Welcome home!

Welcome back and looking forward to your report!

Welcome back Joe!

I have just returned a few hrs back from parent-visiting in Manitoba and have been catching up on the threads on Fodors!


I just read your other thread about Renny, that's so cool you had him too! He's incredible! (it's Bwana Jim though, not Bwana Bob - or Inspector Gadget to some...!

Something tells me I am spelling Bwana wrong...

Can't wait to read your blog!

OOps, Bwana Jim. That's right, that's what he said! I hope to have my first post up this weekend.

Joe

First day is posted. Not much other than the first leg of the flight.

noledawg.blogspot.com

That first photo did not look like something you'd see on safari. The lions and roller are more like it. Like you need a countdown clodk to remind you of the big day!

Nope, he wasn't on safari, but you can always find him on warm clothes.

The next post is up!

http://noledawg.blogspot.com

A great start, Joe! Can't wait to read more! Selma is an angel, she just appears where you need her most....

Enjoying your report, thanks!

First full day in Nairobi, now posted....

I like the cast of characters. You can be the Lillian Hellman of trip reports.

Eventually the characters will really flesh out!

New post is up - enjoy.

http://noledawg.blogspot.com/

Wonderful reading, Joe, keep it coming!

One of our gifts was the notebook also - we all used it to pass around to each other to write our names and addresses and comments in for each couple. I plan to keep it to use it for that same purpose each time we go on safari. By the end of the book I will have tons of memories, names and addresses of fellow safari goers!

New post up. Wednesday, September 12th in Amboseli NP.

Joe, you bring back some great memories! Amboseli was a good read, lots of great details. And you speak of such truths - we really are all blessed to have experieinced Africa, as it really is a dream come true. I still can't believe I have been lucky enough to visit Africa three times!

I'm not usually so forward, but I am a naturally curous person - I notice Betsy referred to you as Josey, and now I can't help but wonder male or female? Not that it matters, but just curious?

I agree with you that the wild canines are a delight.

For a split second I thought there was an opportunity to swim with monkeys. I was ready to pack my wetsuit.

The key jingling by the other guide is reprehensible!

Lynda,

Josey is my nickname. Normally Joe. (OK, that doesn't help.)

Male.

Yes, swimming with the monkeys would be out of sight.

Work is taking so much of my time, it takes me forever to get to my next post, but it's coming up.

Finally, a new post!!!!

http://noledawg.blogspot.com

Thanks Joe! A good installment, brought back floods of memory - and Steven, he was our driver too! He was fabulous.

It made me smile what you wrote about Renny, he is such a great guy, I miss him! He was lots of fun to be with.

And I loved the crayon story on the birds - never thought of it that way!

Lynda, Steven was so excited when we made the connection. He grabbed Betsy's hand and gave her a huge hug.

They are so warm and friendly, it was incredible.

Cheetahs were a nice sendoff from Amboseli.

Does Mr. Las Vegas prove himself to be an interesting character?

The "cat-sendoffs" would end up being a theme (think - what would be an even better cat to see as we leave the Serengeti....something hard to find....)

Mr. Las Vegas, interestingly, was not the main attraction. That would be the Winnabego Family. I held back on some of the introductory information regarding these two folks, simply b/c I really didn't want to disparage them. But I'll work in the general idea in the next few installments.

New posting! Enjoy.

http://noledawg.blogspot.com

I've really been enjoying these posts. I received my green bag from Micato last night (am leaving 14 January) so it is starting to seem real!
Jess

Great post, Joe - loved the pictures, it's good to put a face with a name! You and Betsy must have a great relationship, I could imagine what my brother would say to me if I asked him if he wanted to go to Africa with me! He's a real homebody, he's lived in the same small town in Manitoba since 1969 and always shakes his head at my wanderlust spirit.

When we were visiting in Sept and he watched our DVD he said 'yes, very intersting, but if you would have stayed at home instead, you could have bought a home theatre system and watched it on National Geographic'.

Hmmm. Not the same....

I LOVED seeing Renny and Steven in the picture by the way, oh I miss them so much!

Jess -

I'm so excited for you! Have a wonderful, wonderful time. And of course, if you just happen to have Alfred or Renny, tell him Joe and Betsy say hello. And if Joe is your driver in Kenya or Steven in Tanzania, same thing!

Lynda -

Betsy and I travel together a good bit. We've always made good travelling partners, so if schedules and other responsibilities permit, we do it. (Sounds like your brother doesn't 'get it.' That's OK, not everyone does!)

PS - One more simple post now up - Jess, maybe you can ask your guide my question when you get there!

Latest update available...

http://noledawg.blogspot.com

Joe, I just found your trip report and can't wait to read it. I went on the Stanley Wing with my husband and in-laws last February, so we are approaching the 1-year anniversary of our trip. I look forward to reading your report, as I am sure it will bring back many wonderful memories!

