AMBOSELI – Mt Kilimanjaro says hello

I bet you were glad of a break after the mornings trek around Amboseli where we saw so many animals and birds.  I could have stayed out there all day but I suppose a break is needed so that we can take stock of what we did and how we can improve.

This is my tent that I share.

But I digress – – I gather my thoughts, check on my cameras and batteries and have a bit of a rest before heading for the trough.  Lunch is served in a very nice dining area and we are attended to by lovely local people who are always ready to be of assistance.

The food is delicious and there is plenty of it.  Buffet style, we can choose whatever we want.  There is everything from soups, salads, hot foods and then of course desserts.

After a relaxing lunch, a bit of a browse through the shop and then it is back to the tent for a ‘feet up’ quick relax. The skies have cleared and there doesn’t seem to be any bad weather looming so all looks good – praise be to the elephant gods!

It is now around 4pm so with elephant necklaces, cameras, batteries, water and everything else checked – let’s go.  Jess asks if we went for a swim, and as much as I would have loved to, I seemed to have run out of time.  Bit more practice of the organisational skills definitely needed – it’s not as if I wasted time – there is no shopping mall close by – oh well I will just use the trusty phrase T.I.A.

Back up along the bumpy, dusty trail to the entrance gate where our Masai ladies and their wares were but have now departed and we start our spotting for anything that moves.

Our elephant friends from this morning are nowhere to be seen but we are soon greeted with this magnificent Saddle Billed Stork, East Africa’s largest stork.  As he struts through the long grasses he is truly a majestic sight.

The area surrounding him looks as if there is not another living thing within cooee but ten minutes later down the track we are surrounded by elephants – there is a great herd of them, including lots of females with their little ones – it certainly is an amazing sight.

This male is off to one side – he certainly is big and looks as if he has been in quite a fight at some time as he has part of his tusk missing.

Sometimes they get so close to us you could reach out and touch them and it is hard to concentrate on photography – just to stand there and watch them is an experience.  We are told to be quiet and talk in hushed tones – no loud noises and no jumping around from one side of the jeep to the other.  Seems like commonsense to me.

My Canon PS comes in handy to take the movies as they move around – even trumpeting – how exciting!  How on earth do I decide what photos to show you?  After going through them this is what I came up with.  There is no need to say anything just enjoy – –

When one group leaves there is always another one that is soon upon us.

There are so many little ones and all the while their mothers are looking out for them.  I can still hear the noises they made as they walked past.

This is something that everyone should experience if they have the chance.  We must have been there for nearly an hour – and at the end of that time the cloud had cleared so that we could see the top and we get those much talked about photos of elephants in front of Mt Kilimanjaro.

Granted, it is not postcard material, but I was actually there and it is my photo and I like it and after all – isn’t that what really matters?

As the elephants move on, it is also time for us to seek out new adventures.  We head towards a Baboon colony and what a hoot.  They are as interested in us as we are in them – the only difference is that they do not have cameras.

There are two types of Baboons – Olive and Yellow.  Going by my trusty Collins book I think that these must be Yellow. If I am wrong please let me know – –

Definitely has been a great afternoon – no a great day and as we head back to camp we get a really good view of Mt K and some vultures that seem to be settling down for the night in the tree.

Light is fading fast so advice from Chris on a few alterations to camera settings and this is the result – –

Next up some sunset shots with more instructions on how to take sunset photos – the tips worked!

This has been an incredible day, have I said that before?  Well, it deserves saying again and it is only early in the safari, how is anything going to top this?  What are the following days going to reveal?   So many elephants so close to us – so many beautiful birds, so many hippos and hyenas and not a fence or barrier to be seen.

Finally today’s Bum Shot – comes in  three sizes – small, medium and large

Highlight of the day – OMG has to be my magnificent new  elephant friends – no contest