Christmas in Africa where I belong
 

This week, Carol and I are honored to host one of our Maasai guides from Tanzania in our home here in Virginia! It is his first-time in an airplane and his first-time outside Tanzania! We are just thrilled!

In early December we all leave Virginia to return home!

Kenya: We are staying at these excellent camps -

Shompole
Ol Seki
Serian
Il Moran
Naibor
Rekero
Sala’s Camp

And we are especially excited to spend some time at our own private camp site in the Masai Mara which we just secured for the 2007/8 migration season.

In Aug/Sep 2007 we plan to spend about a month at our camp to do some serious filming in the Masai Mara. Just the two of us, our Maasai friends and a trusted Landcruiser adapted for filming. We cannot wait. It could be one of the most exciting things we’ve ever done.

South Africa: just 5 days

We fly to Johannesburg, Cape Town and Mossel Bay for Christmas with the family.

Tanzania: We are staying at these camps in the Serengeti -

Sayari South
Olakira
Mwanga Moto – a new camp where will celebrate New Year!


Zanzibar: We are renting a car for a 2-week extended tour of Zanzibar, visiting all corners and spending about 3 nights in each area.

We are especially excited to stay at a few NEW places:

Bawe Tropical Island
Changuu Private Island
Ungunja Resort in the south away from it all

In addition, I will be testing some new technology to allow Carol and I to operate from the bush on a near full-time basis in the future.

Have you heard about the new INMARSAT BGAN?

It is a truly portable mini-satellite system that operates at high enough speeds to allow for internet and email work from the comforts of our Landcruiser and our tent! I’ve tried plenty of technology in the past (Iridium Data, Thuraya, etc), with very disappointing results. So I am excited about BGAN.

eben, sounds like a great time you and carol will have! and how exciting for your guide to come to America...you should have videotaped all his "firsts" How Cool!
Wish I could be in Africa for Christmas!
Dennis

This is truly amazing Eben, I'm so jealous of you and Carol both. Going home for Christmas is special. I'm looking forward to hear about it when you return and before that if your equipment allows and is working. When will you be at Ol Seki? I'm there on Dec 8. I'm at Rekero on Dec 9 and 10. Will I see you there?

I will be spending Christmas at Murchison Falls with my husband, which I'm really looking forward to. We are gorilla tracking with Volcanoes Safaris before that in Rwanda and Uganda. Anyone done that in late December? How is the weather then?

Exciting times for the Maasai and for you.

Have a wonderful Christmas and New Year in Africa! Looking forward to your impressions of all of these places.

Hi Eben,

Sounds like a fantastic trip....have a great time and safe travels....

Hari

My first thought when I saw the title of your post "Christmas in Africa where I belong"...Isn't that where we all belong???
What an adventure for your Maasai guide! I'd love to read his trip report! Do you think you can get him to do one for us?
Lily

Eben and Carol (if your peeking),
Have a wonderful and adventurous holiday. Come back rested and with many good stories.
Happy travels;
Sherry
p.s. If you need a boot scraper, I can pack up in a flash :)

Have a wonderful trip. We'll all be looking forward to your report.

Eben I have goosebumps just imagining the experiences your Maasai guide will have leaving all he has ever known to come to North America!

Congrats on securing your own private camp site! Shades of Van Lawick, the Joubert's, Des and Jen Bartlett etc. Very exciting and I anticipate enjoying your films in the future!

Please stay in touch with your new BGAN so we can enjoy your wonderful trip vicariously. Have a marvelous time!

Eben and Carol, jealous isn’t a strong enough word. :& I just don’t feel like wishing you a wonderful trip. [( At least I know that you will share your experiences and newfound knowledges. ;)
I’d really like to read your guide’s trip report.

Filming Ernest in America is a great idea! I just wish I could be with him from the beginning of this adventure.

It started with him traveling to Dar es Salaam by bus for a visa. It took 5 days of phone calls and faxes to get the 2-week visa. As always the American Embassy treated him as a suspect of some kind (brought back memories of my own ordeals) so it was not easy, although one embassy gentleman over there was very nice over the phone and I am grateful for his help.

If Ernest make it through the transfer process in Amsterdam he should be OK but then the next shock awaits him - the immigration officials at Dulles Airport in Washington! I wish I can be a fly on the wall during his conversation about his reasons for visiting America!

He arrives Friday afternoon at 5pm at Dulles. We will then spend 2 days sightseeing in DC.

He sent txt this morning asking if should pack a jacket!

Wow! Can I say "amazing!" The experience of your Masai guide friend coming to you, as well as your upcoming trip sounds spectacular. Have a wonderful holiday season!

Lolazahra.

Sounds like great holidays coming up for you and Carol, as well as an interesting one for Ernest. ;) I'm looking forward to reading all about everyone's adventures.

Was Wilbur able to get to Colorado (I think it was?) for his moutaineering convention (I think it was)?

Thanks for keeping us all posted on the latest developments.

I'll be in Africa for Christmas too - I hope!

Originally, about a year back, we (hub and I, parents, sister) booked a trip to stay in Sweden's Icehotel. Scandinavian Airlines adjusted their schedule so much that the dates no longer worked and we had to canecel. So then I did a long search and eventually found a trip to watch killer whales in Norway and booked that instead. Hub and sis were even booked to snorkel with the whales but I decided the cold and the scary whales were enough to keep me in the zodiac! Scandinavian Airlines adjusted their schedule so much again that the dates no longer worked and we had to canecel.

So I decided that the third try would be somewhere far away from their influence and booked flights to Marrakech instead. I've recently confirmed a reservation at a fine looking riad in the medina and can't wait for our special family holiday!

Congratulations Kavey! I know how much you want to be back in Africa. Good things happen to those who wait!
Have a great trip!

Eben, I mean Wilbert of course. Sorry--the plumbers are distracting me. :(

Kavey, great news!

PS Because I'm a farty-brain I forgot to actually include the message I hit the Reply button to add which was BON VOYAGE!!!!

Thanks Dennis and Leely!

PS, I CAN spell "cancel" but copied and pasted the sentence for use the second time and so I repeated the typo I'd made first time!

The color is green, jealous green. And goose-bumpies!

Eben, sounds too grand. If my plans come together, I hope to be hitting some of the same places in '07.

Keep in touch as you're both there and we're here.