Blog January 2010

... and it even rains in paradise, so decided to drag myself from under the sunshade which was acting as an umbrella to return ‘to the digs’ as Dad calls it, in order to blog.

It‘s been a great few days ... such a contrast to our tip to Masai Mara for safari and yet both holidays wonderful in their own way.

The setting of the camp in the Mara on the river was stunning and the luxury tents were something to behold. The problem was the weather – now I do not wish to compare it to anything like there has been in UK with tons of snow and -18deg C BUT the prolonged rains had created very muddy off road conditions and I was extremely concerned for our drive home. While we were there the river rose about 2 metres and the mud got muddier and more slippery. On our arrival at the first fuel station on the tar road we looked like we had been doing some serious rally driving and at times when we broadsided into a 180deg spin it certainly felt like it – Luke broke the tension with ‘COOL!!” shouted from the rear of the car!

We saw wonderful animals – we had a 360deg (why is there no degree button on my computer?!) panorama of plains game – literally 100s of animals – wildebeest, zebra, buffalo, topi, thomson gazelle, impala, jackal. The 2^nd trip out in the rain brought 3 lionesses and a stunning male – such a majestic and handsome creature.

Back to reality we were brought horrific news of a school staff member and young daughter being charged by an elephant and killed over the break near Mt Kenya. Just days earlier Steve and Anna had been on a walking safari in the Mara – I have decided that no longer is it worth the risk – this is the 2^nd person known to us in our decade living in Africa who has died at the hands of an elephant – vehicles only from now on.

... and so back to the beach where it is still raining! It’s been a lovely holiday. The hotel is located on a palm fringed beach, with azure blue sea and white tropical sand. There is something for all ages here from babies to pensioners.

Luke has taken a basic SCUBA qualification and will upgrade to PADI at a later date. They have all been off diving together. I went snorkeling on the reef with a friend and saw stunning coral and fish. I swam over a shoal of zebra fish and watched a crustacean peeping out of its hole in the reef.

.... time to finish and pack up ready to head back to Nairobi in the morning. Hoping to take fresh fish to eat at Anna’s birthday dinner on Monday.....