Africa Day 3

Roy's notes Today we are leaving the Samburu. We are up early to get some breakfast before we leave at 07:30. For some reason, the duffle bags seem to take up more room this morning and they have trouble fitting them all in. Before we leave the park, we go on another game drive. We have seen so many animals in the 3 game drives we have had so far that you would think we would become jaded, but each time someone spots an elephant or garaffe everyone looks, the driver Edward stops and the cameras pop. As we stop to photograph some baboons, word comes over the radio that a leapord has been spotted. Off we go with petal to the metal over roads or trails which make logging roads seem like super highways. Its' easy to spot where the leapord has been spotted, you just look for the dust. When we get there, there already 4 vans there and soon after another 4 or 5 arrive. The leapord is just sitting up in a tree resting after eating part of an impala ignoring all what is going on around it. The leapord has dragged the impala, the size of a small horse up the tree to feast and keep it away from the lions. Apparently leapords are rarely spotted because the hunt at night and sleep hidden during the day. Edward, our driver says that the chances of seeing one is only about 2 out of 5. What a magnificent animal. While leaving the park, we stop at the gates for a bathroom break and are hounded by men trying to sell copper jewerly which we were told not to buy because the copper is stolen from telephone and cable lines. Sound familiar. We leave the park behind and start the climb to Mount Kenya Lodge . The country side changes from dry, farely flat savanna where even grass is tough to grow to hillside country with wheat and canola fields. Here they have tractors and combines where in the Samburu area everything is done by hand or animals. It is about a two hour drive to the lodgfe, and the Toyota vans struggle with the hills. We arrived for lunch. The Lodge is fantastic. It makes you feel like those rich snobs who use to sit in Africa in the movies. Everything is first class from the decor to service. I don't know what it costs per night but I would love to spend a few more days just taking the grounds in. The lodge is located right on the equator so now we have crossed the equator several times. The lunch was out of this world, variety and taste. Linda and I went to the pool, and its in the Southern hemisphere and we are staying in the northern hemisphere, a short 2 minute walk. We are travelling with 2 other couples , 12 other Canadians and 2 women from Connecticut. Everyone is really easy to get along with. Our room is a suite and is 5 star by our books. Dinner was also first class. I can't seem to get the pictures to go where I want them so you have to bare with me. In the afternoon, I crashed trying to get over my cold, and Linda toured the grounds. They have a maze and a 9 hole golf course. We think we may try the golf tomorrow.