Ken-yeah!

For February Break Ryan and I decided to forgo skiing and head to Kenya for a safari. It wasn't a huge sacrifice, as anyone who knows me remembers that I don't do anything downhill fast. Luckily, Kenya is relatively flat and not very slippery so it seemed like a perfect vacation spot! We were accompanied by Ryan's younger brother, Isaac, as well as our friends Courtney and Erin from ASL. 

The adventure began right in Heathrow Airport, where we got a sneak peek at the animals to come. After a 9-hour flight and a night in Nairobi we were off  to Lake Naivasha and Lake Nakuru for our first game drive. This is where my hankering for death began. It's not my fault, I blame my friend Michelle who told me about her experience watching the wildebeest crossing several years ago on the Masai River. I had hopes of daily carnage, but alas, we only witnessed the wildlife peacefully grazing or snoozing. Booooooo. 

Jambo! Part of the welcoming committee, this lion was the first animal we saw in Lake Nakuru.
He was chillin' like a villain on the porch of a ranger house.

Doesn't this young zebra look so tasty? Here kitty, kitty, kitty.

So alone, so vulnerable. I'm hungry already.

Their best flamingo impression.

Our best flamingo impression.

We're so glad to see sun! 

A few pictures of Kembu house, the most relaxing place evah!

Just a cool tree.

Off to the Masai Mara (or the Serengeti, to you Tanzanians). Five hours on the bumpy road from Nukuru to the Masai Mara were nothing for those of us who spent ELEVEN days straight on similar roads in Mongolia. Ryan summed it up nicely: "The only difference between this trip and Mongolia is that at the end of five hours in Kenya there's something cool to see." And food, Ryan, don't forget that there is also food in Kenya.

This stone marks the dividing point between Tanzania and Kenya. 

She crossed right in front of our van! 

These ladies were hungry. Earlier in the day the male ran off with their kill.
Typical.

This pretty much sums up the entire trip for Isaac.*

The Crown Prince of Uganda.
Funny, he looks no less than a king to me.

Giraffes are so sweet.

Good one, Isaac!

Ok, I lied. We DID see a kill. A bird, much like this one, caught
a grasshopper mid-flight. I'll take what I can get.

After our day in the park, we stopped to visit a Masai village. They greeted us with a traditional dance, and they showed us their jumping skills. The higher a man can jump, the more impressive he is to a woman.

After this contest, I'm reconsidering my choice.
The one in red has jumped highest by far. Swoon!

The village chief on the left is in his nineties, and he still came out to greet
us and shake our hands! His son is on the right. 

Baby animals are our favorite!

No, most of the pictures in the collage above were not taken on safari. We also visited an elephant orphanage and a giraffe nature park when we returned to Nairobi.

Erin gets romantic with a giraffe.

It's not personal. My face is like this when I kiss Ryan, too.

In conclusion:

1) Kenya is da bomb. 

Staff (and new friends) from the Bush House.

2) Kenyans are some of the friendliest people I've ever met.

3) Animals are cool. 

4) Animals killing animals are even cooler, but harder to see : ( Hence, no photo.

Poa Travel founders, Willy and Jen, and their friend. 

5) If you are planning on a safari in Tanzania or Kenya, use Poa Travels

6) Traveling with spouses, siblings, and friends is awesome.

7) Booking your return ticket for a month later than you intended (and realizing this the evening before your nearly sold-out flight departs) is not.

** Isaac, many thanks for providing many of the pictures on this blog. Your camera is so tight.