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Heard from Governors Camp today that the migration still hasn't arrived. Isn't this late? I thought they arrived in June and stayed until September. Looks like some of us will be there shortly after they arrive. I think some are leaving this month and I go in early September. Anyone have any later info?

Latest word is the Wildebeest Migration is now on the way to the Mara - at last. So I'm keeping my fingers crossed that we'll get to see a river crossing. We leave one month from today. FINALLY!!!! :D :D :D
Best news is we made the final payment yesterday, and------we did get a bit off. My husband was thrilled and I was very happy. Looks like we'll really get there this time. Liz

:D

Summarizing the migration report from Vintage Africa/Mara Intrepids at e-gnu.com: migration is in initial stages and still a long way from Mara River, probably because there was so much rain and the grass is plentiful. One herd of zebra is just north of Mara Intrepids and another is between Keekorok and the Talek river. The main migration is around the Sand River area. At Intrepids they are taking long game drives with packed lunches.
I leave in 12 days, whoohoo. :D

Liz, don't you realize the wildebeests are waiting just for you?? I told you you will not be disappointed. Have faith in the Mara - she will not disappoint you. And reminding us that you leave one month from today is like rubbing salt in the wounds - but I am genuinely thrilled for you. As for you, OfftoAfrica, can you see how pea-green with envy I am? You will have the experience of a lifetime. I will keep my fingers crossed for both of you that a crossing is in your futures. I cried when I saw it. Tears ran down my dusty face. I didn't care. It was an awe-inspiring experience and one that I consider such an honor and privilege to have seen. I will say my prayers to the powers that be that the wildebeests, zebras and gazelle decide that when you are both riverside that they cross!

Do not worry, they will be there.
SusanLynne, you described my reaction as well.
Liz, I wish we could see your photos and read your extensive trip report after you return

Thanks Susan, Kavey and Gina.
You seem to have nailed it Susan. They are at the border and will probably rush in for Off to Africa, then be waiting on a river bank for me somewhere. :-D
Only 11 more days OtoA, wow. I just want to go now. I've been practicing every day on my new camera and am so afraid I'll do something wrong and none of the pictures will turn out.
I tried to extend our trip but the airlines cannot do it. Drat!

What was the name of that Carly Simon tune? Oh, yes, "Anticipation." If it is good enough to use for a Heinz commercial, it is certainly good enough to apply to what Liz and OffToAfrica are going through right now. Oh, the fun of it all!!!

Jambo, everyone-
10 more days, I am so excited I could jump out of my skin. Everyone's safari reports and advice have been so fabulous. Thanks for all your input.

Just think, this time next month it we'll be enjoying yours!
:D
I am a little envious but mostly so excited for all of you with upcoming trips.
I'm sure they will be just wonderful!

Off to Africa-

When do you get back? I forgot what dates you'll be in the Mara.

SusanLynne-You are without a doubt the best cheerleader here. You have encouraged me, cried with me when I couldn't go, cheered me on when I was plodding through with the plans, always been there. I promise I will remember you to the Wildies. I shall name one of them after you and take its picture for you. :D

Kavey-Same goes for you. You have been a friend in need and a friend indeed! Its you and Susan that keep me here. When things get slow, its hard to hang in but this is the exciting time of the year and we don't really have that many going to Africa right now.

I think JanGoss has it right. Kenya is hurting. We should have 10 or 20 on the way for the migration. What, we have 2 or 3? I want to see some excited tourists. I'll bet you can still get spaces to stay. This is the biggest migration in DECADES. There may never be one of this magnitude again they say. Lets git over there!

I've set up my album already and I should be able to post my pictures as soon as I get back. How many? 100, 300? Wouldn't that get boring? I've got the camera pretty well figured out, I've practiced and I'm READY!
Thanks for putting up with me here. Liz

Hi Liz!!! I appreciate your offering to name a wilde after me, but I would prefer to be named after an animal that is a bit more attractive - perhaps a lion, cheetah or leopard? Ha!! Honestly, I am keeping my fingers crossed that you see a crossing. I really am. You are going to have a glorious time. And you will wonder, "Why haven't I returned to Kenya earlier than this?" Believe me, if I could get on a plane to Kenya tomorrow I would be there quicker than a heartbeat!

