Kenya Safari November 2008

Thought I would write a few lines about our recent trip to Kenya as we got to see Kili face to face for the first time there. I have posted some pics on the right hand side in a slideshow. This trip was not our first African adventure. We were in South Africa in May/June 2008, my husband having been there several times before recently working on some sports projects there. I back packed round West Africa some years ago but neither of us really knew what to expect from Kenya. I have to say that Mombasa reminded me of Freetown, Sierra Leone, especially the port with the ferry ride across the water - just like the Lunghi ferry! As did all the smiling faces and the warm welcomes (although I went to Sierra Leone before the civil war, I hope the people there have not lost their happy disposition).

We had a great time. We went on safari for 5 days in the Tsavo East and West parks, where Ahmed our driver did his best to get us to see as much wildlife as possible. We saw:

• Lionesses - no males unfortunately but the females were just a couple of feet from us
• Hippos
• A herd of Water Buffalo - 1000's of them! amazing!
• Giraffes
• Elephants
• Crocodiles
• Zebra
• Heartbeast
• Impala
• Gazelle
• Baboons

and a whole lot more. We didn't see Leopard, Cheetah or Rhino, but we have to have something to see when we return - and we want to do big cats in the Masai Mara.The roads were something of an eyeopener - I will never complain about our roads here in the UK again! I can only wonder at what the Mombasa - Nairobi road was like before it was upgraded!

We chilled out on the coast south of Mombasa at the Pinewood Village Resort at Ukunda before and after our safari. Pinewood is just the most ideal place to relax and unwind, where you do as much or as little as you want in the most beautiful and peaceful surroundings well away from all the other tourist beach resorts. The rare Colobus monkeys living in the tree alongside our balcony were a delight to watch each day.