Friday 10-24-08 The Final Day

Jambo from Mara Intrepids

His has arrived :-( our final day on safari. It has gone by so fast, and we have seen some incredible things and I am sure the memories will stay with me the rest of my life. BUT WAIT! There is still another morning and afternoon game drive so let's get to it!!

The Cheetah's of yesterday were amazing and we were thinking, how could it be better, but to our surprise it could. We found the mother Cheetah with the young cubs again and they were right by the road having breakfast of a Thompson Gazelle that mom had caught in the pre dawn hours. We had a small rain shower overnight so the grass was a little wet and the ground was a little muddy but that did not stop the cubs from playing and rolling around in the mud. They were having the time of their lives running, rolling and sliding in the mud. 

We stayed there the entire morning and I believe I shot nearly 500 images of the cubs. The youngsters were running under our rovers and stopping to look up at us looking out the windows at them. They would climb up the tires and sit in the wheel wells and look out at us. You just wanted to pick one of them up and take it home with you.

As we headed back to camp for lunch we were somewhat saddened with the realization that we had come to the last drive of the safari. If the afternoon drive held nothing for us that would have been OK because the things we saw up to this point have been amazing. Just when you thought it could not get any better that what had seen the safari gods smiled on us one more time with more Cheetah cubs, this time they were dry. We needed go not further because the images that unfolded in front of us were simple unforgettable. The love that is shown between the cubs and there mother compares to what you feel for your children you could see the affection in the actions of the cubs  as they snuggled with their mother and safety she provides.

 I just hope that these cubs can grow up to be the majestic animals that they are and that there will be these cats as well as all the animals around for the generations to come. The experiences that I have been so fortunate to have are a reminder of just how may beautiful and fragile places there are on this planet.

So as I say goodbye to our final Safari I would like to thank all my friends who have followed me on this journey. I look forward to seeing you all in the near future and relay to you all the wonderful times I had.

See you all soon.

Doug off Safari!!

Thursday 10-23-08 Countdown to the End

Habari za jioni

(good evening)

Thursday begins with the realization of just 4 more game drives before we are heading back to the USA. With mixed emotions we head out for our early morning game drive at 6 am with the anticipation of what we have in store for us today.

We were still looking for the Cheetah with small cubs and, yes you are right, we found them. We found the mother lying on a small patch of bard ground and partially hidden in the grass were 3 adorable Cheetah cubs that could have only been weeks old. They were cuddled up in a little ball to keep themselves warm in the cool morning air. We decided to wait them out so we stayed there for at least an hour and finally the cubs started to get up and play around wrestling with each other and mom.

It was a treat to see them running around and exploring there new world. In this area we were only allowed to stay on the roads so we had to watch the cubs from a distance but were still able to get good pictures.

Our morning was a success so after another of our buffet lunches and a sort rest to download the morning images we were out for the afternoon to see what else was in store for us. As it turned out it was more Cheetah's, you would think we would be getting tired of all the Cheetah's, NAH!!!! 

We found three brothers lounging a termite mound relaxing after a large meal, at least by the size of their bellies that had eaten something, in the afternoon sun. The one brother was on top of the mound posing as a lookout. The storm clouds were building off to the East as the sun was heading for the horizon and the light was getting warmer which made for some really nice light on the Cheetah.

We took our final shots before we headed back to camp for what would be next to last dinner out in the Mara.

Don't leave now there is only one more day

HATA SISI SEMA TENA

(until we speak again)

Doug on Safari

Wednesday 10-22-08 Nearing the end of the Adventure

Jambo:

As I close in on the final days of my African Safari we are still searching for more leopards and of course a Cheetah with small cubs.

We started from our new base camp at the Mara Intrepids in the area known as the upper Mara. This is a vast plains area known for it's abundance of animals including several Leopards and Cheetah's. the early morning started with several grey backed Jackel pups who were very curious and came right up to our rover and tried to climb up and look into the windows.

There was a pride of several lions roaming around looking for their first victim but it seemed all the possible prey knew they were there so they weren't having much luck. In the distance we could see the migrating herds of Wildebeest that had to number in the thousands.

