More Views from Safari

As everyone completes their trips home, here are a few more views from our time on safari:

Leopard stretching and getting ready to climb down.

Cheetah watching his fans.

Buffalo: meaner than they look.

Giraffes, conveniently spaced.

Topi (not Photoshopped).

The Savannah classic acacia tree with Secretary Bird.

Zebras: hard to see by the eyes that count.

Two lion cubs feed after the others have their fill.

Hippos heading out for their night feeding.

View to start the ride back before sunrise.

Rift Valley on our return.

-- Christopher Bell

One Last Safari Ride

Time to go.

Our second ride on Friday was unique in that the riders in each of our three vans got to have a different experience although we also crossed paths in some important ways.

Our guides: Paul, Simon, Steven, and Evans.

On our ride, through a mix of patience and jammed traffic, we managed to get some great views of an elusive male leopard when he decided to leave his well-camouflaged perch and drop down to start the early evening's hunt.

(Almost) the entire safari group.

Others had a unique ride tracking three lions and the third group had a chance to explore the Sand River crossing on foot. All of us caught up at the Tanzania border and had a chance to get some photos at the entrance to the Serengeti National Park.

Black with white stripes or white with black stripes?

The air in the park is so fresh when on ride that even just being out exploring in the vehicles or outside of the rooms at the Lodge is a great experience. Everyone embraced the experience and took full advantage of all of the rides, but this trip has also reached it's end. While we'll see some wildlife on our ride out, we won't have another chance to go deeper and explore on this trip.

Our simple sunset.

-- Christopher Bell

Early Start

Lions having breakfast.

We had an early morning safari today and were out on the road by 6:30 am. I know there were some of us who thought it was very early to be awake while on vacation, but it was worth it immediately. About 300 feet from the entrance to our hotel we saw two male lions eating a wildebeest. These were lions with full manes and it was definitely an interesting first sight of animals.

Sunrise over the hills.

The groups continued on and saw hyenas (new today), some ostriches, warthogs (also new), and some more lions. We'd spotted a single lioness and turned around to travel back to where she was. This was definitely a highlight because out came another lioness and two cubs!  We watched the four of them eating and playing with each other.

Hyena on the run.

-- Gabriela Gualano

Happy Birthday Chris!

Cheetah yawning while resting after being pierced by a horn.

We had a very, very busy day today. It started early with breakfast and then a 7 hour safari. Our first major sighting was of a dead wildebeest being eaten by vultures and other scavenger birds. The eye seems to have been a particular treat.

The scavengers follow after the predators are done.

There were no baby elephants today, and only one lion sighting, but there were plenty of other animals to be seen.  Giraffes were out in full force today and we all managed to see a group of 20 on a hill. Later in the day we saw another 9 or so.  Since we were out for longer we made it to the river where crocodiles and hippos call home.  The crocodiles weren't doing much, but it was still cool to see them down in the river. Further along were the absolutely massive hippos. We were amazed to see how large they were!

A hippo (rarely) on the move.

In the middle of this several of us just looked at each other and had to marvel we were spending our summer in Kenya looking for wild animals. It was a rather unreal moment.

This is how to throw a party in the rain on safari.

At dinner, Chris received the restaurant birthday surprise of his life I think. The entire restaurant went dark, the staff left their stations, and they all started singing as they went towards Chris with a full cake. After their Jambo song, they went into Happy Birthday. At this point we thought it was finished, when the Maasai men walked in with full traditional dress and did a ritual chant for him.

The cake after the first cut.

-- Gabriela Gualano

Lions and Zebras and ‘Beests…Oh My!

Our day started out rather long, with half of us driving to the airport and taking a short flight to safari and the other half driving halfway across Kenya to reach our lovely hotel. I was on the driving portion and it was definitely an experience to drive and see the whole of Kenya laid out before us. There were a few stopping points along the way where we could take panoramas of the Rift Valley below.

The Great Rift Valley.

Even before we entered Masai Mara there were some animals to be seen. Our first zebras were rather exciting, but they soon became almost like squirrels back home. There were also so many wildebeests you couldn't even count them. Seeing them here makes me understand how Mufasa was trampled to death in Lion King.

Wildebeest--a face only a mother could love.

After we met up with the flying group, all of us headed out on a true safari. Justin declared we were going to see 21 lions on this trip. Our driver Simon did not agree and thought it would be less. If today is any indication, though, we will definitely see 21 lions. It is absolutely extraordinary to look outside the car and see a fully grown lion standing less than 10 feet away.

Male lion keeping watch.

From all accounts we had a rather successful first safari day. My group saw 11 lions, 9 elephants (including the most adorable baby one ever), 3 ostriches, 4 giraffes, and numerous herds of zebra, wildebeest, gazelle, topi, elan, and water buffalo.

Mara giraffe on the move with a few bird hop-ons.

I know we all can’t wait to see what tomorrow brings!

Angele, Kaley, Jennifer, and Justin get the shot.

-- Gabriela Gualano

An Introduction to Wildlife

After all the wonderful and exciting, yet deep experiences this week, today was spent enjoying Kenya's wildlife.  The first stop was Giraffe Centre, a giraffe sanctuary where we were able to feed giraffes.  We all learned they have very long black tongues that are fairly scratchy and leave behind a sticky saliva.  A few brave souls fed the giraffes by mouth. 

Gabriela feeding a giraffe

Then it was off to the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust, an orphanage for elephants whose mothers have been killed usually by poaching.  They have about 20 elephants ranging in age from a couple months to three years.  Once they are three, the elephants are moved to another area where they are rehabilitated to return to the wild.  The program is enormously successful and has saved many, many elephants who would have otherwise died as babies.  

Baby elephants at Sheldrick.

Finally we went to Kazuri, a bead and pottery making factory that employs over 400 women.  Most of these women are single mothers and this is a way for them to support their families.  It was amazing to see the craftsmanship and artwork these women are doing.  The beads are entirely handmade, yet they look like a machine made them. 

Woman making pottery at Kazuri

-- Gabriela Gualano

Mutual gifts

2014 St Monica Pilgrims to Holy Cross Dandora
with our hosts on the future altar
at the Phase 1 church construction site.

One of the great surprises for those that travel here to visit our sister parish is how much more we each receive than we give. Simultaneously, our sisters and brothers of Holy Cross give thanks to God for how much our presence is a gift to them. All of the hard work and effort from all of us that enables these days to be such a rich exchange is multiplied many times by God.

-- Christopher Bell