The Bees, were a buzzing and the plane was awaiting Porini Rhino Camp

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Day 3: We had to leave early from the camp as we were to catch a flight. Before that however, I woke up to bees buzzing in the back ground. At first I thought it was noise from a radio, so I unzipped the tent to see where the ruckus was and then realized the buzzing of the bees.I looked around expecting to see a swarm but to no avail. I rezipped the tent to have my amazing filtered coffee that the Maasai brought to me earlier , and got dressed quickly to go on the bee hunt. Walking around, as I drew nearer to some trees the buzzing got louder. I was , as I said, expecting a swarm so I tiptoed ever so carefully up to the tree. As I was getting closer the buzzing was getting louder, and there they were. Not a swarm but still thousands of bees in amongst the tree seeming to extract some nectar. They were unbothered by me, so I just watched natures little miracles.

Packed, we needed to get going if we were going to see the sunrise and then catch our little short hopper to the Rhino camp. The day was clearly going to be beautiful. We raced to a perfect sunrise, with Acacia trees in the back ground of Mount Kenya. As the sun peeped up we sat and marveled at the quietness and calmly drank in the serenity and well being of the truly majestic sight. We were fortunate that Mount Kenya was visible because it usually is clouded over from our point of view. It was meant to be.

We hopped on the twelve - seater short hopper back at the landing strip and said our good byes to the Maasai warriors and quickly flew back to Nairobi for our next flight out. At the Rhino camp later after the second flight from Nairobi we were greeted by our next set of Maasai warriors who we call Little John and Benjiman. BUT WAIT! a half hour before we arrived at our camp we came across Cheetahs lazing under an Acacia tree. We moved in close trying to to capture the perfect angle for that great shot. As one was preening another lazed around, then they both suddenly got up and one leaned towards the Acacia tree backwards and promptly pissed at the bark marking its territory. I've seen this before. Its like saying "Beware. I 've got this territory covered" .

After getting into the camp we decided to meet up with 3 Maasai warriors and armed with spears , set out on a 40 minute walk in the wild. We were the prey. However, the Land Rover followed in the distance just in case we met up with some predators. After a while we were treated to a spear throwing demonstration and some bush singing. I hefted the spear, it weighed quite heavy. When the Maasai warrior threw it, it arced about 40 feet. It did not seem far, but the weight was the issue. It turns out that these spears are for killing from a short distance.

We came across large holes in the road seemingly at random. We were explained that they were Aardvark diggings searching for food. These large holes once dug up can then be used by other animals as shelter. Symbiotic is the buzz word.

We also noticed whispering small Acacia thorny bushes. At closer look we shook the little bulbs and out came tiny ants. On examination, the bulbs have tiny holes that the ants make and they go after the fruit juices inside. A large shake of the bush and 1000's came out disturbed. It was quite a sight. The Maasai use the thorns as tooth picks. The bushes them selves are used for fencing around the villages to keep out the riffraff. The bark can also be used as a medicinal tea.

As we continued, it was raining off and on through the day. A rainbow materialized in front of us, and what appeared in front of the rainbow! A Giraffe!! Yup . The perfect pic. What luck. The Giraffe waited for me to take the photo. Rain continued, it was getting dark, time to head back. Off to the left we saw Cheetahs running parallel then off to the bushes.. We followed. Luck, Luck, Luck. Sure enough they walked across our path, hunting. To dark now. Time for supper.

Just before though, I decided I wanted to see Giraffes, the gang stayed home, but I was stubborn as well for the sunset. Indeed, on the savanna, there they were, lined up in a sunset backdrop, jumping and swinging their long necks. They sleep standing up for only 12 minutes at a time apparently. It was a rare procession of Giraffes because they usually like to be less inclined to group up.

I was lucky to nab up to eight Giraffes as a back drop to the sunset. Perfect ending to the greatest day yet.

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Comments

[Shae]

Amazing!
An incredible journey well told and illustrated! Look forward to much more!

[Charmaine]

Wow! That's incredible you caught the giraffes at sunset and without the crew. I imagine that would've been an astonishing moment!