Friday, 28 August 2015

TWIGA LODGE

Twiga Lodge Camping site will be our camp for tonight.
This is true Masai world. Along the road we saw groups of young Masai men, in their initiation GEAR. Faces painted and all in black Masai blankets with spears. Cant understand what they're doing at the ROADSIDE?? Aren't they suppose to be in the felt, to nobody's eyes???




Twiga Camp Site a very neat and well organized camp with a sparkling clean swimming pool.
Soon Franky the driver of the Land Cruiser arrived with his group:Flip, Nadia, Anton and Michelle. As always Anton lifted the spirit and Flip wasn't far behind. Everybody was joining in with teasing each other and lots of laughter.


Victor their chef , Elisme and Joseph got the dinner together:
Rump-steak the best of Tanzania was on the coals with Corn-pie, Carrot, potato's and Leaks  Mash. Victor made an exquisite Avo salad.

Wednesday 18 August:
You could feel the enthusiasm of the group. Still dark - Hans and Joseph got the kettle boiling, just when the Muslim priest started his prayer. That's the time that Elisme starts her prayers to her GOD.

Anton was the first to get out of his 5 star double mattress tent. A little me-time with Elisme.
Breakfast - then the vehicles were packed ready to enter the NGOROGORO  Conservancy. This is now a  chess game to work out the correct time to enter. Everything works on 24 hours and distance is a story. With roads from bad to worse you must know, when to enter and when to leave not to pay another 24 hours?? OR making a mistake by ONE MINUTE you pay ANOTHER 24 hours.
The View Point over the Ngorogoro Crater gives you a clear view on one of natures miracles. A mountain bigger in square kilometers than Kilimanjaro sank away in to the earth. The wonder is that the top stayed unspoiled, natural running fountains, lakes and then salt lakes with Flamingo's - All in 264 sqm.




The road vines up hill like a snake, the  lushes tropical plants reminds you of Tarzan and Jane -  swinging around here.
You're not allowed to go down the Crater without a guide. This is Hans 5th time, his entrance paper says, "WITHOUT A GUIDE" that saved the group a pretty penny.


A big male lion was laying on an anthill as if he was just waiting for us to see why he is the KING of the bush. "Simba" as he is called in Swahili.

Here you can see hundreds of Zebra, Blue-wildebeest, Thomson Gazelle and Grant gazelle. 


















Simba Camp - no surprise, after 15 years no changes made. Their facility's needs an upgrade, they're building new once for more than a year.

Anton, Michelle, Flip and Nadia's tents were waiting for them and a Masai Table with coffee and  hot Chocolate. That spells out the temperature drop.
With all our woollies outfits we were ready to face the Chilly night. 

An Elephant came to welcome us at the closes tree to our vehicles. That was just what Chris needed after loosing his cellphone, somewhere. 
Early morning rise to depart at 7:00 to get to the Serengeti gate within our 24 hours. Hans, Chris and Wimcar left first. Franky and Victor were still packing.
Corrugations and more corrugation between us and the 85 km to the gate.

We've made it....now the long 3 hour wait!

 







EQUATOR HOTEL

EQUATOR HOTEL:
We are waiting for Anton, Michelle, Flip and Nadia to join us.

                                            Our view from our room at Equator Hotel


Flip and Nadia arrived last night. What a Night Mare!!
Nadia forgot her suitcase at arrivals.

                                     The taxi took ONE hour from the Airport to the hotel.

                                                                    What to do? ???

                                 Two hours later - 22:00 they were back at the hotel, with her suitcase.






                                                         Finally - Anton and Michelle arrived
 
Joseph was so happy to see everybody !!


Equator Hotel - with a Bear in the hand, Hans with his maps and everybody's attention. Hans briefed Anton, Michelle, Flip and Nadia..
 
                          Hans present the rest of the group with their Safari waist coat












Tuesday, 18 August 2015

MASAI MARA



Masai Mara.
Everybody was ready at 5:00 am on Hans's request. He wants to get out of Nairobi before the morning rush. Coffee was served by Tertia, Johan and Sarel. Their hospitality had no limits!
Big, big thanks to them. We've made life time friends.

A horrific road down the RIF Vally, truck after truck, from all sides. After 70 km -  the nightmare was over. Narock is the Safari get together of Kenya.
Sekenani Gate was our next GPS setting. To get their we had to face a dirt road which has its MASTERS DEGREE in CORRUGATIONS. 
Mara Gate looks like Commissioner Street in Johannesburg.
          

3 Nights of living with the Gnu's at 2700$ and 2 Masai guards at 4000 shillings per night, a pretty penny - so it must be worth while.



Serena Lodge impressed us all. This Architect really knew what he was doing. Everything is an open plan with each table a private feeling. 

