Up early this morning for our flight to Samburu in northern Kenya. Security is amazingly tight in Nairobi-much tighter than the security Israel. Last night when we got to the hotel security personnel checked the car. Then to go into the hotel our bags went through a metal detector like at the airport and we had to walk through one. Our driver told us it is like that at every public building – hotels, shopping malls, even grocery stores. When we arrived at the little airport for our flight, all of the security was repeated. And again leaving the airport waiting area-where we had already gone through security-we had to go through security again. As in Israel, I am made aware of freedoms I take for granted — in this case the freedom to move around freely.
But no worries, we are leaving Nairobi and going to the safety of the wild lions in Samburu!
Everyone we have come into contact with has been so nice. Last night when we got in we could not find the person who was supposed to pick us up. My supposed international phone I brought with me would not work. A wonderfully kind Kenyan woman saw our distress and used her phone to call for us. She stayed with us until we found our driver. Everyone we have met has been open and very kind.
After a one hour flight up to the desert with mountains I the distance we were met by a friendly Maasai warrior who drove us two hours to our lodge. We drive through Samburu National Reserve and Westgate Conservancy. Our first animal was an endangered Grevys Zebra! We saw so many animals on our drive. All 5 of the Samburu Big 5 (animals found only here in Kenya)–Grevys zebra, reticulated giraffe, Somali ostrich (neck is blue), Beisa oryx and gerenuk antelope (called giraffe antelope because of its long neck). We got very close to a female cheetah and her two cubs who we learned later is the only cheetah in the area. I’m only naming a few of the animals we saw.
We are staying in a tent. Literally. However is it so luxurious we don’t want to leave. The tent flaps are closed at nite but the bathroom is open to any and all visitors of the animal variety. We aren’t allowed to walk alone after dark. A Kenyan army soldier with an automatic weapons just escorted us to dinner.
We got here in time for lunch and then Shivani Bhalla, the lion expert, came over to meet us. We spent about four hours with her getting to know her.
Shivani took us to her camp. It is truly a camp. She lives in a tent that is smaller than the one many take camping. Maasai warriors share several tents and there is another that serves as office and dining area.
She is doing amazing work and is so down to earth and personable. Most impressive is the work she is doing with the local Maasai community. She is easy to talk to and to ask anything – about lions or what is it like being the only woman in a camp with five or so Maasai warriors, no running water and no electricity. We are the only ones with her this week and she is devoting all her time to is. This is more than I dreamed of! This is already more of an experience than I hoped it could be. She has ideas for us but is open to whatever we want to do.
Shivani is picking us up at 6 am to find LIONS and she invited us to have dinner our last night here with her and her team at her camp.
We are two very happy women tonite. I’m so excited I may not sleep !
Looking Out Seeing Within 