The afternoon game drive started out with a radio call that a leopard had been spotted, no pun intended, so we immediately headed in that direction and were on of the first to arrive to see this beautiful cat stroll through the grass. As luck would have it she climbed up onto a termite mound and just laid down to pose for us. After a few minutes the leopard started calling her cub to her with some low growling sounds and before long the cub was spotted coming through the brush towards the mother.

You can't imagine how many vehicles showed up one the word went out that a leopard had been spotted. It reminded me of the "bear jams" that they have in Yellowstone.

We stayed until the mother and cub let the mound and headed into the brush. At that point we felt we should give the camera's a break since we gave them a workout with the leopard. We headed back to camp for a hot shower and a wonderful dinner.

Two more days adventures to follow. So Stay Tuned

HATA SISI SEMA TENA

(until we speak again)

Doug on Safari

Tuesday 10-21

Only a few more days left!

We left the Mara Serena Lodge, in the Mara Triangle, for our morning game drive with much anticipation of a possible river crossing with hundreds of animals. As the sun was coming up we were treated to a really great sunrise, since it seems that the morning are mostly cloudy this time of year.

Right outside the gate we saw approximately 25 baboons on the ground looking for food with the mothers carrying the babies either on there back or hanging on under their stomach. Hippos were in the river, doing what hippos do, which appears to be showing off by opening their mouths in a display of dominance.

Not long after that we saw our first Cheetah with cubs. There is nothing more cute than a Cheetah cubs face, except maybe a 59 Les Paul with a flame top, Ok just kidding. Now for the gruesome part, now you must remember this is nature it is not my fault, the 2 cheetah cubs were rolling around and chasing each other and just having a fun time when one of the cubs scared up a juvenile Thompson Gazelle and the chase was on. Now keep in mind this is how cubs learn to hunt. They ran around chasing this Gazelle for about 5 to 10 minutes just knocking it down then letting the "Tommy" back up so they could chase it some more. Finally the mother had had enough of the horsing around and killed the Gazelle so the cubs could eat. I will not, however, put any of those pictures on the blog.

That is all for now as i must get some sleep before another game drive in the morning.

Boy this photography is hard work!

Stay tuned

HATA SISI SEMA TEMA

(until we speak again)

Monday 10-21 The Adventure Continues

Habari za jioni

(good evening)

Hope all is well with everyone

The morning game drive started at 6:15 am with slightly overcast skies. Within the first hour the skies were starting to clear with temps in the low 60's

The first of the many animals we encountered was a black rhino, we got a call over the radio, we are in constant touch with the other 4 vehicles so if someone finds something good we can all motor to that location to get some shots, about some lion cubs with there mother, as it turned out, one of the mother lions was relaxing in the morning sund on a huge rock. Not far away was another lion in a bush with 5 newborn, about 2 month old, cubs.

We waited around for the cubs to come out and play but they spent most of there time in the nearby bush. We were able to get a few shots in spite of their shyness.

The afternoon game drive looked as though it may be cut short due to a storm front approaching but we went out anyway to brave the weather to try for the perfect shot. As the clouds were building we were getting some amazing light form the sun through the clouds.

We saw a heard of Impala, no not the Chevy's with great light as the massive storm clouds built up in the background. We also caught a glimpse of 2 golden mained lions relaxing under a tree with amazing light on their faces. The afternoon drive was cut short by the thunderstorm that rolled in so we headed back to the Lodge.

Stay tuned for more

HATA SISI SEMA TENA

(until we speak again)

Doug on Safari

Sunday 10-19 The Adventure Continues

Habari za Jioni

(good evening)

Back Again!

Today is my first hot air balloon ride, but what makes it special is that it is over the Lower Mara.

We got to the launch pad a 6:00 AM for preflight and our instructions on what positions to take upon landing so that no one gets hurt but it was all for nothing because we had very light winds so the landing was just like stepping out of your car, when it is stopped of course,. The lift off was amazing and the views of the wildlife and landscape from the air was breathtaking. After touchdown we were treated to a champagne breakfast, man it is rough out here, out in the Mara under a huge Acacia tree that earlier in the morning had a Leopard sleeping in it, but unfortunately he was gone.

After breakfast we continued on with our morning game drive and as expected saw more Lions and huge herds of migrating animals. We had lunch and relaxed for a couple of hours before our evening game drive. The evening game drives differ from the AM drives in the respect that the animals like Lions and Leopards usually rest or sleep during the hot part of the day and as the sun begins to set the predators begin to stir.

