Arriving at the rim of the crater was as rewarding as expected. We had climbed to the top and then driven a bit down to the campsite. A stunning view met us. A hidden world inside the old volcano. We pulled out all our gear and set up a camp. Getting the fire going and putting on the kettle for coffee, while Karl and Alfred played soccer with the park rangers, it promised to be a couple of fantastic days in some of the worlds greatest wildlife parks.
The next morning we set out to find a walking rhino and some cats. A specific wish from Stine who haven´t lived in Africa, not that the rest of us had ever seen a leopard or a cheetah for that sake.
The walking part i wasn´t to sure about, would one of us have to get out and chase a rhino up on its legs?
The crater proved to be everything we could ask for – Cheetah's 3 meters from the car and several rhinos in action.
Stine was hanging on the side of the car most of the time, with a camera in one hand and a happy face. A good start to our wildlife experience. After a day in this animal heaven next to the Masai's herding their cattle, and probably chasing a lion of with their stick every now and then, we headed of to Kenya. On our way we would stop for some days in Serengeti, but we weren't expecting to much after Ngorongoros super show.
The way to the gate was packed with animals, walking in a fantastic scenery. Wilder beast on the move, zebras, giraffes, and lions on honeymoon. With this introduction it was obvious that we had to spend at least two days there. After paying the park fees we went on. What had seemed unreal before suddenly became a doll field with grass and no animals. But after a while it changed and we where again in the big fives territory.
The camp we had picked for our stay, was completely deserted, on top of that a ranger came and told us that a leopard lived in the Kopjes(rocks) next to the campsite. Five very scared mzungus fleet in to a cage that had been build as a dining room for campers. Sitting there we felt like a bunch of scary pants in a cage that the animals could come look at for a cheap laugh. Which probably was th reaction from the tour guides that came the next day. Karl and Alfred had to be escorted out when they needed to go. Team cage life scary pants.
Next morning we hunted leopards without luck for a day, hunting down guides when ever we came near a safari truck. Many good advises later and several hours of driving up and down we gave up and went home to our camp. Satisfied with the thousands of wilder beasts,a pride of lions and the leopards kill in a tree, ready to tjeck it out the next day. Back in the camp we where almost forced out our cage. The guides couldn't understand that white people only feel safe inside square things.
Next morning after three years in Africa i finally saw the leopard, Heehaw. A couple of hours later we saw the second in one day. He he. Ok they weren't that active, i am not sure they moved, but it was great.
On our way we had to climb out and tjek the dept of different mud holes, just to make our 4 wheel drive instructor back in Zim proud. Mcbailey we did as you told us. We managed to drive several hundreds meter sideways with our hearts pumping, who wants to get stuck in the big fives territory?
Our days in the wild thought us that there still are places where we haven´t taken complete control. This was proved by millions of ants that attacked a screaming and dancing to meter tall safari tourist, who had to get our of the car to inspect the road.
Our journey from Serengeti took us to the Victoria lake and then north east in to Kenya and up to Nairobi. The lake looked lovely, but stopped from swimming by the bilharzia, we moved on to the border. A crossing that again went very smoothly, thanks to the handout of Zimbabwean 50 trillion dollar notes, which the immigration in Kenya fund hilarius, whit a nice chat and a laugh we proceeded in to Kenya. We do not like to bribe, but this can hardly be called bribing, the zim note is worth less than toilet paper.
Kenya a crowded and very busy place, people every where, roads in all directions, city planning is not a priority.
On our entire trip we have depended heavily on our GPS, it had all ways showed us the way, the flip side is that it sometimes takes you through arrears you really don´t want to be in. This time we ended up on a 1½ lane dirt road in the high density suburb with commuter buses on all side, almost stopping to look at the white man dressed in a Russian lam skin hat and sun glasses, trying to make his way through the rush our. I think it might have been what got us through. Many smiles and handshakes later we arrived at upper hill campsite. This has now been our home for 4 days, we have enjoyed the hospitality and homely feeling of Jessi and the others. Lots of good advises and clean cloth. The kids, malin and Stine has been cuddling with cheetahs, giraffes and tjekking out Karen's old house. A well deserved break in civilization.
Now we are ready to move north to Ethiopia.
Waal, Mads, that sounds so surreal, its almost like reading a Wilbur Smith novel .Its sounds fantastic, its stuff dreams are made of. I hope you enjoy your trip of a lifetime to the very end and thanks for keeping us posted. I can't wait for the next chapter....
Greetings to Malin, Alfred and Karl
xxx
Posted by: Linda | 07-05-09 at 10:27
Jeg kan jo i virkeligheden kun gentage mig selv: hold kæft, et eventyr! Sikke fantastiske oplevelser I giver jer selv og jeres familie :-) Mon vi overhovedet kan lokke med en røget sild..???!!! Stine
Posted by: Stine Brynaa | 07-05-09 at 21:36