Safari 5

things can go wrong and still be fun. got up at 6 to go for the early morning safari ride. first it turns out that the guide we had earlier did not appear to take as anywhere(as I expected as N. did confirm his arrival) then the plan b of following other safari tour vehichles back-fires as N. takes the long call just as other leave, and I spot that we have a puncture. wish that could have spotted that already yesterday, but did not despite of walking past the car. changing the tyre takes ages, first there is difficulties with one of the bolts of the wheel, and the jack refuses to cooperate and we need to find somebody to help us. turns out that we just had wrong spot with the jack, but by the time the tire is changed, the best period for checking out the savanna has passed and we go for a breakfast instead. after breakfast we head for the sekenani village/gate for the repair of the tire as N. is not willing to have safari without the spare. in the sekenani village we get the tyre fixed, while the masai pester me with requests of trinket sales and donations from 1000 shillings to a pen. once the tyre is fixed we head for another of the lodges for diesel and finally after lunch head for the safari of our. this turns out to be fantastic idea, as we first encounter elephants, which scare N to flee, until I manage convince him that the elephants are not serious threat to his baby, toyota prado. this very close encounter leaves me in good mood and the herd of buffaloes we encountered lifts my spririts further. this time the buffalos are not just idling, but also running about and great sight to watch. We head for the Takenani gates, but on the way encounter few girafs and take a detour for them, which ultimately leaves as stranded in a middle of a muddy ditch. The 2 ton 4wheel drive car is stuck in mud in the middle of a national park, where getting out of the car is forbidded and we are do not know exactly where we are located. We are close to bush, so leopard could jump on us anytime. then what do you do??? well I have a go and try to push as out, but the right front wheel just digs in deeper…we are somewhat of the main road and during the middle of the day, many cars do not pass by. N. tries to wave to us by standing on the hood, but no avail. We manage to get a call through to the N’s cousin and ask for the park service to get as out. Another car passes by and I decide stand on the top of the car and wave at the white rag given by N. and finally we are noticed, about 10 kenian guys come to out help and with lot pushing, pulling and twigs we are able to get the car out of the mud. Victory!!!!!!!

the afternoon safari is not as nice as we only see the same elephants and buffaloes we saw earlier and a single bachelor lion. However, back at the lodge crocodiles are feeding on fish and the scraps tempt several cats to close distance from the crock. Eventually, the inevitable happens and one the cats is eaten by one of the crocodiles. You would not see that in Finland!