We saw some amazing things not the least of which was a huge, I would guess at least 4,000 lbs, hippo grazing in a field with, really no water in sight, when we noticed in the grass 3 male lions stalking this hippo. We thought this would be incredible photographs if we could witness this attack. After a few minutes of re-positioning themselves I think the Lions thought better than to try and take on this monster and the hippo went on to graze on the grasses. I don't think 3 Lions could have brought down that hippo anyway.

We thought that was the highlight of the day and started back to the Lodge, since it was getting dark, when our driver David spotted something in a tree by a stream. As we got closer, there it was, my first wild Leopard sighting in the wild, see the attached photo for proof, (no picture no fish). Leopards are simply beautiful animals and that was definitely, for me anyway, the highlight of the trip so far but according to others who have been here before the best is yet to come. So stay tuned

HATA SISI SEMA TENA

(until we speak again)

Doug on Safari

Saturday 10-18 The Adventure Continues

Jambo, 

We survived the 6 hour drive the Keekorock Lodge in spite of the roads, man are they bad, so bad that we had a flat tire in the middle of nowhere and as we were changing the tire all of a sudden 4 little Masi children just seemed to appear out of nowhere. When I say we were in the middle of nowhere there was not a soul to be seen for miles and yet these barefoot kids seemed to appear out of thin air. Unbelievable that someone could walk on that ground barefoot.!!!

Our first game drive in the Mara was nothing short of spectacular right off the bat we saw 2 female lions with 5 cubs that were no more than 1 or 2 months old. On the cute scale they were off the charts!! We started to see huge herds of Zebra, Impala, Elephants on of gourse Gnu (or Wildegeest) across the planes of the Lower Mara.

We saw multiple beautiful birds including, again my favorite, the Lilac Breasted Roller of which I will attache a picture. We were told not to venture out of our cabins alone at night because there are no fences and the animals are free to wander around. This proved to be true when we saw 2 hippos eating grass not too far from our cabin. Need to download todays photos, only 340, so that will be all for now.

HATA SISI SEMA TENA

(until we speak again)

Doug on Safari

Friday 10-17 The Adventure Continues

Habari za jioni

(good evening)

Hope this finds all my friends well!

We had an early morning game drive at Lake Nakuru before heading south to the Lower Mara. As we drove away from the hotel we were on the lookout for Leopards but had no luck. We did however see our first Black Rhino, not to be confused with the White Rhino, which are more common.

Lake Nakuru, as I said, is home to nearly a thousand pink Flamingo's and hundreds of other birds including Pelican's. We spent the morning photographing the Flamingo's, Cape Buffalo, Rothchild Giraffe's plus many more animals. The numbers of Flamingo's is amazing, so much so, that the lake looks totally pink with birds.

After a short lunch it was on the road to the Lower Mara and the final week of our safari where we hope to be treated to the wonders of the Masi Mara.

That is all for now, more to follow

HATA SISI SEMA TENA

(until we speak again)

Doug on Safari

Thursday 10-16 The Adventure Continues

Jambo

Our last morning at Samburu then it is off to Lake Nakuru which in located in the heart of the Riff Valley. This is the home to thousands of pink Flamingos and a varitiy of other animals.

We arrived at the lodge after lunch in time to check in and get ready for an afternoon game drive.

We headed for the lake and the Flamingos while always keeping a lookout in the trees for the elusive Leopard but we were treated to something they had never seen in Nakuru, a large male Lion sleeping in a portion of the tree that had broken off and was on an angle to the ground.

We stayed with the lion for quite waiting for it to wake up and it finally did, boy was that a big lion, it walked down the tree limb and walked between our vehicles and onto another fallen tree. Very Cool!

We finally headed for the Flamingos after the Lion but the light was fading fast so we were going to have to come back in the morning.

HATA SISA SEMA TEMA

(until we speak again) 

Doug on Safari

Wed 10-15

Jambo from Samburu

Another day at Samburu lodge started with an early morning game drive at 6:00 am. We are served coffee or tea with our wake up call, not bad for roughing it!! Our breakfast is taken with us in the vehicles since we leave so early. We try to get the early morning light and eat when the action slows.

