Out of Africa

Although our February trip to East Africa had nothing to do with wine, we experienced the most magnificant animals, up close and personal. We took a zillion photos while in Kenya and Tanzania, but just want to share a few that recall some of the wonderful encounters and spectacular sights we experienced.

                                                                       WELCOME TO KENYA

 

On our first game drive out we came upon this amazing creature just sittin' in a tree!

                                                                                             

                                                                                              LEOPARD IN CENTRAL MERU

                                                                          

 

     Later that night we came upon two lions.

                                                                                      LIONS SPOONING IN THE MOONLIGHT

                                                                          

The next day, we spotted several baby lions curled up in a tree. Who knew that lions climbed up into trees? I didn't.

                                                                          

                                                                         

 

We visited a Maasai village in the Serengeti National Park.  Originating from Kenya, the Maasai are among the more well-known African tribes, like the Zulu and the Bantu, due to their more distinguishing customs and homes near popular game reserves in East Africa. A Maasai warrior invited us into his mud hut, called a boma, to meet his wife and child.

                                                                                                

                                                                                                     MAASAI WARRIOR

                                                                          

                                                                                                                                                                  

                                                                                           MAASAI MOTHER AND CHILD

                                                                          

 

One of the places in which we stayed was Richard Branson's beautiful tented camp in Narok in the Rift Valley.

                                                                              

                                                                                     RICHARD BRANSON'S TENTED CAMP

                                                                         

 

Did you know that giraffes are the tallest land animals in the world? And so graceful! Unfortunately, they are beginning to become scarce and may soon be designated an endangered species.

                                                                     

                                                                                                 GIRAFFES IN NAROK

                                                                         

 

                                                                               HIPPOS IN THE SERENGETI NATIONAL PARK

                                                                        

 

Oh boy, did this surprise us!

 

                                                                                        CHEETAH ON SAFARI VEHICLE

                                                                        

               

                                                                                                       TANZANIA

Instead of zip lining, we swayed over nine suspension bridges in the Nanyara National Park.

                                                                                                                                                                                    

                                                                       

 

                                                                                THE RIM OF THE NGORONGORO CRATER

                                                                       

 

                                                                 MAASAI VILLAGE IN THE NGORONGORO CONSERVATION AREA

 

                                                                        

                                                                        

                                                                       

                                                                       

                                                            FAREWELL LUNCH IN THE BUSH PRESENTED BY THE FOUR SEASONS HOTEL

                                                                                 NGORONGORO CONSERVATION AREA

                                                                       

The other couple in our small group of 5 we discovered was from another Napa Valley town-- Yountville-- of all places. Now we can easily continue the friendships we formed in Africa.