It is with great anticipation that I raise from the couch on which I have been sleeping restlessly for a few hours. Fortunately it is still such an early hour that my mind is rather numb, and I don't have to get all worked up about it all just yet. I pack up my belongings and leave the small flat I have been borrowing in Stockholm before moving on to Arlanda airport. When entering the departure hall and locating the proper counters the first thing I notice is that there is a long and winding queue in front of the Iran Air check in desks. The second thing I notice is the impressive amount of luggage carried by my fellow passengers; there is an obscene amount of trolleys stacked with heavy plastic suitcases, cardboard boxes, improvised ... read more

This morning I don't feel so well and decide to stay in bed while the group goes on the morning safari. In the afternoon we hike over to the nearby Masai village to have a look around and are welcomed by Big Moses and his fellows. There is a market where you can buy some trinkets and we are invited inside one of the traditional huts made of cow dung to look around. Apart from the door there is only a small window and it is absolutely pitch black inside even though there is a fireplace in the middle of the room. As we crowd some fifteen people inside you could be forgiven to think you were inside a sauna. The visit to the village was extremely interesting and the Masai very friendly, and the fact ... read more

We repeat the method of early morning and afternoon safari as yesterday. I am disappointed at the fact that everybody is now blasé and bored of the "common" animals and are ranting about the big five and where to spot them. The car will speed past fantastic groups of antelopes and gazelles as if they were cows ruminating next to the freeway. Everytime I ask if we could stay for a picture everbody seems completely surprised and almost bored, which pisses me off. When I return I will have a car of my own, and I will take the time to appreciate these fantastic animals in peace. Mr. Wahlstedt, our main guide has a keen eye for birds, so keen in fact that whenever he points out a great snake eagle or huff puffed pointy buzzard ... read more

The circumstances for this trip were a bit unusual. I had always had these romanticised dreams about Africa in general, and safaris in particular. I had been reading the ads in the newspapers for quite some time, but it was not until I came across a special priced group tour to Kenya and the Masai Mara that I finally decided to act and booked myself a seat. Having done that my boss suddenly decided that I should go on a month long biz trip across the pond to Denver, Colorado in September, talk about lousy timing. Fortunately my plan was already set and booking made, so I managed to get a decent compromise. I got to spend two weeks in Denver and then fly home for the weekend, do the laundry, pack the bag and go ... read more