Safari begins

4 June – Masai Mara

We are on the border of Kenya and Tanzania at the Mara Serena Safari Lodge in the center of the game park.  This is our first day of safari and so far we have seen-

Gazelle, elephant, giraffe, buffalo, antelope, hippos, crocodile, zebra, baboon, wildebeest, warthogs, jackal and more birds than I can ever remember.  Our guide, Preston, is wonderful and so knowledgeable.  Our driver is Stanford but goes by “Star”.

We will be in this park for three days doing game drives morning and evening.  We have coffee at 6:00 and then go out until 9:00.  We return to the lodge for breakfast at 9:00 and go out again until noon when we come back for lunch.  In the afternoons we can sit by the pool or take a hot air-balloon ride or go to the spa. Early evening is another drive then a late dinner before bed. .  It is rough but somebody has to do it. 

When we were planning this adventure I had great difficulty finding a safari that fit our timing and our budget.  I mentioned the problem one day in the office and Allen McCormick over heard me.  He told me about Preston.  Allen met Preston’s daughter when she was a student at Kenyon College.  Allen introduced us by email and Preston worked with us to plan the safari.  So we have a seven passenger safari land cruiser for just the two of us.  We stop when we want to stop and we go when we want to go.  I am being spoiled. 

5 June

Up before sunrise, yes, even me!  A quick cup of coffee and then out into the park.  In just a short time we saw four male lions sleeping.  Then a cheetah with three cubs.  Finally, we located two of the female lions.

Back to the lodge for breakfast.  Preston grew up in eastern Kenya.  As a child he looked for birds he could shoot with his sling-shot.  One day he was sent on an errand to the African Inland Missionary’s home.  The missionary had a bird feeder that was attracting many birds.  He explained to Preston that God created these beautiful creatures and he began to teach him about the birds, their names, their calls and their habitat.  Soon Preston knew all the birds.

After finishing secondary school Preston’s family had no more money for his education.  It was about that time that the government of Kenya decided to invest in tourism.  The Swiss built a college for tourism and Preston was enrolled in guiding school.  He taught his children about birds and wildlife.  He turned his small family garden plot into a wildlife sanctuary.  Eventually he built a building and began education children on birds and wildlife.  Now he is a gold level (highest possible) guide and one of the leaders of the Kenyan Guiding Association.  All because of a missionary and a bird feeder.