Our Trip to Kenya
Satellite view of Kenya
click for a larger view
In December of 2010 Aliki and I traveled to Kenya to visit our daughter Corinna and her husband Siva Sundaresan. Corinna and Siva are at present living in the area of Laikipia, to the west of Mount Kenya. Both are engaged in research projects at the Mpala Research Center in Laikipia.
During the first week we traveled the tourist route before settling in at the house of Corinna and Siva. In Kenya we visited three areas:
We arrived in Kenya on the evening of Sunday, December 12, 2010. Siva and Corinna drove in to Nairobi from Laikipia and met us at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport. We all spent the night in a nearby hotel.
Maasai Mara National Reserve
Satellite view of Maasai Mara
click for a larger view
On the morning of December 13, 2010 (the day after we arrived in Kenya) we took a taxi to Wilson Airport, the small airport for domestic flights out of Nairobi. We boarded a small plane and flew to the Ol Kiombo Air Strip in the Maasai Mara Reserve [ 1° 29.4' S 35° 8.6' E]. There we were met by our Maasai guide, Salaash, and his spotter, Loli. Soon we were in their Land Cruiser for our drive to the Topi House where we were to stay for the next few days.
The drive was very exciting and eventful.
To see an enlargement please click on the picture.
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Waiting for the small airplane in Nairobi
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The reception at the Mara airstrip
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The airplane that brought us
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As soon as we left the strip we saw giraffes,
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a Tawny Eagle,
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a colorful flat-headed agama lizard,
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impalas,
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impala antelopes,
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and a lethal and rare boomslang snake on an acacia tree.
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Finally we arrived at Topi House where we were met by the friendly and numerous staff.
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Topi House where we stayed.
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The spacious porch.
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The comfortable living room.
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A bedroom.
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Another bedroom
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with en suite bath.
After a pleasant lunch and a rest, our guides returned and collected us for the afternoon tour. This was to be followed by sundowners—the “thing to do” in Kenya.
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The first animal we saw was a Topi antelope with her baby.
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We then saw a Eland antelope,
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and elephants.
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Finally we arrived by a river with hippopotami.
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There by the river we had our sundowners. Alice and Salaash.
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Salaash, Corinna, and Alice.
By the time we returned to Topi House it was already dark, not surprising because near the equator darkness falls shortly after sunset. A fire was already lit near the porch and we enjoyed drinks before dinner.