Kenya 2014: The Day of a Lifetime

 

Early morning selfie, happy me!

They awoke me at 5:30 with a tray of hot coffee and a few cookies.  By 6:30, we were off in the Land Rover, four guests trying not to hope too hard that we would see one of the most spectacular visions of the African wilderness (or anywhere else on the planet): Some of the 1.5 million animals of the yearly Great Migration crossing the river.  My South African travel agent warned me that it was very difficult to be there at just the right time.  If I wanted it too much, I would very likely be disappointed.  I had worked hard to ameliorate my hope over the months while I was anticipating the trip.

My drive-mates and Timothy our guide/ranger all hoped too much too.

Soon after setting out, we saw a nursing baby elephant.  A few giraffe.  Wonderful things to see.  Things that always have and always will delight me.

Then Tim got a call on the radio: the animals were amassing across the river.

Suddenly were hurtling over rough roads.  Hanging on for dear life.  Heather in the seat behind me mumbled, “This is the most stressful ride of my life.”  I silently repeated my mantra, “Don’t get us there too late.  Don’t get us there too late.”

The dash through the wilderness took half an hour.

We pulled up to the edge of the steep bank, and this is what happened next:

Adding this incase the movie does not upload properly.

And when the crossing stopped, here is how Heather looked:

And here is how I looked:

A champagne lunch was called for!!

Soul-satisfied Annamaria - Monday