     



                   Topi on a hill - our first sighting. Adding to the list of Wimcar first seen photo...
Eluai Campsite was a perfect setting. Awesome view over the plains. Stones and small bushes surrounded us.
Dark clouds were visible on the horizon. The Boys parked the vehicles close to each other, to form a shelter with their Awnings.
Joseph's fire was soon burning. Beef curry and rice with cheese cauliflower. Just the right thing for this rainy chilly evening.


8 Lions laying on a Plato, searching in patience for breakfast. This was our first welcome this morning.
Gnu gathering as far as the eye can see. Between  Tanzania and Kenya, running all in the same direction.  Then one change direction, everyone follows. These once did the crossing and they survived.

Vulture' flying high in the air, giving away the place of their newly found food bin.
As Wimcar puts it. "DIS SALIG" the circle of life. 



Evidence of those Gnu not so lucky to cross alive. Now they became a weeks meal to some birds, fishes like  the Barbers, Crocodiles and Hippo's enjoy it to. They must think it Christmas this feast.




Not even the Crocodile could prevent the Marabou's  from taking part in this feast.


The disgusting smell was enough to chase us away!



Look Out Hill - you have a view of the Masai Mara Park. As Wimcar puts it, he doesn't think he has EVER seen such a beautiful landscape.

The next morning you could feel the excitement in the air. As we drove from Serena Lodge towards The Mara River, all game viewing vehicles were speeding at 50 km/p hour. Towards the same GOAL - to see some of the THOUSANDS of Gnu CROSSING the Mara.



 Parked on the hill with a view on the Wildebeest gathering. Coming to the river and then just not enough carriage to jump. Turn round and walk back with all his followers.
Patience  is a virtue!!!!

This continued for hours.... 

Hans sixth sense with nature and very good skills out of his career got him moving, just to the left on the Mara, a Land Rover putting his vehicle in second and speeding.
Only 3 vehicles and us of the 20,  MADE IT!
Julia very excited said, " they're getting out of their cars"    

We Broke all the Park rules!

Viewing the crossing on the banks of the Mara.
Feeling the a ancientness of the Gnu. Our little group of human-beans emotions were heard by, " come on just 2 more meters" then spontaneous clapping of hands when., they made it.

As Julia describe it, this I don't need to see again. As the heads of those who don't make it, comes up for the last time. Then their bodies slowly drift along the Mara. To complete the circle of nature.
Thunder and lightning was spelling out our last evening in the Masai.  Mara. Rain came down in buckets. Creamy Chicken in a cheese sauce, steaming hot was just what the   Doctor  subscribed  for us.
As thousands of Wildebeest wave us GOODBYE we say our last fair-well to the Masai Mara.
Memories will stay with us.
Thank you GOD for sharing your beautiful creation with us.


  OUR SHELTER

Johan, Tertia and Sarel were once again our home of shelter in Nairobi.

Tertia made us a Milk-tart,  Wimcar said its the best he ever tasted, Chris agreed. Nellie and Julia asked for the recipe.

Elisme made a true Italian Lasagne and Julia a Tomato and Cucumber Salsa.

South African Wine and 18 year old Chivas and the party was on.


                                 8000km on the clock and Arusha in Tanzania is in site.


Masai Camp and Equator hotel will be our place of get together with Anton, Michelle, Flip and Nadia. We cant wait to see them.


Serengeti will be our 9 day HIGH -LITE of our SAFARI. We all look forward with excitement. 

NAIROBI



Nairobi's traffic was as always a total nerve wrecking experience. Wimcar describe it as the worst he had ever driven. Johan, Sarel and Tertia from the South African Embassy hosted us. They're true Ambassadors with open hearts and arms to their fellow country mates. We thank them with all our hearts.

 
Samburu  National Game Park will be our next visit. 
This time Johan, Tertia, Sarel, Peter and Elmarie will camp with us.



We crossed the Equator for the first time. For Wimcar, Nellie, Chris, Julia and Joseph it was a FIRST TIME. 

Samburu  had a total different vegetation - no way to look through a bush. This time around the bush was the rule. This one can say, was a home for many lions. They had pride to show themselves to us.





Elephants, Reticulated Giraffes, Gravy's Zebras, and many small antelop were around and visible to the eye.





Bird life was in abundance. Martial eagle, Fish Eagle, Brown snake eagle. The Spectacular Weaver ( you only see them in Kenya and Ethiopia). Buffalo white breast Weaver. Seeing them was SPECTACULAR for us.   



                                                            Martial Eagle in flight

         Brown snake eagle
                                                       Buffalo White Breast Weaver

 
A very windy weekend and a baboon and monkey war. They even open the tap themselves to help them to water. Maybe Heinecke Meyer must come and get some of these Baboons. They are so accurate, grab what every their eyes see in seconds. Nothing could make the Park less memorable for us.

10 August: Women's Day 
Monday morning after an excellent Lion viewing, we took the horrific road back to Nairobi.
 



             Tomorrow we will leave for Masai Mara, we hope to see the Migration Crossing there.