My travels in Kenya were characterized by an unexpected collection of people who gave the journey its unique flavor. Our tour group of seven, plus my former Pastor and his wife, was a revelation. I had figured there would be three couples and me. Instead I found myself one of a group of seven women. That was in 1994. Woman’s Lib as it was called back then was beginning to blossom. Maybe there were other female-only tour groups, but I wasn’t aware of any. This one occurred accidentally and I loved it!
Thomas, our guide, was the son of a Samburu hunter who taught him the ancient ways of tracking animals. He was overjoyed with the eight “mamas” he could show his beloved country to. We spent our nights in lodges located on several different game reserves, cocooned in mosquito nets to protect us from malaria. Before daylight and around four o’clock in the afternoon we went out on daily “game drives” in hopes of spotting animals in their habitats during their feeding times. Thomas drove us in a white diesel Toyota minivan with its top cut out so we could stand and get a 360 degree view. We were usually joined by several other groups staying at the lodge also riding in white Toyota open-topped minivans. When we saw vans parked in a field near the road we knew there had to be animals somewhere. Guides called out to us what they had spotted and we joined the group. The animals were so accustomed to people in minivans riding around every day they acted like we were just part of the scenery. There is a wonderful cartoon strip on Gary Larson’s Far Side picturing a couple of minivans driving around and one animal saying to another one, “Convertible! Convertible!”
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I love hearing about your adventures. ❤
Thanks, Colleen. I have fun reliving them. Thank goodness I kept a journal. ❤
Fantastic! I had no idea you had been to Kenya with an impromptu “women’s lib” group. Haha. 🙂 I’m catching up on blog reading today with yours as my first stop. Not disappointed. ❤
I’m so glad my writing does not disappoint you. Your comments give me new energy to write. You make an excellent muse. ❤ I kept journals on the trip and I love reliving it as I write.