Liz I wish wish wish wish I could just book a trip and go... but I'm self employed and after a couple of quiet months it's suddenly picked up (gone crazy) again, and I have too many commitments. That and not wanting to go away while my Pops is still not well. He was recovering but it went into reverse and he went back into hospital on Tuesday, I'm hoping he'll be back out today or tomorrow. He's a travel addict too and I hate to think about how many trips he may have to cancel. He's got a Zambia trip booked for later this year... fingers crossed.

If you name anything for me too it should be a giraffe as my sister has often remarked on our resemblance, particularly when I was younger and lanky skinny rather than dumpy lardy! I walk in quite a clumsy way and I have rather large brown eyes which are just two of the likenesses!!!

Hee hee....

Your test album works fine, when the correct invite URL is given so can't wait for you to load LOTS of your pics there on your return!

Woo Hooo Hoooo to all the travellers on their way soon!

Liz - Will be in the Mara 23-26 Aug. Yes, the migration is said to be the most spectacular in many years. I just hope they scoot their little hides north a bit faster - sounds like the plentiful rain has kept things green and lush farther south. Your early September timing is probably perfect! I hope we see a crossing but even if we don't I know we will see amazing wildlife and it will be an awesome experience. I can't even think about work at the moment, it's a good thing I am my own boss or I'd be fired. :D

I know exactly what you mean. We've been planning this trip for over 9 months now and we leave Monday!!! it is very hard to keep focused on work and unfortionately I am not my own boss. We're going to be in the Mara Aug 19-21 and hopefully there will be a crossing when we get there. Everyone else have a fun and safe trip as well. Thanks again to everyone that has given outstanding advice.

Oh Andy and Offy-
You guys are going to see them coming in. How lucky. There shouldn't be any reason not to see a crossing for you. The latest report I read somewhere last night was that they would be there within a week. Yikes, me thinks they are awaiting us. Even though my week long trip pales when compared to those with longer trips, when you think I will have 7 days only in the Mara, it really begins to seem like a much longer trip. Since we've seen the rest of Kenya before, it is only the Mara that calls out to my heart. Yes, Susan, I surely will wonder whatever kept me away all this time.
Good Lord, you and Kavey are about the two most demanding Divas I've ever met. A giraffe? A Lion? How crass. I will name a Wildebeest after each of you and that is that!!! :D :D :D

Liz: Ouch! That hurt!! Truly, I am not being ungrateful, but I just like to think that I am physically more along the lines of a lion, leopard or cheetah. In all reality, you should probably name a hippo after me. Alas, unlike Kavey, we cannot all be "Tall Blondes," the title of a book about giraffes by ABC News correspondent Lynn Sherr. OK, I'll take whatever remembrance I can get while you are roaming the plains of the Magnificent Mara - even if it is when you see a wildebeest and say, "That one is for Susan."

Gee Susan-
I've never met you or Kavey. Okay, You get your way. I was just thinking how they (the Wildies) are the highlight of why everyone wants to go to the Mara right now. I will choose a cheetah if its alright with you. Much more graceful and pretty. And for Kavey, a giraffe. The last thing I would have picked for her. I think I can do that. Now please lets be friends again. I do admit the wildebeest is about the most awkward, clumsy, stupid looking animal I ever saw, but en masse, they will be beautiful. Now I won't say anything else for fear of upsetting the delicate balance here. :D :D :D

I don't want to push my luck here, but Liz, could you make sure you name me after the most beautiful cheetah in the Mara? >:-)

LOL at this whole exchange! I guess NOBODY would want a dik dik or lesser bushbaby or warthog named for them?!
Liz thanks for the migration update. Where did you read that report?
It is wonderful that you have a whole 7 days in the Mara. I would gladly give up a couple of our other stops to have longer there. Maybe next time. :)

Offy-
I checked the usual sites I check: 2afrika.com, e-gnu.com, www.wildtravel.net, and couldn't find that particular reference. I also put "Wildebeest Migration Update" into Google every day or two and pick up news. The only one I could find right now was: http://www.magicalkenya.com/default....cument&l=1
This is undated so I don't think this is what I saw and I don't always get the same sites when I random search. The one I was quoting was current and dated but I don't know where it was.
Governors Camp has their new game report up for July 2003. www.governorscamp.com, click on game report.
Will you be back before I leave in early September? Please post right away if so. Liz

Okay, okay Susan, whatever you want! Its the least I can do I suppose since you have to stay home. :-[

Hi Liz!!! Reminding me that I will be here in New Hampshire while you are witnessing a crossing (how's that for confidence?) and roaming the plains of the Magnificent Mara watching fantastic wildlife ... you just poured about a pound of salt into an open wound! No matter how much pain I am in, I am still thrilled for you!

