Arrived in Amboseli, at the foot of Mt. Kilimanjaro. The lodge is great. I have a cabin that overlooks a field filled with zebras, wildebeest, and elephants. I sat for a while on the porch today and just watched.
We went for a safari ride late afternoon. After the wonderful experiences that we had at Masai Mara with animals coming within 10-20 feet of us, I felt we had already hit the pinnacle, and I should not expect too much, boy was I wrong.
But I jump ahead. First, let me describe my first impression of Amboseli - We could have easily been in the Sahara desert. There was nothing for miles but sand. I guess in the rainy season that area is swamp, but this is the dry season. Then it looks like there is a lake ahead; nope, I got my first experience with a mirage. I actually was able to take a picture of it. Then we look off to the side and see several dust devils. I got a picture of one that reached from the ground to the sky. I reminded me of a tornado, just all of dust and not as strong a wind.
We ate lunch once we arrived - a couple of us ate outside. I noticed a maasai standing around, and wondered why. I found out. I was eating and sometimes sneaking pictures (all maasai only want you to take pictures if you pay $10-$30) when the maasai came running toward me very fast shaking his stick/pole and yelling. I wasn't sure what I had done wrong, but he had me very worried. At some point I realized it was not me but something behind me and put my hands over my head and leaned down. I guess a monkey had come up behind me to take some of the food off of the table and the maasai guy was hired to stand guard and chase the monkeys away. They said these monkeys are very smart, but can also be mean (thus the protection). They may have saved a few years off my life if they had explained this when we arrived instead of scaring me to death.
So after settling in and watching the animals from my back porch for a while, we went out on safari. We saw several lions, but not nearly as great an experience as the other day. Then we came across 5 elephants (3 adults, 2 babies) and stopped to watch. I got a few pictures of them tussling with each other with their tusks. They kept walking toward us and crossed the road right behind our truck - they couldn't have been more than 20 feet away. We were all excited about this and drove on when it happened again, this time only 1 elephant passed just behind our vehicle.
By this time, Mt Kilimanjaro, which had been under cloud cover at the top cleared, and someone said, wouldn't it be cool if we could get a picture of an elephant walking across the plains with the mountain in the background just like in all the pictures you see in Kenya. Guess what - one appeared and I got the picture.
On the way back, we saw hippos out of the water, although at a distance, hyena, and many more elephants.
By the way Bart, the top of Kilimanjaro is waaaay up there. It looks cool, but I am glad I'm not the one making that trek.
As we were sitting around after dark, several bats started flying in circles around our cabin when we were sitting on the porch (there are 4 rooms to a cabin). I got a picture, but it looks like a water spot on the picture. I also saw the big dipper in the sky, but really low in the northern sky (like between 7 o'clock and 11 o'clock).
We go out for a couple of hours in the morning (6:30 am) and then have >6 hours free time after breakfast. I am not sure I will know what to do with myself we have been keeping so busy. A couple of people here want to do a Sunday service, so I will probably join them. Also there is a pool, a large complex to walk around, and a fantastic few from my porch.
Oh, on a side note, the other night at dinner we were convinced we felt an earthquake, and we just found out today that volcano was the cause. It is no where need us, so mom, you do not need to worry. I just thought that was neat.
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