100 - African Adventure - Day 10 & 11 (Lewa Wildlife Conservancy) - Welcome to the Jungle

 It's been a busy few days, but we're back!.....After a quick turn around in Nairobi, we ran into these two hapless wanderers, and quickly opined that we could use them as bait if things got dodgy while on safari.  So, we all hopped in and headed off on a 6h scenic drive from the city to Lewa Conservancy.

(Street-side market)

(Foot Locker)

(A construction site that looks like it's been in the works almost as long as the Eglinton LRT)

Essentially like driving through downtown Toronto.  Same, same.

As we proceeded north past banana/coffee/corn plantations, 

We had a couple stops at local shops to stretch our legs,

and have lunch,

before crossing back into the Northern Hemisphere.

(“Did it just get colder?”)

and arriving at our destination.

We met our Masai Guide, David,

(Qualifications of a Masai Guide -  tending herds of cattle over lion-patrolled plains from the age of 8, with only a thin stick and moxy. Also, enduring a unanesthetized circumcision in their teen years (P.S. you're not allowed to cry), followed by 8 years living in the bush with a few of your buddies and the clothes on your back, trying not to get eaten...finishing off with a university degree in conservation. I think we're good.)

and got acquainted with our new ride.

Let's do this!!

On the 20 minute drive in to the lodge we spotted impalas, ostriches, a giraffe, gazelles, warthogs, a rhino, and a distant elephant…not a bad start!

The lodge was gorgeous.

and well appointed.

(Note: MILF not included)

Over the next two days we did two safari drives per day.

There were numerous birds (some of which we managed to photograph),

(Starling, Hamerkop, Grey Crowned Cranes, Egyptian Geese)

 

This guy was hard to miss. 

(Somali Ostrich)

His girlfriend was a little more coy.

After spooking one as we came around a corner, and watching him take off down the road, juking from side to side like a drunk on speed, we concluded that a running Ostrich is one of the funniest things we've ever seen. We're still chuckling.

We saw antelopes...and more antelopes...and more antelopes.... 

(Impala)

(Gerenuk)

 (Greater Kudu)

(Eland)

(Jackson's Hartebeest)

(Grant's Gazelle)

and two types of zebras!

(Grévy's Zebra)

Who weren't camera shy.

"Line it up, team."

(Plains Zebra)

 

The giraffes weren't hard to pick out of a crowd.

(Reticulated Giraffe)

We were lucky enough to track down four of the "Big Five" on the first day.

1. Cape Buffalo

2. African Elephants,

3. Lions,

who behaved more like rabbits...

"Hey girl, you lookin' fine."

In 15 second intervals...King of the Jungle maybe, but when it comes to copulation, more like a pubescent boy in the sheets.

"And I'm spent..."

"...But, let me know when you're ready for round two."

For the win.

"Do you have plans for tomorrow?"

4. Rhinos

While there were only a few Black Rhinos,

The White Rhinos were plentiful,

(Turf battle)

and just as randy as the lions.

We were nervous about exiting the safety of our vehicle on the first day.

But, quickly realizing that we would both see and hear predators before Nana and G'Dad, we risked it to take full advantage of the "frills", including this uber fancy, mimosa-laden "Bush Breakfast",

Sundowner drinks with bitings (h'ors d'oeuvres) and African sunsets,

And the loo (Nana marking her territory).

It was an amazing couple of days! Tomorrow we fly to Masai Mara to continue the hunt. 

In honour of the exhibitionistic lions and rhinos, here's a couple Dik Dik pics.  

(Guenther's Dik Dik)

You're welcome.

All's well that ends well. But, the adventure continues....