So we managed to get an overnight bus to Mombasa the same day we arrived in Tanga. Arriving at Mombasa at just past midnight, we casually put up in a random bus for the night. Oh how far we’d come! Able to sleep in any environment, in any position, at any time and under any roof (including the tinned roof of a bus!).
Catching yet another bus to Nairobi the next morning, we stayed at the Nairobi Youth Hostel (on Hasith’s recommendation) that night and organised a 3-day safari to the Masai Mara the following day. We unfortunately didn’t go on the same safari as Hasith and friends as we found a less expensive option from the tour operators at the hostel (and it turned out that John and I had the pleasure of having our own private safari). We met Hasith, Bridget and Yu-Ching in Nairobi nonetheless and also bumped into them several times at the Masai Mara.
The Masai Mara was amazing. We spotted the elusive leopard (completing our Big Five “hunt”) and hippopotamus, as well as many many wildebeest, and were simply taken by the beautiful Masai Mara (also the Serengeti from the Tanzanian side). While on safari, we also partook in traditional Masai dancing at our campsite and visited a Masai Mara village nearby.
After our safari, it was back to Nairobi for a night (and some last minute souvenir shopping), before heading back down to Tanzania to tackle the mighty Mt Kilimanjaro. (Just as a side note, Nairobi was really cool – just a massive city plonked right in the middle of Africa. I could certainly come back and live there.)
A lesson in Human Biology by some salesperson on the bus to Nairobi, evidently selling a miracle cure that will cleanse your kidneys and bowels! (Or so we figured).
Those enterprising Africans, out to make some money.
The Great Rift Valley
The Masai Mara
African buffalo (also one of the Big Five)
Spot the happy couple
Yes, we were that close!
Vultures devouring a wildebeest carcass
Lions copulating (tsk, tsk)
Ahhh, Africa…
Watch out!
Finally! Hippos!!
Seven countries later, we finally see hippos.
Guard with AK-47 protecting us from the hungry, hungry hippos
Typical shot of giraffes underneath an acacia tree. Ahhh, Africa…
Migration south to the Serengeti
John is in Kenya, me, Tanzania
Looked who we bumped into! What an unusual species…
At the Masai Mara village
Dance with a lot of jumping
November 2, 2008 at 11:43 pm |
I feel that I should point out that Bhav feel asleep at one point!