DAY ONE
While you (Winnipeg) were sleeping...We started off the day with a plane ride into the Massai Mara. The drive to the airport was kinda sketchy, and soon learned that the rules of the road were no rules of the road. We landed, and began on our safari. We saw Wildebeests. Like crazy amounts of wildebeasts, I've never seen so many of one animal in one place, but they were all over the place. They make the most ridiculous sound, its like a pig/cow/horse sound. Mixed in with them were zebras and antelope look a likes, just mini versions. Seriously every where you go you see these Wildebeests. Then we found a cheetah sleeping under a tree. We were pretty close, close enough to see its whiskers. It was panting, didn't do much. But its eyes are crazy, there not red, but like an orangey brown. I asked if he'll try to jump into the car with us, our guide said he wouldnt jump in but that they have jumped on top of the car and just walked on it. Towards the end of the morning drive, we saw a giraffe. It had birds sitting on it. Fun fact (especially for Dr. Taylor) it has the same number of vertebrae in its neck as humans (7)!
HOT HOT HOT
When we drove into our camp, we saw the Massai people and multiple villages, and many cows. They loved hearing we were Canadian, Canadians had built a school for them in the Massai community. Our camp is AMAZING. Like I would camp all the time if we could live like this. Our 'tent' is in overlooking a 'river'. Our backyard neighbour is filled with monkeys!!!!!!! So many of them. They aren't scared of them. When we were taking a nap, we woke up to see about ten lemurs! Well we think they were, they had like rings around there tails, so we're guessing. We've realized we probably shouldve researched our animals before heading over. Our tent has a flushing toilet and a shower with hot water. The camp has an eating area... We were served a four course meal forlunch. Starting with coleslaw, which apparently I like. And then some Minestrone Soup, and then the main course. This was fish, green beans, potatoes, tomatoes and carrots. Then for dessert we had a swiss role thing covered in chocolate sauce and whip cream. If we got served food like that camping, I'd totally go.
Well they aren't lying when they say Africa is hot. Like crazy hot. I can't even describe the heat, we were taking a nap after lunch, and woke up not wanting to move because it was so hot. It is exhausting. We took off for the second part of the days safari, and got a flat tire. Kinda funny, everyone stopped to check in, and there was a village close by who all walked out to watch! Mom and I got to stand in the sun for a while, just in case we weren't warm enough...
So I'm a pro lion finder...
We went back to find some animals, and found an elephant. It was huge! Like I've only ever seen pictures, but its a must see, its amazing in real life. We kept driving, its funny, there are a crazy amount of other people in the safari trucks, and they all crowd around the second someone stops so they can see what they've found. We were driving towards a huge crowd of cars, and then I looked and saw something in the bushes. And just like you would expect, I started yelling about something in the bush. There were two female lions!! They are huge, they didn't move much, but we were within 8 feet of us. We could see them breathing. Just kinda lay there, one of them rolled over at one point. So I am now a pro at finding lions. We kept driving to see waht was going on by all the cars..there were SEVEN cheetahs!! One mommy, and six babies. Well not quite your typical cub, but def her grown up baby. They would walk and all the animals would start to run away from it. We watched it chase a warthog for a bit, then it gave up. But the warthog kept trying to get its attention, he was just asking for it. But it never happened. It was crazy, one of the cheetahs walked right up to the cars, like right next to it, and just sat. It was watching an antelope, and we were pretty sure it was getting ready to hunt it. Unfortunately it never did, but still, they like were eyeing each other down. We drove, and found a male lion! Looked like a lazy Simba, cause he didn't move at all. He lifted his head once, that its. I really wanted to go over and do his hair in a bow, like these guys look so soft. I'm sure they are soft, just not so friendly.. I bet it would be pretty cute though.
