all early down for breakfast and bid adieu to ‘Seventy’ (yes, that’s his name!) and Solomon, our waiter, farewell. Seventy is from the Samburu Tribe and has been at the lodge for 13 years - his major focus is keeping the monkeys away from the food and guests! His uniform is Masai looking regalia and his weapon against the mischievous monkeys - a slingshot! We depart at 7am and leave Samburu and enter Buffalo Springs Reserve - just on the opposite side of the river...

Jan 20, 2020 - Mon Jan 20, 2020 - Samburu National Reserve

Today we are in Samburu National Reserve for the day and another night. The Samburu people are relatives of the Masai and have similar costumes and customs. Lovely people! The Lodge https://wildernesslodges.co.ke/samburu/ is in a perfect location next to the Uaso Nyrio River. The staff, service and food are fabulous and we are all really enjoying our stay. We are up at 6:00am, time for a quick coffee and then off on our early morning game drive. I hop in with Tammy, Shane & Val and driver Steve. And we are off a titch earlier than the other...

Jan 19, 2020 - Sun Jan 19, 2020 - Nairobi to Samburu National Park.

Leaving Nairobi early morning, our convoy of 3 Landruiser Jeep’s head north for Samburu National Park. The 6-7 hour journey included stops for shopping and photos of crossing the equator. Barely arriving inside the park gates we are pleasantly surprised to see a number of elephants and a couple of them so close to the road. We didn’t even need a zoom lens! We arrive at the Samburu Game Lodge for our 2 night stay and have enough time to have a delicious lunch, and unpack a wee bit. At 4pm we are back in the jeeps for a game drive of the...