June
28
2010
This morning we are flying from the Masai Mara back to Nairobi. We will spend the afternoon doing a bit of shopping and then we board our flight to Amsterdam at 10:20 tonight. We are headed home with lots of stories and loads of photographs, as well as a new perspective on service to others. Thanks to all for an amazing trip.
June
28
2010
During our trip in Kenya we had the privilege of being able to go on some amazing safaris. Both at Lake Nakuru and in the Masai Mara, we got to witness beautiful landscapes, birds and animals. Some of the animals we saw include…
-Rhinos
-Elephants
-Hyenas
-Lions
-Gazelle (both Grants and Thompson)
-Cape Buffalo
-Jackals
-Waterbuck
-Impalas
-Giraffe
-Wildebeest
-Eland
-Topi
-Zebra
-Dik Dik
-Warthog
-Rock Hydrax
-And many different types of birds
My favorite safari however was on the morning of the 27th. We got up at about 5:50am, drank our hot chocolate and hopped into our safari jeeps, hoping that we would see something interesting. Within the first 10 minutes we saw a giant pack of hyenas (which are one of my favorite animals). We left the hyenas and headed to a spot where we had seen a lioness eating a wildebeest the previous day. After being there for about 15 minutes, we realized that there was a couple of cubs in the brush with their mother. I managed to get a picture of the two babies before they ducked away from view. It was about then that we realized that there were a few hyenas that were slowly walking closer and closer to where the lions rested. Soon, the youngest hyena disappeared from my jeeps view, one of the lioness got up and also disappeared from view. Suddenly we heard the scariest screams ever. Our jeep drove around the brush just in time to see the two lioness chasing off the group of hyenas. It turns out that the lioness attacked the little hyena and the hyenas mother attacked the lioness, who turned on the mother hyena and attacked her, finally (with the help of the other lioness) chasing off all the hyenas. After that exciting event we drove and found a male lion. He was absolutely beautiful and didn’t even seem to care that we were there. One of the jeeps even blew a tire and had to change it only about 20 meters away from him. After the lion we headed back for breakfast. That was the most exciting safari we had the whole trip. We saw tons of awesome animals and we even had some action.
This trip truly was an amazing experience and I am very glad that I had the privilege to go on it.
-Sydney Armstrong
Lioness chasing a hyena
June
27
2010
Max, Calder, Spencer and Jack
Nakuru Safari
Human Flamingos!
Dancing at LOH
Erin reading with LOH kids
Perrin with friends
June
27
2010
A rainy afternoon drive around the Mara. Lots of baby animals!
Mother elephant with infant
New baby Giraffe with Mother
Mother elephant with infant and children
June
27
2010
Wow! Quite a morning…we left at 6:30 AM (before breakfast). The first thing we encountered was a large pack of hyenas. We then returned to where we saw the lion yesterday. This time there was another female lion with 2 cubs. As we watched, the hyenas approached. Right in front of our eyes we saw the lioness attack the hyenas! We then saw the male lion approach – he passed right by our jeeps. I will upload a video and some pictures.
Video: Lion Kill (lion versus hyena)
Click on link to view video from Jack’s camera and Henry’s flip camera!
Erin and Perrin watching male lion pass jeep.
Lioness attacking a hyena
Male Lion- near where we are changing a flat tire!
Zebra and Giraffes in the Masai Mara during morning safari
June
26
2010
We left Nakuru Park this morning and drove to Masai Mara (about a 6+ hour ride). Kids were tired, but we all went out on Safari this afternoon. Saw a lion eat a wildebeast! More later (slow connection).
June
26
2010
Nakuru Group
Nakura Rainbow with Henry and Spencer
Nakuru Rhino
June
26
2010
Goodbye to our friends at LOH! Many tears…
LOH Group
Goodbye to Sera
June
23
2010
Today is our last day at LOH. We plan to say goodbye in the morning and then we are off to Nakura Park. Today we will be planting trees and playing games. This afternoon the girls have prepared a presentation (song and dance) for the students.
Dancing!
Alex and Margaret
June
22
2010
Greeting from Light of Hope. Our days are full- reading, teaching science classes, gardening, painting and playing with the children. The students will post their stories when we get to Nakuru in a few days. All are well!
LOH group picture
Light of Hope Children with Path to Peace T-Shirts
Overlooking the Rift Valley