African guides. . . . . . . . .

One cannot enjoy Kenya's wilder side without great guides and drivers, often

the same person.

Tirian is our full time Maasai guide/driver here at the Mara Plains safari camp.

  I will have so much to share about this very special man, his Maasai community,

 family, and friends, when I have more time and better Internet service here.

Tirian Koya, wearing traditional Maasai shuka, many years Paula's friend, our

 wonderful new friend!

Photo via Paula

Bob. Tirian and me ready to set up bush breakfast in the cool of the morning
 on the Maasai Mara.

This is Ken, our fabulous African Horizons driver and guide around Nairobi.

 He drove us from the airport when we arrived in the evening, and made sure

 we arrived safely at our hotel.  Next day he collected us after breakfast and took

 us to the Karen Blixen Museum (see previous post), then to the Giraffe Center

 where it was fun hand feeding those handsome tall animals. We then went on to

 lunch in a very nice outdoor restaurant before driving to the small Wilson Airport

 for our one hour flight to the Mara.

Giraffe Center

We enjoyed Ken's company very much and, although together just a short time,

 learned a lot about Nairobi's history and present day happenings.

Every day here is so special - we have seen unbelievable wildlife and are

busy from dusk until long before dawn!

Out of Africa. . . . . . . . for real!

I've loved getting my hands on any books, articles, even memoirs of people who
 lived in Kenya back in the early to mid-1900's when life here was so much different,
and the country was known as British East Africa.

Danish author Karen Blixen wrote Out of Africa under her pen name

 Isak Dinesan. One of my favorite books, it was followed by the magnificent
 award winning movie which was probably the catalyst for my interest in 
 Kenya and wanting to know much more about this country, the landscape,
 its people, and of course the animals who inhabit what has to be a paradise
 on earth. 

A dream came true for me during our day to explore Nairobi and surrounding
 areas. A guide drove us to the actual home and gardens of Karen Blixen standing
 at the foot of those same Ngong Hills, 7Km from the city on land where she had
 her coffee farm from 1917 until 1931.
This lovely house, with the wrap around veranda which was used for scenes
 in the movie with Meryl Streep and Robert Redford in the lead roles, is now a
 museum, donated as a gift from from the Danish Government to Kenya in 
1964, and was opened in 1986 as one of Kenya's national museums following
 the huge popularity of the movie Out of Africa.
Guided tours of the house (no photos permitted inside) display a lot of Karen's
original decor, her furniture, plus many of the props used for the film, including
 the gramophone! 
Do see the movie if you haven't, or rent it again as it's so wonderful!

Museum Guide Henry.
Karen's Original Farm Tractor, a 1922 Fordson Model F
for my farming friends in Utah, Gina and Gene.

An incredible journey. . . . . . . .

After one night and a wonderful day in Nairobi, we took a 12 seater plane to our camp.

This airport for Mara Plains surprised me - not even an airstrip, just a bumpy bush

 area. Gentleman with motorcycle was a taxi! 

Fortunately our plane was met by a large safari vehicle to take us to camp.

Fighting Hartebeest antelopes - two males, young one on left, old guy on right. 

Thankfully they gave up prior to a sad end and ran away after about half an hour

 of serious battle, most likely over territory.

This evening's game drive was cut short when a heavy rain fell - apparently very

 unusual at this time of year.  As you can see, we've seen a lot of game 

already - the plains are heaving with what could be over a million Wildebeest

 readying for the annual migration, some silhouetted against the horizon here.

Boma Hotel, Nairobi

I will have amazing stories to share from Kenya. Our days are so very busy

 from the 6AM game drive until late evening here in the Maasai Mara - and no time to

 post other than these few photos to show you that we made it here!

Lots more to come from this spectacular continent.