Driving from Manyara to Amboseli

Leaving the lake, we headed northeast to Arusha and then north to cross the border back into Kenya, in order to visit the last of our safari destinations.  This was a long travel day, on some of the roughest "highway" we had yet seen.  Lots of construction was being done - albeit not the way we imagine construction.  In many places the road detoured down into the ditch, sometimes around but most often over  the rocks which made for an incredibly rough and bouncy trip!

It was so, so dry and the fields were empty in this area.

But there were lots of rocks!  They had been cleared off the fields and fences had been built in some places.

The ever-present goats were herded and wandered in search of anything edible.

The fields around this church misson were bordered with aloe vera plants.  I think this was in a little valley that had a stream going through.

Sometimes the goats were right in the yard where daily tasks were being performed.

And always there were people walking, walking, walking.  We couldn't tell what the hole was but wondered if it had once been a waterhole that was now dried up.

It seemed something was happening in this field but we were too far away to see.  The plume of dust caught our attention.

For a time, we drove through a small rainstorm.  You can see the dirt pushed back for the highway - and the lack of a ditch.

The water collected in pools and driving became a bit slippery.  Just a shower, it wasn't long before it stopped.  The area was desperate for rain which they hoped was coming in November.

Side note:  we know a family who visited this area in January, 3 months later,  and they were amazed at how beautifully green and lush it was.  We were very happy to hear that the rains had come!