On Safari - Day #1

Our first day on safari has been absolutely amazing!!!  We left Nairobi after breakfast and our driver had quite a challenge as he tried to load our 6 bags plus 2 bags from our travelling companions plus his bag.  Eventually one bag had to be sent with another group that was coming to this same lodge and we were off.

Driving through Nairobi was an experience!  Chris is an excellent driver and safely got us through all kinds of traffic with people walking everywhere.  At every traffic light people walk up and down between the cars, selling just about anything you can imagine.  The person selling pillows caught our attention!  We passed several of the embassies, the children’s hospital, many churches, stands along the roadside (including a pharmacy!) and 2 universities before we were out of town.  Along the outskirts of Nairobi, new areas are being developed and there is lots of construction.  Of course along with that goes the temporary living quarters, the tiny stalls selling bracelets or cigarettes and the unemployed waiting beside the road for someone to come and hire them to do a dayjob.   

The highway took us north to Mount Kenya and the Mountain Lodge, where we stayed for one night.    Right in front of the east side of the lodge building is a watering hole - and we have had a great afternoon watching animals!!  While we were finishing lunch, Sandra ran back to the room for a minute and then came rushing back to tell us that a herd of water buffalo was there.  And it just got better and better!!  Water bucks, warthogs, a cattle crane and blue heron were there first.  Then along came the Cape buffalo and soon a whole big group of Vervet monkeys came skittering out of the trees, right beside our room.  At first we saw just a few, chewing leaves and climbing on branches, but soon the whole area was crawling with them as they moved down the hill and crossed the open spot beside the watering hole.  

It wasn't long before a troop of olive baboons descended from the hills and gathered around the water hole.  They were all sizes, including several babies riding on mama's backs.  The dominant male paced around while they drank water and combed each other.  Soon they trooped off and the hole was quiet again with a few buffalo, the warthogs still digging and the birds poking along in the water.

At supper, one of the guides came around and asked if we'd like to be called during the night if any animals came around the hole.  Of course we said yes!  But unfortunately it was a quiet night and the only call we got was for a hyena - who had disappeared by the time we stepped out on the balcony.  The night before a herd of 25 elephants and a leopard had been spotted.

We are leaving Mountain Lodge now and heading to Samburu, north of here, for the next 2 days.  See you in the oven, as our driver says, because it's much hotter there!