MOMBASA, KENYA
We’ve arrived in the huge ‘dark 
continent’ of Africa! Our first two days were spent on a wonderful photo safari in a game reserve called the Taita Hills. We were picked up at the ship in our 6 passenger safari van and proceeded through the Mombasa countryside for 4 hours to our lodge. For about 2/3 of the trip, the road was a good paved, asphalt surface, but after that it was a packed dirt, dusty, washboard road. We passed through many villages, which consisted of small huts with thatched roofs or shacks with corrugated tin 
roofs, similar to, but a step or two above those we saw in the slums of Mumbai. We later learned that the average income of Africans is 65 cents a day or up to $800 a year!
We loved our safari in spite of the bumps and bruises and the 2 hour rain! Unfortunately we didn't see any cats -- only one of our 8 vehicles saw a single lion -- but there were lots of other animals. We saw an unusually large herd of elephants - about 100 of them! and they were all brown .... the soil is very red in the park we were in and they rolled in it and had dust baths so changed color! It was a little weird at first, but we soon
got used to it. We saw lots of hardebeestes, impalas, cape buffalo, zebras, some ostrich, giraffes, a gazelle, a couple of warthogs, baboons, w
aterbucks and dik-diks, and lots of pretty birds. We stayed overnight and got up for a 6:30 a.m. game run and then had a bush breakfast on top of a hill with a gorgeous view of the whole park! The only thing missing was champagne! We're looking forward to a 2 hour evening game drive in Richards Bay next week. What a great trip this has been -- lots of exciting "firsts" ...
The natives in this part of Kenya were the Maasai, who are nomad
cattle herders. They build their villages in a circle, putting their herds in the middle to protect them overnight and they basically have little money and trade for what they need. They, along with other natives, were on the pier, each with their small stall about 6 feet wide, on the ground. They offered dozens of carvings, jewelry, bowls and other handicrafts -- most were identical to their neighbor’s -- and were very friendly, but persistent and shrewd bargainers! It was fascinating to deal with them -- they all wanted pens or t-shirts, and would peer into our tote bags to see wh
at they could barter for. The crew members traded their old, worn out sneakers and shoes, and even some fried chicken, for carvings! The ship gave them water and leftover stew from the crew’s dinner. I gave them the gold foil wrapped chocolates we get every night, and they loved them! They each had a scrap of paper that they’d use for their bargaining -- they’d write down their first asking price, then our response and so on until we’d reached an agreement. What a fun experience! We certainly have many memories, in addition to the tangible souvenirs of our stay.
We’ve arrived in the huge ‘dark 
continent’ of Africa! Our first two days were spent on a wonderful photo safari in a game reserve called the Taita Hills. We were picked up at the ship in our 6 passenger safari van and proceeded through the Mombasa countryside for 4 hours to our lodge. For about 2/3 of the trip, the road was a good paved, asphalt surface, but after that it was a packed dirt, dusty, washboard road. We passed through many villages, which consisted of small huts with thatched roofs or shacks with corrugated tin 
roofs, similar to, but a step or two above those we saw in the slums of Mumbai. We later learned that the average income of Africans is 65 cents a day or up to $800 a year!We loved our safari in spite of the bumps and bruises and the 2 hour rain! Unfortunately we didn't see any cats -- only one of our 8 vehicles saw a single lion -- but there were lots of other animals. We saw an unusually large herd of elephants - about 100 of them! and they were all brown .... the soil is very red in the park we were in and they rolled in it and had dust baths so changed color! It was a little weird at first, but we soon
got used to it. We saw lots of hardebeestes, impalas, cape buffalo, zebras, some ostrich, giraffes, a gazelle, a couple of warthogs, baboons, w
aterbucks and dik-diks, and lots of pretty birds. We stayed overnight and got up for a 6:30 a.m. game run and then had a bush breakfast on top of a hill with a gorgeous view of the whole park! The only thing missing was champagne! We're looking forward to a 2 hour evening game drive in Richards Bay next week. What a great trip this has been -- lots of exciting "firsts" ...The natives in this part of Kenya were the Maasai, who are nomad
cattle herders. They build their villages in a circle, putting their herds in the middle to protect them overnight and they basically have little money and trade for what they need. They, along with other natives, were on the pier, each with their small stall about 6 feet wide, on the ground. They offered dozens of carvings, jewelry, bowls and other handicrafts -- most were identical to their neighbor’s -- and were very friendly, but persistent and shrewd bargainers! It was fascinating to deal with them -- they all wanted pens or t-shirts, and would peer into our tote bags to see wh
at they could barter for. The crew members traded their old, worn out sneakers and shoes, and even some fried chicken, for carvings! The ship gave them water and leftover stew from the crew’s dinner. I gave them the gold foil wrapped chocolates we get every night, and they loved them! They each had a scrap of paper that they’d use for their bargaining -- they’d write down their first asking price, then our response and so on until we’d reached an agreement. What a fun experience! We certainly have many memories, in addition to the tangible souvenirs of our stay.
Great post and great information about your safari to Taita hills. I guess the people were also friendly and the whole safari was supper. I also look forward to be there before the year ends. Guess what I like the picture which the person is carrying the giraffe carving. Amasing
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