Animals, animals, animals

Kenya is nothing if not unpredictable (triple negative - bam!). Having planned a safari to Samburu, in the north of the country, I hear 3 days before leaving that excessive rains have made the river burst its banks, the whole region is flooded and tourists are climbing trees to escape. Lucky, I suppose, that it wasn’t three days later, but it did derail our plans slightly.

So, some last-minute replanning and rescheduling later, we have a new itinerary (at no extra cost, impressively) and with new camera and old girlfriend in hand, off we go.

Nairobi
Once again - the elephant orphanage is a pretty standard stop (I have a feeling I’ll be doing this a couple more times before the year is out, but it hasn’t got boring yet).



Added a little spice to the mix by visiting the giraffe sanctuary as well. Visiting them up close is actually quite an experience.



Nakuru
Again, I have done Nakuru before, but it merits a revisit. Barely 2 hours’ drive from Nairobi, and teeming with wildlife, it’s fast becoming one of my favourite places to go. And by teeming, I mean teeming.



The highlight of Nakuru are the flamingos. Their numbers vary over the course of the year as they migrate (so I heard, this might not actually be true), but they add a real splash of colour to the place, Managed to get close to them this time, without sinking the car, although I did nearly run over a donkey. Get the feeling a certain someone might never have forgiven me.



In addition to the flamingos is the rarely seen T. Rex, which presumably left this footprint (the smaller ones around it are the flamingos).



Amboseli
So, instead of Samburu, we headed to Amboseli, about 4 hours south of Nairobi on the Tanzanian border. Amboseli is famous for its elephants, and for being in the shadow of Mount Kilimanjaro. Here they are.

Or, a variation on a theme:

Unfortunately, after 8.30 in the morning, Mount Kili is covered in cloud, and this is the more common sight.

It’s quite flat and barren, and the wildlife is pretty spread out. You can drive for a while without really seeing anything. There are a lot of elephants though.



So, after all that it’s back to Nairobi and back to work, discussing the EAC Common Market Protocol Draft Model Annex on Social Security. Great.

Bits & Bobs

Just realised that just because I don't have a camera with me doesn't mean other people don't (Photo credits to American #1 and American #2. Ta).

Barbeque

Kenyans like their meat:



Hell's Gate

Hiking up a gorge - trying very hard not to get wet. Worth it for the view at the top though.




Blankets & Wine

Sunday Afternoon. Live African Music. Bring your own picnic, blanket and, that's right, wine. A ridiculously pleasant a way to spend the day.

Pancake Day

Apparently Americans don't get Pancake Day. I feel sorry for them. Managed to inject a little English culture into our predominantly Yank-orientated flat.

Camping in Lake Nakuru

We took a weekend up-country in one of the National Parks - Nakuru. Our 'campsite' was in fact just a piece of grass half a mile down from where we saw a pride of lions. I didn't get much sleep. It didn't help that the tree we camped under tried to kill us. When we woke up after the first morning there was a branch 6 feet long impaled in the ground next to our tents.

Also nearly sank the car in some thick, rather noxious mud. Didn't seem to deter the baboons though.



Lighting a fire in the rain is not that much fun. I was mostly watching and making useful comments like "It's gone out again". It got going in the end though.



Otherwise, great fun.