Tsavo - Silent T

Yesterday we docked in Mombasa, Kenya.  I was supposed to be on duty but my Cruise Director (Willie Aames) sent me on a safari instead.  I had a pretty miserable few days around Christmas, so he figured it was the best way for me to clear my head.  He was right.  Our trip was amazing!

We left the port in Mombasa at 8:00 in the morning and drove an hour and forty minutes towards Tsavo East National Park.  The roads were very bumpy as we went through the heart of Kenya.  The villages along the roads are comprised of shacks with tin roofs serving as houses, and stands made of branches and tarp which sold food, clothing, and other products.  The people were dressed in the type of traditional garb you would imagine.  Some of the women were dressed up for special occasions, and that fashion was reminiscent of the 1980s: stiff satin fabrics, big shoulders, peplum waists with large bows attached.  The children along the sides of the road were the happiest children I’ve ever seen.  They waived and shouted to us in our buses and vans, delighted that we were even passing through.

The artwork and carpentry we saw at the curio shop prior to boarding our safari vehicles was fascinating.  Intricate wildlife scenes were carved all from one piece of wood.  The stone figurines were made using rock from Mount Kilimanjaro, which we could see on our drive.

After our souvenir stop we boarded smaller vans with open roofs for our drive through Tsavo.  I joined 5 guests, including Kathy, Joe, and Phil whom I knew previously from activities around the ship.  The first 45 minutes was very slow in regards to wildlife spotting.  Not even the birds seemed to be flying.  But the scenery was still marvelous to see: the mountains in the background, plenty of indigenous trees and bushes, the vibrant red Earth. 

See the Mountain Lizard blend in with the dirt:

Then, slowly but surely, the animals started to appear, first seeing this Tsessbe and giant ostrich:

Next up, our driver Ali drove like a wild man to the place where another group had spotted a lioness.  She was asleep by the time we got there, but at least we could now say we saw a lion:

Next we came across herds of Impala and their species-confused Zebra friend:

We got to a watering hole just as the hippo there chose to hide himself in the water. But the elephants in the area sure weren’t shy:

As we headed for our lunch stop we came across a family of baboons:

The whole group reconvened for lunch at Ashnil Aruba lodge, a beautiful hotel in the middle of the reserve.  There was a wide buffet selection of both classic dishes and local cuisine.  I went with a local lentil soup and meat with peas dish.  Both were pretty tasty.  After eating, we all re-boarded our respective vans and continued the adventure:

During lunch, our Zebra friend found his pack:

And then we got to see some giraffes!

The waterbuck and gazelle weren’t afraid to pose for us:

As the safari wound to a close, we came across a family of Velvet Monkeys in a tree.  After our stop for pictures, these monkeys ran alongside our van all the way to the exit!

The rain held out just long enough, and started after we began our drive back to the ship.  It was a long one, but after an exhausting day I fell asleep for most of the ride.  We arrived back at the port at 6:15pm.  What a day!

I have the most amazing job.  I am so thankful to be able to do what I love AND see the world at the same time.  After yesterday, my head is back in the game.  I’ve been reminded how fortunate I am for this opportunity, and that even while I’m away from home, I’m surrounded by people who care about and support me.  I could not be more blessed.