Monday, October 6, 2008

trip from Mt. Kenya to Samburu in the North
















There was no night alert for the animals I had designated so while this was a very interesting rain forest site, we didn’t see many animals. It would be a very good place to hike from on one of their organized hikes.
After a very good breakfast we headed around the mountain and North across the equator to Samburu and the Intrepids tent lodge. Part of the road was very good but then there was more road construction and very rough pavement. We stopped a couple of times for rest and to fill the tires with air. It took several stops to find a gas station with a air supply that worked. When we stopped for a rest stop it was always at some type of souvenir shop. I believe that our driver was paid off. I did find some things I liked. There was always a lot of bargaining and for on transcatrion I was able to get a reduced price by throwing in a Red Socks tea shirt.

Our new Lodge was very interesting. It is on the banks of the brown (really brown) river and consists of some wooden buildings that while rustic are elegant and rooms that are a type of tent. They have a wood base and roof with wooden pillars connecting the two. There is a tent built inside the structure that provides the walls. In the back is a ceramic area that houses the shower, sinks and toilet in separate areas. It s very nicely done. The main part of the tent contains two poster beds with mosquito netting hanging down the sides. The front has a screen portion and a tent portion. To get in you must unzip both and tie the sippers at the bottom when leaving to keep the monkeys out.

After getting our rooms we went on a game drive in which we saw a mother and to cheetah (?) cubs on the hunt. Later we followed a couple of lions around but they didn’t seem hungry at the time. There was other wildlife such as giraffes, impalas, long necked gerounds (?), baboons, and many birds.

In the evening there was a talk by a Sanboro naturalist, Francis, about tribal culture that was excellent. The was followed by an elegant dinner in the tented dining room.

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