Greetings Rafikii [and yes that really does mean friends]
We returned last night from a magnificent stay at Breezes Beach hotel on the Zanzibar coast and the Zanzibar Serena Hotel in Stonetown which overlooks the ocean. These resorts boast people and service that rival Kichwa.
We began our trip on Kenya Air at the early hours of Saturday morning and arrived in Nairobi to be welcomed by our friend George of Custom Safaris and Eliud together with Ole and ???. We had breakfast at my favourite shopping centre in Nairobi, The Junction - think beautiful leather bags and exceptional Kenyan coffee. A good stopover before our trip to Lake Nakuru.
We had a great time at Sarova Lion Hill where we viewed the masses of flamingo around the very depleted lake. We were made very aware of the severe drought Kenya is suffering. The Maasai are driving their cattle from north to south in the attempt to find pasture. [Golf courses are not excluded here].
On the Sunday morning we drove to Lake Naivasha to board the planes for the Mara. There I was entertained by a little boy who tried to each me to count in Swahili and shook his head vehemently every time I intoned the wrong word. [Yes I did nearly bring him home].
David and I think this is our best ever Masai Mara tour. We experienced yet again one of the Wonders of Nature. The wildebeest thrived in the Mara. One of our guests told us 'they're all gone'. Not possible I thought. Well they had left - it rained a little on the Serengeti plains, so they trekked to pastures greener.
But being the fickle and instinct driven creatures that they are, the wildebeest returned. Not one thousand, not two thousand, but millions. They dotted the hills, climbed the ridges, cantered across the plains, crossed the Mara river. Unravelled before us in dust filled moments. The migration took place in front of our eyes.
But the Masai Mara is not all about the migration. We were privileged to see leopard stalking and lazing. The yellow eyed contact is extremely daunting. We viewed jackal as they eased a baby gazelle from its mother. We witnessed the introduction of two cubs to the pride. We watched lionesses set up the pride for a kill. And we were surrounded by wildebeest.
To mention our friends at Kichwa Tembo is like talking about family - from the general manager, camp manager, rangers and sweepers guests are welcomed as family. The staffs' exceptional dedication and warmth simply make the stay more special than expected and the departure more difficult each year. To say Kwaheri [good bye] and seeing a young warrior out of the corner of your eye, with his head bent in sadness, rents a hole in the heart.
David is viewing photographs on his computer and from the glimpses I've had, we will have some great memories.
