The African Savanna

Ahhh, to be in a endless grassland dotted with acacia trees and wild animals... This weekend we are taking a break from the village life to recharge and relax among the animals of Kenya. We are staying at a little tent camp called Acacia Camp, near Machakos, Kenya. Animals from Amboseli and Nairobi National Park and all the way from Tanzania find their way through here during their wanderings.

Zebras, giraffes, wildebeest, gazelles, and oryx spread out over the savanna. The grasses are healthy and high, giving big cats, warthogs, and smaller mammals innumerable hiding places. Big cat sightings are very rare here though, which may be a good thing considering how lightly people worry about walking here. Colorful birds add to the natural ambiance with their beautiful feathers and calls. And one has to be wary of the monkeys near camp being a little too curious about other peoples' belongings.

I got up early this morning to go on a morning walking safari with my dad which is a rare treat when among African wildlife. Usually you are confined to your safari vehicle for safety reasons. But you know how well safety and I get along. Animals are very skittish when they see something standing on two feet though, so getting too close is usually not a concern. Surprisingly vehicles seem to scare them less. Hence all of these pictures came from when we went on a late morning drive thru the plains.

The pictures are a lilac breasted roller, grants zebras, maasai giraffes, and a vervet monkey.