Off on Safari

We were up at 6:30 to get packed and ready to leave on safari. We all got packed and to the breakfast table by 7:30. The vans arrived at 7:30 and we were all ready to go when Pamela and Patrick were no where to be found. We called and their car had broken down. They were getting a taxi to bring them right away. It was a little before nine before they arrived at the guest house. We all loaded into the vans. One with the young people and the other van was the old one. Yes, I was still able to get into the young van. We headed out of town. We made some stops along the way. We stopped at an overlook of the Rift Valley. It was over cast and raining today so we did not get see very much of the Rift Valley. The trip out to Fig Tree Camp took about 6 hours on some of the worst roads you could imagine. There were mile long sections of the road left unpaved because they ran out of money. Pot holes that would eat you up. At times it was better to drive on the side of the road then on the road. The dust was so bad and we were all covered by the time we reached camp. Our Driver was named Kamal. He was a different Kamal then we know from the guest house. He was very funny and informative as we were driving. He was so impressed with Rob’s GPS device. We keep track of the altitude and plotted our direction and coordinates. It was pretty cool. On the road to the camp we saw zebra, giraffe, gazelle, ostrich, and impala. All before we got into the game park. We saw them on the side of the road. It was pretty cool. There are not as many zebras as we had seen before. Lots of Masai were herding their cattle and now goats. Their red clothes make them easy to see.
We arrived at the camp 3 hours late. We did some off roading on the way. To enter the camp you have to cross a bridge. The camp is surrounded by a small river. The camp was amazing. We were escorted to lunch and then to our tented rooms. When we walked to our room, it faced the river. Right in front of our room was a Hippo in the water. It raised its head to look around as I was looking. Simply amazing. The rooms were fantastic. They are tents in the front with a porch overlooking the river. There are two beds with lights, tables, and closets. Attached to the tent by a door is a big private bath with a big shower and bathroom with running water. This is much better then our MASH experience. After we put our stuff away we were off on our first game drive. The tops of the vans pop up so you can look out. Very cool! We saw lots of animals. Gazelle, water buffalo, topi, impala, zebra, wart hog, and even several lions. Two lions, a female and male, had just finished eating their kill for the day. The half eaten animal was still laying beside them. Then we also saw a mommy lion and her 3 cubs playing by the water. It was really cool. We were able to get really close. Then we went in search of an acacia tree, the tree of life, to photograph. The other drivers thought we were crazy for driving around to take pictures of a tree. Mom and Rob wanted to use it on the Mercy Care Center Web page.
It was an exciting time and the game park, Masai Mara was so beautiful. With the wind in my hair and the animals running beside, I felt so at home. All the memories of my childhood safari’s came rushing back.
After the Safari, it was shower and dinner. Then we all sat by the camp fire pit and talked. I really am enjoying getting to know Patrick’s wife, Pamela. We decided it would be early to bed, because we will get up and start on our second game drive at 6:20am.
It was a great day and I enjoyed the people I was with very much. I thought a lot about how much Megan and Kyle would love to see all the animals and to see all the different things. I hope to be able to show them to them soon. Not until they are a little bit older.
Love and happiness,
Bethany