Evenings in Africa. . . . . . . .

Needless to say, dining in a safari lodge does not require evening dress.

No dinner jackets and ties, and definitely no gossamer  

gowns and dainty high heeled shoes.

This makes packing even simpler than loading up for a cruise ship.

After returning from game drives in the bush, often more than 

one in a day, dressing for dinner is low on the priority list.

Dusty and windblown, a quick freshen up, perhaps a dash

 of lipstick and a pair of earrings for bling, is about it before a relaxing
 aperitif by the fire pit, then a delicious dinner. You are really hungry by then,

after the fresh air and often strenuous animal viewing, take my word!

Evenings are full of chatter from guests and staff exchanging stories of 

their exciting day. Overhead the huge open sky is glittering with stars.
 Off in the distance lions are roaring, close by there's always some animal
 shuffling about making it imperative to have armed guards in the shadows,
just in case!

Night time can be quite loud in Africa.

I recall my very first night in Africa here in Botswana in 2010. 

Talk about a cacophony of unusual grunts, snorts, roars, munching
 (elephants seem to eat 24 hours a day), and assorted bird calls and screeches,
 all of which sound like they are right on the other side of the tent canvas.

More on safari 'tents' coming in a future post.

~ In the sitting room before dinner at Downton Abbey ~

~ The sitting room area at Mara Plains Camp ~

Not much difference between the two, except perhaps the wallpaper, artwork, 

 and dress code - and of course Downton Abbey had nothing wilder than those dear

 yellow labrador retrievers close by, perhaps giving a friendly bark now and then. 

I wonder who will be coming to dinner in Kenya.