Extreme Safari

So, after several days in Nairobi, we finally decided that we couldn't come all the way to Kenya and not go on a safari, which, by the way, is a swahili word which means a voyage. Even if it was going to cost a fortune. (Yes, even budget safaris are expensive) I must confess, I really wasn't sure what to expect: I sort of had visions of sipping wine with lots of English people in their safari outfits at the lodge. Or bumping into Robert Redford. Not quite.
The most dangerous part of the safari was just getting there. The road to the Masai Mara Reserve is so full of potholes, it makes roads in Montreal look good. Some parts are paved, some are not. Now, officially, you drive on the left in Kenya. But I tell you, we spent as much time on the right hand side or off the road completely as we did on the left hand side. Anything to avoid the potholes. At first I was sitting beside the driver but after about two hours I couldn't stand it anymore. It's just better not to see the truck that is heading straight at you. We finally made it to the park after only one flat tire.

So what is a safari? Well you drive around in what looks like a mini-van with a roof that pops up so you can stand up and look out. And you drive and you drive and you drive while scrutinizing the surroundings in the hopes of spotting game. And then you stop. And 5 other vans rush over to see what you have found. And eveyone pulls out their cameras and starts clicking. The only Japanese people I've seen in Kenya were behind two foot zoom lenses standing in their vans.

Now, that said, we absolutely loved it. We saw thousands of animals: zebras, wildebeest, lions, elephants, buffalos, gazelles, impalas, topis, hippos, giraffes, ostriches, hyenas, wart hogs, and, best of all, a cheetah with four cubs. We didn't spot any leopards or rhinocerouses (spelling?): apparently they are difficult to find. It really is amazing to see these animals out in the savannah, seemingly oblivious to all the humans around them.

Our accomodations were very basic: no wine sipping, no Robert Redford. We slept in a canvas tent and drank beer. But, we did get the chance to meet a true Masai. In fact, he was our cook for three days. On the way back to Nairobi, we stopped to visit his village, and truly, I think this fascinated me more than any of the animals we saw. Many Masai still live in a very traditional manner, in mud huts, called manyattas, without electricity or running water. The men are mostly cow herders, and the women collect firewood, cook, and care for the children. They are very proud of their culture and want to live this way: let me tell you, it adds a whole new meaning to simple living.

Two flat tires later, we finally made it back to the city!