DAY TWO
I want a Hippopotamus for christmas...We started the day with some coffee in bed, at a time way to early. 6 am. Thats 10 pm back home. We left camp at 6:30, and started off seeing vultures. They are pretty ugly, and just unfriendly looking. We saw many wildebeests, they were all running together. We then saw hippos! They are funny thins, they all kinda went under water, and when they came up, they'd make a loud exhale and wiggle their ears. Super cute. We were hoping they would open their mouths for us, which they would, just never long enough to take a picture. We also got to get out of the safari truck, which didn't really feel safe, but we did. We kept going and found some buffalo, they look so much different then the buffalo in Canada. We drove to a river thing, where wildebeests were crossing. They were funny to watch, and then a mommy got across and didn't have its baby. So it ran against the rest to find its baby, which were not sure if it ever found it, it got to far away. Then we went to cross a river (they do this alot, instead of building bridges, they drive straight thru) and saw the biggest relative of the antelope, we cant remember what he was called. It never turned around, so we got some great pictures of his bum.
Masai Warrior Village
In the afternoon, we had the opportunity to go into the village. It started off with a nature walk, where our guide showed us the trees that the masai people use for ie toilet paper. We then went to the village. We waited outside the tree gated village for the chief to greet us. He became the chief after he had killed a lion. They have a hunt once a year, where they all go out and find a lion, and whoevers spear kills the lion first becomes the new chief. They then get to wear the mane of the lion...we got to wear it, so we're pretty much chiefs now. The massai warriors then did three different dances for us. The first was in a line, which is meant to represent them all sneaking up to a lion. The second was they created a half circle, and started to jump. Whoever jumps the highestis said to have their pick of women. They then placed the mane on our heads and danced all around us. So we entered the village, the women danced for us, and had us joined in. We're pretty sure they were making fun of us the whole time. Then we watched them make a fire. Then we went into one of their houses. It was tiny from the outside, but when we went in, we learned that half of it was used for baby cows. so it got smaller. Our guide told us that the women build the houses, one women can build a house in a month, and it lasts for two years. They then took us into their market and tried to sell us stuff. It was ridicdulous, their was so much, and they tried to put everything on us. Crazy overwhelming, and if you looked at something closer, someone was behind you and would take it to hold onto for you. It made Mexico look like nothing. So we bought a ocuple things so we didn't give Canadians a bad name.
Monkeying around
This afternoon/evening we just loved the monkeys. I'm pretty sure we watched the monkeys in our yard for a good half hour to an hour. they are so funny, i got a video of them, i'll upload it at some point. then, we went out to our safari ride, and we saw BABOONS! i was so pumped, only 4, and they were pretty far away, but still, they looked like fluffy stuffed animals. just loved them. we spent most of the night finding the leopard, apparently its pretty dangerous. He would jump into the safari jeep thing ... so he was kinda scary. We also found a mommy and baby elephant. so cute, i just want one, the baby one not the big one. apparently they weight 250 pounds when they are born. We also saw 3 female ostriches, they are not nearly as nice looking as the males. We later drove past some lions, 5 of them.! they weren't cubs anymore, but not full grown. there was a male that was beginning to get its mane, just in that awkward stage.They were all just lying there though, so it was kinda disappointing cause they wouldnt move.We saw one yawn though, that was crazy, its teeth are huge. especially when your just a couple feet away.That night we also met other people from rafiki, which was pretty exciting and they answered a million of my questions. Yeah..not nearly as exciting as other days, we still saw all the wildebeests zebras and antelopes all over the place.
Last/Best Safari drive
This morning, we saw the best animals...we started off by going to look for the rhino, which is apparently the hardest to find because it has good scent and hearing so it hides the second it hears the truck.Along the way, we saw 3 giraffes, and then there was a fourth hiding in the trees. And walking towards us, were elephants (we think 5 or 6 but have to look at the picture to remember). All sizes! little baby ones, awkward teenage ones and big mommy and daddy ones. And then 2 more walked by. Then we drove a little further and then there was 8 more! and then we kept driving, and found the rhino! just one. It was funny because all the zebras were just watching it, apparently they are scared of him. We drove some more, and there was 6 lions walking!! they walked super close to the car! it was ridiculous, like couldve counted whiskers if we weren't so distracted by them. There were still no simbas though. While driving back, we saw 14 elephants!!! all together!! they may have been repeats, but all at once! and they were pretty far from where we'd seen the original morning ones, so not likely. Elephants are great. along the way to the airport, we drove past SIMBA!!!! he was so close, 3-4 feet away. he was just chillin with Nala by the side of the road.
miss everyone, will load pictures later!! love you and miss you guys!!
hey Kris I was laughing as I read this. I am so glad you are enjoying. Dad
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