I'm laughing hard at all the fun I missed!!!!

I'm more akin to a large brown hippo with long black hair - no tall slim blonde here!

But a giraffe fits me best I think!!!!!

He he he!

Kavey-You are no hippo! I saw your Africa album on ofoto.com. In fact I've been looking at it again in preparation for my trip and salivating over all those wonderful animals and landscapes.
I found a good weekly update on the migration at ultimateafrica.com. They're there!!!!! Andy's gonna see them this week and then me and then Liz.
:D :D :D

Aaw you're sweet...
I'm just waiting for all the trip reports... I hope you'll all share lots and lots of details and photos too if possible!
:D

I am drooling over the prospect of all these trip reports ...

Question for all: can you tell me anything about your jet lag experiences with East Africa travel? I have been to China and Australia, so I'm as used to the long flights as you can get. But on this trip we have a decent layover in London - at least long enough for a city tour and lunch. I'm thinking best approach is just to try to sleep enough on both long flights (NY-London and London-NBO) so as to be not totally exhausted. When I embark on such an exciting trip I find it hard to sleep, but maybe Tylenol PM will do the trick. Any thoughts or suggestions would be appreciated.
Liz - I will be back before you leave and will definitely post a report ASAP. May not have photos by then but will also post those to ofoto.com as soon as I am able. Am relying on my brothers for the wildlife pix cause a) they have bigger, better, more expensive camera toys than me, b) it saves me having to lug a camera and c) I can simply admire the wildlife for all its beauty. Hopefully Andy will have a report before you go, also.
p.s. I apologize for posting a sarcastic note to you in another thread - shouldn't have done that. I got your point but was feeling chided and acted too hastily. :(

Thanks for the post, Offy. We have 8 total hours in LHR. Figuring we should check in 2 hours early, that leaves 6 hours to lay around and groan. Not really enough time to go to town, I don't think. We were going to get a dayroom, but you have to check out at 6PM to qualify as a dayroom and since we wouldn't check in until 2, just doesn't seem worth the effort. Hope you enjoy your trip to London, but I'm also afraid something will happen to us, so back to laying around and groaning. I just want to get to Africa please!!! :D :D

Liz et al:

I copied something from new24.com on 11-8-03 which I thought you might be interested in:

"BAD NEW FOR WILDEBEEST? The Sand river is too low for the crocs. to hide in, and the lions on this day have stayed away. In one of the most amazing animal spetacles, an immense herd of wildebeest approaches cautiously, hesitates and finally stampedes across the ford from Serengeti into Mara. . . .

This year, however, the animal trek is not quite like all the others. It started about a month later than usual because of the tardy start of the rainy season and it is threatened by major brush fires in the north-western part of the Mara. So far the migration has not been affected by these brush fires. But the more these fires gain ground, the more they will disrupt the migration by depriving the gnus of their pastures. . . . The fires have not yet menaced the many tourist camps in the park. Some tourists came away extremely disappointed that they hadn't been able to see the wildebeests. For some reason the animals avoided their normal crossing point at the Mara River and instead forded the remote Sand River at the extreme southwestern point of the reserve".

Sounds like you will be far west of the brush fires. We'll all keep our fingers crossed for you that you get to see thousands of your favorite animals.

Jan

Nooooooooooooooo...we don't want brushfires!
The northwest part of the Mara - is that near Governors Camp? I went to News24.com but couldn't find the story.

Off-
I too tried but didn't find anything about it. Strange that none of the regular websites reporting the migration has mentioned any of this.
I suppose you saw the one about the 4 British tourists who were robbed at gunpoint (AK 47)in the Mara Reserve by the two game wardens? One of the game wardens was from Tsavo. I guess there must not be enough tourists in Tsavo for him.
Certainly makes me anxious to get there. (Groan)

Hang in there, Liz. It will all work out. A friend went to the Serengeti last year, only to find that the national park service was doing control burns all over the place. That did not, however, diminish her trip at all. They just had to drive further out to find the wildlife that had fled the fires. Believe me, all this anxiety over your trip will be for not - you will have the time of your life!!!

Liz:

Just heard from my friends in Mombasa and they tell me that what we are seeing in the news is just the press "known for their appetite for drama and in pursuit of this appetite they sometime go overboard and tend to scare people off".

