Kenya and Tanzania September 2008

It's going to take a while to complete a trip report and maybe even longer to finish editing my photos, so this is a pre-report summary of highlights by park. I am still stunned we did it all and saw it all - we were so lucky this time around.

Tsavo East - Kilimajaro; bull elephant having a bit of a tantrum in camp; hirola; cheetah and cubs; Baboon with our coffee (on the same tray!); endless elephants; gerenuks; dinner on the verandah; Mrs K tries to put together the concepts of "suite" amd "bucket shower"; much better camp than you might think.

Tsavo West - Wild dogs; the hippo that keeps time; klipspringers; birds of prey; so many lesser kudu; views and more views; no rhino; the border time forgot; did I say "wild dogs"?

Tarangire - Views from Safari Lodge; tree-climbing lions; lion cubs; the herd of eland that didn't get away; birds and more birds; superb starlings on a carcass; slender or dwarf mongoose, and what is the plural anyway?; photo storage disaster - bring a spare transformer!

Ruaha - Wilderness; elephants and buffalos in camp - great camp; walk in paradise; tiny hippo with pink bootees; Babu our 84-year old companion; PANGOLIN in broad daylight; lions and cheetahs; lunch by the zebra kill; tsetses (lots of); really chased by an elephant at last; dinners under the stars with good company; an education.

Mara - Cheetah kill; tiny little cheetah cubs; larger-sized cheetah cubs; cheetah cubs on vehicles; three overweight cheetah brothers; funny looking cheetah; cheetah outside our tent; wildebeest crossing; zebras outsmarting the crocodiles (almost); leopard hunting - twice; three zorillas; serval; bat-eared foxes; bushbabies; lion cubs; a leopard with cubs; Bella seems sick; Mara Serena is fenced but don't tell the hyena; jackal pups; breakfast (accidently) with lions; truly great camp.

I've no doubt forgotten to include a few things, but Mrs Kimburu has it all written down, so it'll make the trip report when I can decipher her handwriting. Itinerary was

4 nights Satao - Tsavo East
3 nights Ngulia Safari Camp - Tsavo West
3 nights Tarangire Safari Lodge
5 nights Mdonya Old River Camp - Ruaha
1 night Nairobi
3 nights Mara Serena
3 nights Kicheche Bush Camp - Olare Orok (but most drives headed to the Mara)

Best times of all were in Ruaha and at Kicheche Bush Camp, but Tarangire is great, and Satao is an excellent place to stay - if you're an elephant fan, book a week in one of the suites in the dry season and you'll be in heaven.

Back to work....