On todays safari we saw our first Cape Buffalo, they always seem to look pissed and I think they are, Grevy's Zebra's, Gerinuk (which are small antelope) plus many more elephants. I also got to see my first Lilac Breasted Roller a very beautiful bird.

We made a visit to a Samburu native village, I have included a picture it's me in the hat, to see how the villagers live and also to buy stuff. The villagers performed dances and the Samburu warriors did there native dances. The huts they live in are, basically in the middle of the flat land surrounded by stick fences to keep the wild animals out, made out of sticks with cow dung, yes poop, for insulation on the walls with thatch roofs and dirt floors, however, they do sleep on cow hide for a mattress. Wow comfee!!

That is all for now

HAZA SISI SEMA TEMA

(until we speak again)

Doug on safari, the adventure continues

Tuesday 10-14

Jambo from Samburu: 

Our night in the tents was something to experience. The tents were very nice with wood floors, running water, hot showers nearly all the comforts of home except for the monkeys that would run across the roof of the tent at night.

We headed out on safari this morning to an amazing array of animals from Baboons, Impalas, Giraffe, and herds of Elephants. the varity of animals and the numbers were amazing everywhere you looked there were enormous numbers of animals just roaming around.

The bird life and the varity is like nothing I have ever seen, Jimmy Nace would have a field day. We had a nice sunset in the evening in spite of the clouds building up at sunset. We saw a mother elephant and a juvenile with great light and a rainbow in the background so I have included that photo for your viewing pleasure.

That is all for now

HATA SISA SEMA TENA

(until we speak again)

Doug on Safari

Sunday 10-13

Wow am I behind, I finally got internet service, unfortunately it was after we arrived back in Nairobi. So here goes the catch up on what has been a wonderful trip.

We left Nairobi for the 5 to 6 hour journey to our first camp Samburu Serena which is a tented camp. Driving out of Nairobi to the rural areas we got to see what I a. m sure most of Africa is like.

There were numerous small villages where the people lived in virtual shacks, we sure better consider ourselves very lucky compared so some parts of the world, they had roadside markets with various fruits and vegetables for sale. There were people riding bicycles carrying, and I am not kidding, couches on the back of the bicycle or else stacks of wood that were at least 6 foot high it was amazing to see.

They were putting in, what I learned, was a fiber optic cable along miles of the roadway with many men digging the ditch each man had a pick axe and a shovel

Friday 10-11-08 7:17 am Africa Time

HABARI ZA ASUM BUHI

(good morning)

We arrived at the Nairobi Serena Hotel around 10 pm and checked into our rooms with the greatest of ease. We met two of our safari drivers, David and Patrick, who are very friendly.

In the hotel lounge a band was playing, no not the Nace Bros, but they were very good. They seemed to be playing a blend of African and Regge, but alas no one to dance with, so just had to listen. Had to try the local beer called Tusker, not too bad I am sure Johnny B would like it.

We are off later on today for a tour of the city so I will be back with you tomorrow with further updates from the Samburu National preserve.

I must go now for we will be "roughin' it" this afternoon

HATA SISI SEMA TENA

until we speak again

Doug on Safari

Arriving in Africa

Friday 10/10/08 7:00pm Africa Time

We are nearing our final leg of our flight from Amsterdam to Nairobi as I look out the window I am enjoying my first African Sunset, by myself, from 39000 feet. After nearly 8.5 hours in the air it will be nice to set foot on solid ground.

We should have a full day to relax before we head out to our first base camp in the Samburu National Preserve. The drive should take about 7 to 8 hours with a lunch stop along the way.

HATA SISI SEMA TENA

until we speak again

Doug on Safari

The Journey Begins

10/9/08

Jambo ( Hello in Kiswahili )

We have cleared security and are waiting for our 1st leg to begin. After more than a year of anticipation the journey has begun. We are flying to Detroit where we catch our Northwest flight to Amsterdam, sorry to report there is only a 3 hour layover so there will be no stories to share with the Nace Brothers, (Sorry TJ).

I am not traveling with my normal photographer partner, dang it, but at least I will only have to carry my photo equipment. I will to my best to try and capture some good images that she will be jealous of.

So long for now.

hata sisi sema tena

Journey to the Dark Continent October 2008

This is an initial test blog posting