Joe - I enjoyed your post so much as usual - a little bitterswet tonight with the post-election turmoil a cloud over my trip. I am hoping - for Kenya's sake and my own - that a truce will somehow be arrived at soon. As of now, I am still intending to leave on January 14.
Interesting question about the agama - an animal I didn't know until you piqued my curiosity. Hope I get to see this colorful creature, and maybe even learn the answer to your question.
Jess

Hausfrau -

It was your blog that inspired me to write this one! I even mentioned that to Renny, when he noticed me writing in my journal on the plane to Tarangire. He remembered both you and Lynda, which was pretty awesome. Also, after reading your blog and seeing your photos, being there was somewhat more familiar (I even mentioned to Betsy on occassion that I recognized a few locations based on your blog). I imagine as I keep going you'll feel the same way, perhaps.

Jess - I really hope you can make it. I think you will. I was pleased to hear that Micato is keeping everyone up to date on the happenings over there. I have no doubt that they will adjust everything accordingly, as necessary.

I wonder how they handled the folks arriving last weekend, during the start of these conflicts?

Hi Joe, I'm quite flattered that my blog inspired yours. I just finished getting caught up on your report and it's bringing back so many great memories...feeding giraffes, sunrise and sunset in Amboseli, lions in Ngorongoro...I love that cheetah picture in the crater.

In answer to your question about the lilac-breasted roller, the color is most likely to attract females. The evolution of coloration in animals, especially birds, is quite fascinating. (My grandfather was an ornithologist and I studied animal behavior, so I'm rather keen on this stuff.) The females are almost always drab because they aren't the ones competing for mates and they are often camouflaged to blend in with their surroundings when sitting on their nests. Sometimes there isn't any difference between the males and females, as in the case of the crested cranes - but they mate for life, so the male doesn't have to show off once he's found a mate.

I've been watching the political situation in Kenya closely and am glad to see that most people are continuing with their plans to travel to Kenya this month. It sounds like Micato is doing a great job keeping everyone up to date on the events. Jess, I hope everything goes as planned and you have a fabulous time on safari!

I actaully just got an e-mail from Micato which was very reassuring, both substantively and because it reinforces my trust in them. Traveling alone, I am glad I have only myself to be concerned about, but am sure glad that Micato is taking care of me. Amazingly, it is 65 degrees here in MA today (it was in the single digits last week) so I can get out of doors and spray my clothes with pymethrin (sp?). It's a good thing there are so many chores, because with 6 days to go, the excitement would otherwise be all-consuming.

hausfrau: That is good insight. jvnoledawg's report is phenomenal too!

Hey guys! I've been on the road almost non-stop for the past 3 weeks, but I'll get another post up soon.

Joe

Joe
I never got an answer to the agama question, but I did meet the little fellow and clearly, a whole box of Crayolas was responsible for what I saw!
Jess

Jess -

Crayola colors with a hint of irridesence - the male. The females are boring grey.

Right you are - we gawked at him -- but didn't even see her, although we knew she had to be around.
Jess

Jess,

Glad to hear about the agamas. I love 'em!

Who were your guides and drivers?

Joe

Zach was the tour director starting in Nairobi, with James as driver - but for just a day, as they whisked us off to Arusha a day early. In Tanzania our tour director was Rafael, an Arushan - who'd picked up a lot of American slang. with Louis as driver and sometimes driver guide. Louis was a great game spotter too, with a very dry sense of humor. Then, in Kenya once again, Zach rejoined us with Joseph (a former Maasai warrior whose picture is on a postcard at Kitchwa Tembo). On the night drive, I had the driver from another group - whose name I did not quite get - Sheni - or something like that. Everyone was great. I was picked up by Zach when I returned from Zanzibar, and we hung out at the airport (instead of a day room at the Norfolk), had dinner and really got acquained one-on-one, so hopefully we'll keep in touch. In Zanzibar, by the way, my guide Khamis (or Hamisi) nicknamed himself "Oxygen" so I couldn't do without him -- and he was no doubt right- as I was the only one on the Zanz. extension although a couple arrived on my last day. He claimed to have a pet chicken called CO2 but he could have been jiving (which he was good at - a very funny and knowledgeable guide).

The guy from Zanzibar sounds hilariious!

Sheni works for CC Africa, he is the head guide there if I recall right. Dana from Phoenix (from this board) requests him every time she goes, I met him when I was there, but he wasn't our driver.

How many people were on your tour Jess?

There were 10 of us - 2 couples, who were friends and booked together, myself, another single,male, and 2 other couples, one of whom actully won the trip by buying a bag of nuts and automattically being entered into a contest. So generlly 5 to a vehicle - fewer for the optional stuff like night drive, bush walk, etc.

A new post at last!

http://noledawg.blogspot.com

Great segment, Joe, I'm still here reading!

Interesting sentence on the 15 min observation limit - I hadn't heard that there was one before. Mind you, Steven or Renny could have told us & maybe I just didn't want to hear that, so I didn't listen....

In the two years that we went, I have managed not to have seen the 'sardine can'. I've heard of them, and I've seen a picture of one - it looked like a HUGE army truck, but have not seen one in person.

I'm adding that to my 'hope to see' sightings list for next year

OK, better late than never! Enjoy the latest, and don't hesitate to post a reply on the blog.

http://noledawg.blogspot.com

Another posting!

http://noledawg.blogspot.com/

I'm still reading, Joe!

Thanks Lynda! I'm almost done.

I just posted another one, plus added some photos to the prior posts. Enjoy.