Well, we stayed up all night at The Ark, but unfortunately missed out on seeing any big game. We did see, however, hyenas, mongoose, genets (look like small cats) and lots of birds, as well as big buffalo.
After brekky we headed back to the Aberdare Country Club, ran into the GM again and showed him our leopard images, he thought they were spectacular!
Drove to Samburu National Park and did an afternoon game drive: saw oryx, giraffes (on came so close to the vehicle!), Grant’s gazelles, impalas, dikdiks, klipspringers etc. All of these animals are so camouflaged! I am getting Shane to photograph all the animal bums (see zebra, above), I think they are so cute!!!
We also saw a whole heap of birds. The scenery is much like the Kimberley we remember in WA. Lots of volcanic lava (from Mt Kenya). We also visited the site of Survivor: Africa, which was great (although it’s just an empty space in the land, nothing left of the huts or whatever).
Checked into the Shaba Lodge, a gorgeous lodge on the edge of the Samburu River. Monkeys in the trees, crocs in the river, the odd Samburu tribesman wandering around the grounds.
We were all very tired so had an early night.
Excellent day!
The next day we left early for a game drive and saw 2 elephant families right close to the vehicle, a few baby elephants too. They destroy a lot of the vegetation by stomping around and ripping branches off trees. They are fantastic to see.
We also came within 10 feet (yes!!! truly!!) of a big sleeping lion!! He was absolutely fabulous to watch, and he was sleeping like a baby. His pride of about 5 lionesses were nearby, relaxing in the shade. We were stoked to see the lion, this means now was have seen 4 of the ‘Big 5’ animals (buffalo, elephant, leopard, lion) and only the rhino left to see, which we will see at Lake Nakuru tomorrow.
Excellent games driving!!
In the arvo we spent time at a Samburu village near the hotel. This is not a ‘tourist’ village, rather, a real tribal village. Our guide is friends with the tribe, and occasionally brings his groups to get a real taste of life in the village. The people welcomed us with song, and accepted us to go into their village. They are so colourful (somewhat like the Maasai that are more well-known. Lots of red colours, lots of bead necklaces, and the men have quite intricate head things on, the more colourful they are, the more wives they want. It is a polygamous society.
Had an incredible afternoon there, the people are so friendly and welcoming. It was a real education to see how they live. They mainly survive on goats: they drink the blood, the milk, and eat the meat. Their whole lives exist of keeping their goats fed and watered, so they are a semi-nomadic people.
Later we had a long chat with Magic about the people, and the problems they encounter, trying to live in a modern world. I feel so privileged to see this.
Note: my foot is getting better every day, I am now able to walk, albeit with a limp. However, I have also come down with some bad gastro problems, so I am still a bit weak (haven’t eaten much in the last day). But, who cares! It’s not stopping me from enjoying this incredible land.
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