Yes, they do have problems that are being addressed; yes there is heightened security (as everywhere else in the world).

They reassured me that security in Mombasa is quite good at the moment and if they see that changing they will rearrange people's itineraries. The police guard to and from airport is basically for those arriving in the evening, so I don't need to be a target afterall!!

Did you notice in the article about the two KWS rangers arrested for robbery what the sentence is? Robbery with violence = hanging! WOW!

I think all of us on this site have a little bit of fatalist in us. We will still go and enjoy every minute of our trip.

Your gnus are awaiting news of you!

Jan

Jan- Thanks, cute!
I will only say that I am glad we have insurance for this trip. If we hadn't already bought our February air tickets for Ndutu, we'd cancel that now. My husband has decided it just isn't worth it waiting for the other shoe to drop every day, and I am finally ready to agree. Just not worth the worry and uncertainty. I think we'll stick to cruising after these trips. We both enjoy cruises. Wrong subject for this board, but long flights aren't our bag anymore. Africa doesn't scare us, just the getting there. Never had to worry about that before, just how bored we'd get on the long haul. Not worry about every one else on the airplane who looks shifty. Of course we'll see how we feel when we get back.
As to the rangers who robbed those Brits, since it happened on the Mara Reserve, we thought how terrible that must have been. AK-47s, that would have ended our trip on the spot. I think they deserve to hang. Thats the whole livlihood of Kenyans and for two to throw that away is serious business.

Well, I shall be glad you don't have to worry about Mombasa, and since we're only two weeks away from our trip and its all paid in full, we'll go and take our chances, but by golly, there had better be some sassy gnus there. The sassiest shall be named Susan Lynne for ever more. I'll tell Susan I named a Cheetah, but heh, heh, a fat gnu for her. I won't say what shall bear the name of Kavey for the rest of its life.

Oh, Liz!!!! And to think that I have been so supportive of your trip ... My friend who lives in Nakuru noted that fires are not impeding the migration and that the KWS "has announced it will deal swiftly and severely" (I guess so!) with the two robbers. Liz, I have been robbed twice at an ATM, once at gunpoint and once with a switchblade to my throat. It is certainly not fun, but those instances happened in supposedly a "very good" section of L.A. (Is it any wonder I moved to New Hampshire?) Remember, Kenya is a third-world country, with abject poverty. Think about all the robberies and burglaries that take place in our own states that newspapers don't even bother reporting because burglaries and robberies are so rampant. You will be fine and, despite what you say, I know you will seek out the most beautiful cheetah in all of the Mara and name it after me!!

Liz:

Love you attitude lady! You'd just better have a fantastic time so we can continue to chuckle at your funny notes!

I hear where your husband is coming from. However, as I approach retirement I am at the opposite extreme. I've lived a good life, my kids are grown and if something happens to me, so what! As long as I'm enjoying what I love most then it is worth it. All too often people put off their dreams because of real or imagined fears and then it is often too late to fulfill that dream. Perhaps because I work in a hospital seeing biopsy and autopsy reports all the time I want to enjoy whatever time I have left on this beautiful earth.

Africa helps many of us realize those dreams. From the wildlife, people, scenery and the serenity of the place it is fantastic.

Hope those gnus circle your camp so you can see them closely and name some really gorgeous ones for our Fodorites like SusanLynne and Kavey.

It feels like those who have trips planned have been through hell and high water! There was the East Africa/Kenya travel advisory, the halting of British Airways flights, closing of the US Embassy in NBO, the tragic small plane crash with the Atlanta family and pilots, the British tourist robbery, and of course today all NY airports were closed for a time. That almost gave me heart failure. I cannot wait to get on a plane and get this show on the road. :D

Susan-
That's terrible. You were robbed twice? I just can't imagine. So shocking.
Yes I know you have been so very supportive of me and my worries. A true friend if ever I had one. And of course I will name a cheetah after you. I plan to search far and wide for just that special one.
You know Jan and I were talking earlier here and she may have misunderstood something I said, but if she told you anything other than I would find a cheetah, well, as much as I like Jan, I'm afraid she might just be a bit jealous and exagerating what I said. Please you must believe me. I would never do anything but the honorable thing here. Cheetah=Susan, Giraffe=Kavey. See? I didn't forget. You've just got to trust me. Please.

=D> =D> =D> =D> =D> =D> =D> =D>

((Y)) to the giraffe and cheetah namesakes...

Liz, I have fingers crossed that this trip goes as well as can be...