Tuesday, October 27th,2009: Safari and Camp Patterson

The tents we stayed in.  Nets above that the staff bring down for you 

while you are having dinner.

Up at 4 am but the power went out, had to finish packing up in the dark.  Raining really bad.  Julius and Livingstone came to say goodbye even at about 5am.  We loaded them up with all our leftovers, pop, chips, cookies, even the pizza and pasta from the night before.

Headed out to the safari.  Quick stop at the souvenir place, I picked up some braided bracelet for 250 ksh each, bought 7, and 2 cow bone bracelets f0r 300 ksh.  Roughly that is $3.40 and $4.10.  Still raining so we had a coffee and waited it out a bit.

Entered park and bought a safari hat for $10.  Put the roof up and away we went.  Rain has died down now. Saw elephants, giraffes, lions eating, lots of birds, monkeys, zebras, Impalas, african buffalo, hartbeasts and baboons.  Was pretty incredible.

Had lunch at the Vio hotel, $18 for buffet but very nice.  Over looks the park and it has a watering hole to attract animals.  Rained so hard we had to move tables because we were getting wet in the restaurant (no windows, only a roof)  Around 3 we were able to leave to go to our camp, but Hillie really wanted to see more of the park.  We saw 2 male lions who had just eaten.  They must have been only 100m away!  So awesome.  Saw more elephants, but this time a baby one. And girafees even closer this time.  Saw lots of dick dicks, they are really cute and they travel in couples.  Monkeys were right at the end of the park.

Went down the highway to get to the Patterson camp.  Amazing tented campground just like 1898.  When Col. Patterson trapped and shot 2 lions who had been killing the railway workers.  The tents are the larger almost army style with beautiful cots and nettings.  Flushing toilet, shower and running water (gravity) inside the tent.  If you want a hot shower though, the guys will bring a bucket of hot water and climb up the back and pour it into the shower water supply barrel!  Maasi warriors must escort you especially at night.  You can hear the hippos splash into the river at dark.  We had a 4 course dinner in the diningroom.  Soup, salad, entree and dessert with coffee or tea.  All this is included in the $80 USD we paid per person for the night.  Had a glass of red wine with dinner.

Went back to the tent and in bed by 9:30pm.  Generator runs the power from about 6:30-10:00pm and a bit in th morning.  Once it is day light they don't.

Oh and we ordered a wake up call,  Maasi Warrior will knock on the tent at 6am so we can go for an escorted walk to see the hippos in the morning!