Let's go on Safari (Africa, not Apple)

Jumbo,

Ain't technology grand- if you know how to use it or someone who does? Tom, the IT wiz at our office just loaded another browser on my laptop remotely and it looks like I'm in business.

Less talk, more photos today

The first hour was on the two lane, paved road I traveled from Nairobi. Here's a view of market day at one of the small towns we passed through.

We turned off the main road at a small town with this central shopping area, including the Seven Star Hotel.

The next two hours (45 km) were on a dirt road that here, entering the savannah, was pretty good.

Except for the steep ravines,

a few domestic obstacles, and the washed out segments (and this is the dry season, when it only rains hard 1-2/52- the way they write 1-2 times a week)

We passed some villages along the way. This shows typical construction of mud brick wall and two of three typical roofs, tin and thatched. The third, more common in the Maasai communities were constructed with cow dung.

We finally came to the meeting place to catch our ride with the camp guide. While waiting for him, we made friends with this group. Kenyans are a friendly, soft-spoken. The children are particularly friendly love to have their pictures taken. The only thing keeping them from constantly running (getting ready for the Olympics) was this photo request. Both boys and girls shave their heads until age 18, most men continue to do so.

 Simon, our driver, picked us up about noon on Sat. and was our personal guide until noon on Mon. His English is very poor and the answer to most questions was "Yes" even when completely inappropriate. But, he has a keen eye, knows his plants and animals and was most attentive. The owner made a point of saying he intentionally hired locals to help them advance rather than the more formally educated guides from the cities.

We had a five hour tour on our way to the camp. We stopped for a picnic lunch under the shade of an acacia tree.

This was one of a herd of about 15 zebras who came within 100 feet while we ate lunch.

Let me say now there is no way I could get pictures that do justice to the experience. The plains are enormous, stretching as far the eye could see. And, while there were times we could see no animals, there were places were we could watch over 300 at time. This shows maybe 20-30 in a small part of a 360 degree panorama.

Another angle, with some telephoto of Thompson's gazelle and impala. You may note how many of the species mingle while grazing.

Mix of animals again.

Wildebeests were the most numerous of the animals. This represented those who do not migrate. When the great migration begins in a couple of weeks, there will be millions more.
Warthogs are definitive cuter in Disney animations.

Zebras were the next most numerous unless you lump all the types of antelopes and gazelles together.

It's late and it has taken over 90 minutes to load these few pictures since the internet is so slow.
I will add more animal pix along with views of the lodge tomorrow.

Blessings,
Ed