We had one day off during ABO; lots of classes, lots of studying, lots of mingling... one day off. (They're trying to toughen us up before we get to the field :) Some of us, tired of ugali and sukuma wiki, went back to Nairobi for lunch and shopping. Some of us hiked the rust colored trails through Machakos. Others of us took a couple of Land Cruisers over the bumby, dusty, rocky Machakos road to Swala Game Park. I was one of the game park adventureres. A group of 16 of us donned khaki colored trousers, canvas vests with plenty of pockets, and various styles of fisherman-type hats. (Well, the missionaries who had been on the field awhile adapted such clothing. The rest of us just wore our jeans and tee-shirts.) The game park was once used as the local breeding ground for the Carnivore Restaurants here in Africa. The animals were "grown" as food for the "meat of all meat" restaurants. However, a few years ago the Kenyan government outlawed the service of big game meat at all restaurants. So, it's now a place for "tourists" to come and get their first "taste" of big game sightings in a "Safari-type" setting. (Insert groan due to bad pun here.)
We had lunch at the park (a break from traditional African food) and then set off in our vehicles to find giraffes, zebras (pronounced "Zehbras" by our British co-workers), wildebeasts and warthogs. One of my roomies, Juli, had a life goal to see a giraffe before she died. She definetely checked that one of her list! Mt. Kili here we come...
Giraffes... up close and personal. This one came right up to the car window.
A baby giraffe with zebras in the background.
Lots of impalas. We couldn't get too close becuase they are pretty skittish.
There were LOTS of monkeys in the trees right next to the place where we had lunch. This is a mama and a baby monkey. The baby kept trying to climb higher and higher, but the mama kept pulling him back down to this branch.
Look at the face on this one... so stoic. They didn't quite know what to do with all of us taking their picture.
Candace Gentry and I posing in an antique car that was parked at the restaurant.
Giraffes... up close and personal. This one came right up to the car window.
A baby giraffe with zebras in the background.
Lots of impalas. We couldn't get too close becuase they are pretty skittish.
There were LOTS of monkeys in the trees right next to the place where we had lunch. This is a mama and a baby monkey. The baby kept trying to climb higher and higher, but the mama kept pulling him back down to this branch.
Look at the face on this one... so stoic. They didn't quite know what to do with all of us taking their picture.
Candace Gentry and I posing in an antique car that was parked at the restaurant.
2 comments:
We love the pictures of the animals. It's beter than the zoo!!! Even better is to see your smiling face...It's nice to be able to read other's blogs too. Anni is an amazing dancer.
Better than the zoo!!! Mom loves the giraffe picture....and of you, of course....We are having fun reading all the blogs. Little Anni is an amazing dancer. You all look so happy. We love you, Mom and Dad
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