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Published: August 29th 2014
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Maasai women
The 500 shilling picture Adventures abound!!
We were up bright and early for our pick up at 0700. The drive to Maasai Mara is about 6 hours so our guide Joseph wanted to get on the road in time for a Safari drive before dark. Things never really go as planned though do they??? 1035 am- We had just finished speaking with Joseph about the speed limits in Kenya and he explained that his vehicle is equipped with a governor that limits his speeds to 80 kph. Anything over 78 and a beeping starts and if he maintains a speed of greater than 80 for more than 1 minute, the vehicle stops and he has to turn off the engine and restart it. This detail is probably not a surprise to the fellas out there... Well, as we went down a rather steep hill (78kpm most of the way down but really closer to 76-77) and we crested the other side, there was a police stop. Yup- you got it- the police accused Joseph of travelling at a speed of 114 kph (which you now know is not possible due to the governor) saying this was captured by a speed camera - requested his
licence, directed us to a parking lot full of other vehicles and escorted Joseph to a documentation center. We learned very quickly that when agitated, African (men) do not hesitate to loudly and emphatically express themselves. Arnet and I waited in the vehicle. About 1 hour later, escorted by a guard armed with a semi automatic machine gun, Joseph can to give Arnet the keys to the vehicle. He expalined that he refused to bribe the officials and is denying the charges and insisting on seeing the photo camera evidence. Since it was in use catching other "criminals" we were going to need to wait. About another hour passed and we saw Joseph being escorted in hand cuffs and shoved into the back of an army jeep, along with about 5 other men. Now what!!! Well, we did have 2 flats of water so we weren't going to die of thirst... Lol. By this time breakfast water and juice have found their way to our bladders. We need a "loo". We are directed to a metal building in the back 40, past the police station, by the corn field and very near a very nice white tent that is housing
half a dozen white covered chairs with big blue bows- you know, the wedding kind... And a guy dressed in a suit and tie reading a very old book that looked like it would take a small mule to carry it is was so large. Back to the loo... A triangular hole about 6 inches at its widest point and 12 inches long in the middle of the floor. K, so, I am a North American woman but am a farmer's daughter so hitting the mark wasn't that much of a problem... Lol again... So now 2.5 hours have passed. Arnet brought Joseph a bottle of water. We are told he has to stand trial. Remember the tent and the suit and tie guy- here comes the judge and welcome to Kenya's road side court- aka kangaroo court side show-lol #3 - could Arnet drive this 12 passenger, manual shift, left hand drive range rover??? We do have the keys- lol# 4. hey- it's 3 pm and here comes a not too happy looking Joseoh. 10,000 shilling fine ($150 equivalent) , refundable " if" he returns to court in 3 weeks and they can find the photo radar image- seems his lime green truck photo was not discernable from all the other vehicles they pulled over- go figure...Finally- As the old song goes, on the road again...
4:30 pm- We get to the park gates. 5 Tribal ladies in their traditional apparel approach the vehicle. I can take their picture they say- yeah- these ladies are authentic from the Maasai tribe. Point, click, 1,000 shillings!!! What???? I want to hit delete- that is crazy- awkward lol #5. Negotiated 500...
Now the show begins- Safari time- if these first few hours are a peek at what is to come, I may never stop smiling. We saw wildebeests by the hundreds, zebra, Imran, Impala, giraffes, and the piece de resistance- 2 cheetahs laying in the grass next to their nearly devoured fresh kill, bloody faces, tired, content and well fed. And the first of many of what we hope to witness, the African sunset. Driving to the camp in absolute darkness was also an adventure. Who knew wild animals don't mix well with Range Rovers in the dark - they run along side and right in front of you without thought or notice.
Our accommodation is awesome. This is a tent camp- our unit is more like a tent hut. Bedroom with bath along the Mara river, hippos grunting right outside our door, birds, frogs, the occasional whinny from a zebra or wildebeest and who knows what the other "noises of the night" are. Wow!!!
Well, early to bed as we have a 0415 wake up call for our hot air balloon ride over the herds.
We surely have had a God kissed day.
Mouahhhh,
MnA
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giselle
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This is my favorite post so far! 100% reminded me of the driving adventures we had in India, and just like Rich said at our wedding... "When things go un-according to plan, take a look around and take it all in, because those are the moments that make the experience perfect and unique" xoxo