Webb and Jeff decided to come out to visit us for New Year’s this year (yeah for Grandparents!). They flew into Nairobi, so we decided to all drive up and meet them and do a safari at Lewa Wildlife Conservancy before heading back to Tanzania. It turned out to be a great week full of adventure.
We had Webb and Jeff fly up from Nairobi to give them a relaxed morning while we drove. What a way to travel!
We had four+ full days of safari at Lewa and got to see and do quite a bit.
The highlight of the trip was seeing and petting three baby rhino: Nicky (1 1/2 years), Hope (10 months), and Kilifi (6 months). We were out for a regular game drive and happened upon a ranger who was carrying a big basket that had two (very large) bottles sticking out. Matt asked him where he was going; he was on his way to feed three orphaned rhinos. We followed along and watched him feed them from afar. After a few phone calls, the ranger agreed to meet us in 15 minutes to bring us to the three. What a special experience! The three are constantly accompanied by two rangers who are there to keep them safe. Nicky could be a bit cranky which is understandable since he is blind and unable to tell that we were not there to harm him. Hope and Kilifi were so gentle and amazingly patient as we followed them around and pet them.
Around Ngiri House we had many visitors – some of whom may have stolen Anderson’s egg sandwich right from the table as well as eaten a whole container of cocoa (cheeky monkeys!).
One day we went up to Ngare Ndare Forest for a canopy walk and waterfall hike. We were high up for the canopy walk! It’s said that those who swim in the waterfall will have luck for six months. Looks like Matt, Tierney, and Ashlyn will have the best luck….brrrrrr.
We also went for a guided walk. You know the kids are growing up when we can do a two and a half hour walk with nary a whine to be heard. #1 rule of wildlife hikes: stick close to the man with the gun.
We paid a visit to the bloodhounds that Lewa uses to track poachers. What super friendly, dopey looking mutts.
On one early morning game drive we came upon a buffalo. Luckily the kids were paying attention (Matt was paying very close attention to some birds in a tree the other direction) because the buffalo charged us! I mean really and truly charged us. Kids all screamed at Matt to Go, Go, Go! We got a ways up the road and slowed down only to be charged yet again. Certainly got my adrenalin pumping!
Then we came across two cheetah by the waterhole that we had walked by the previous day. They are so stunning.
Double rainbow during sundowners
New Year’s Eve sundowners
Feeding the go-away birds
Mt. Kenya
It was a great safari and a nice way to end 2013 and begin 2014. I’m happy to have this past year behind us, but it also makes me very sad to start a new year without Mike. I wish he was able to come and see some of Africa with us, but Tierney assures me that he sees it now.
Best wishes for the new year.
No comments:
Post a Comment