Kenya: Part I (Amboseli)
Oct. 15th, 2013 12:12 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
riontelI've been trying to motivate myself to write my usual travel report but for a variety of reasons I decided to settle for a much abbreviated version. There will be lots of pictures though.
We spent two weeks in Kenya, eight days of them on safaris through five of Kenyan National Parks, staying respectively at: Amboseli Lodge at Amboseli, Flamingo Hill Camp at Lake Nakuru, The Ark in the Aberdare National Park, Sweetwaters Camp in Ol Pejeta Conservancy, and Kichwa Tembo in Masai Mara.
Amboseli made it on the list for its views of Mount Kilimanjaro, last time we only managed to see the very tip of the summit peaking through the clouds while flying by. It was also a good starting point to ease our companions into the wonder that is Kenyan wild life and to unwind after a very long flight from NY, so we spent two nights there.
Decision to occupy free time before a game drive with a board game on the shady terrace by the pool, with a great view into the animal-filled valley, proved extremely unwise. Before we even properly started, Ion, our fellow traveler, got peed on by one of the black faced monkeys that infest surrounding trees. Monkey had the advantage of elevation and element of surprise on its side and thus escaped with no punishment. N. noted that in his thirty eight years, nineteen of which were lived in Kenya, he's never heard of anyone getting peed on by a monkey. The rest of the trip we diligently checked the boughs overhead and mused on the wisdom of nature which made it impossible for elephants to climb trees.
The first game drive finally brought our little group within camera reach of the animals. In addition to some more monkeys, baboons this time, we saw lions, and tigers, and bears, oh my... Wait, no, wrong continent. Scratch out the tigers and bears, leave the lions and add elephants, zebras, giraffes and lots of different kinds of antelopes.
Serval: When I grow up I want to be a leopard!
I got to see a full pride for the very first time, with lion's clumsy courting efforts as a bonus (we didn't get to see him score, though).
We also got to see and most regrettably smell lion pooping. If we only knew to have parked upwind it would have been a much less memorable experience! Also, leaves a lot to be desired as far as romantic gestures go.
To be continued ...
We spent two weeks in Kenya, eight days of them on safaris through five of Kenyan National Parks, staying respectively at: Amboseli Lodge at Amboseli, Flamingo Hill Camp at Lake Nakuru, The Ark in the Aberdare National Park, Sweetwaters Camp in Ol Pejeta Conservancy, and Kichwa Tembo in Masai Mara.
Amboseli made it on the list for its views of Mount Kilimanjaro, last time we only managed to see the very tip of the summit peaking through the clouds while flying by. It was also a good starting point to ease our companions into the wonder that is Kenyan wild life and to unwind after a very long flight from NY, so we spent two nights there.
Decision to occupy free time before a game drive with a board game on the shady terrace by the pool, with a great view into the animal-filled valley, proved extremely unwise. Before we even properly started, Ion, our fellow traveler, got peed on by one of the black faced monkeys that infest surrounding trees. Monkey had the advantage of elevation and element of surprise on its side and thus escaped with no punishment. N. noted that in his thirty eight years, nineteen of which were lived in Kenya, he's never heard of anyone getting peed on by a monkey. The rest of the trip we diligently checked the boughs overhead and mused on the wisdom of nature which made it impossible for elephants to climb trees.
The first game drive finally brought our little group within camera reach of the animals. In addition to some more monkeys, baboons this time, we saw lions, and tigers, and bears, oh my... Wait, no, wrong continent. Scratch out the tigers and bears, leave the lions and add elephants, zebras, giraffes and lots of different kinds of antelopes.
Serval: When I grow up I want to be a leopard!
I got to see a full pride for the very first time, with lion's clumsy courting efforts as a bonus (we didn't get to see him score, though).
We also got to see and most regrettably smell lion pooping. If we only knew to have parked upwind it would have been a much less memorable experience! Also, leaves a lot to be desired as far as romantic gestures go.
To be continued ...
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no subject
Date: 2013-10-15 12:40 pm (UTC)Давай ещё фотографий!
А насколько там было жарко?
no subject
Date: 2013-10-15 12:53 pm (UTC)Было не очень жарко, особенно ночью, когда было просто холодно. Экватор, как бы. И еще сезон коротких дождей.
no subject
Date: 2013-10-15 01:36 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2013-10-15 02:29 pm (UTC)If you want more, there were originally 4k+ of them :)
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Date: 2013-10-15 05:43 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2013-10-15 09:11 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2013-10-15 08:06 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2013-10-15 09:10 pm (UTC)