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Thomas and Bonnie
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Kenya, Africa...
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February - March... 1999 |
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Africa ... "A Dream Come
True" |
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This Safari was a dream come true for
me. |
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Not many people can say they have lived
their dream ... but I can! |
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Not until the first day we arrived in Nairobi and saw
ostrich walking around the grounds of the luxurious Safari Park Hotel or
woke up the next morning to a view of the African Tulip tree in full bloom,
filled with singing birds outside our window, did I know my |
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dream was a reality. Everyone shared
the excitement as we enjoyed our welcome dinner. |
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Next we were traveling to Sweetwater's
Tented Camp ... watching the giraffe, zebra, warthogs, and many others come
strolling by ... awesome. A bench strategically placed on the spacious grounds
was a perfect spot to relax |
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while the marabou stork preened it's
feathers by the pool before flying to the top of the tree to feed it's babies
in the nest. Watching birds with colors of the rainbow everywhere. |
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Another game run found us observing how
native ants protect the Whistling Thorn Acacia tree by popping out of their
nests, willing defenders, as soon as that tree is touched or listening closely
to the legend of the Fever Tree Acacia as we observe it's unique bark. Joining
the guide to walk beside "Morani," one of the rare Black Rhinos or visiting
a Chimpanzee rescue facility only to hear of the conditions from which they
were rescued and be amazed at their progress after arriving here. |
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Next we were visiting one of the local
schools as part of the "Gift Book Program" developed by
Park East
Tours President Marcia Gordon. What a treat to hear the children
sing for us ... (the now totally familiar Jambo song). Presenting them with
books and other gifts from America. |
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On to Samburu where the chef prepared
a special cake and the entire staff serenaded us as we celebrated our 34th
wedding anniversary. Watching Elephants drinking in the river from the front
porch of our rustic cottage located on the banks of the river. Hearing the
on site Naturalist emphasize that the Gerenuk (Long - necked Antelope, |
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unusual because it feeds standing on
it's back legs), Reticulated Giraffe, Grevy's Zebra, and Beisa Oryx were
native only to this area. Going on Game drives each day with drivers that
had such a vast knowledge of the animals and the land. |
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How interesting is was to visit a Samburu village
where the homes were made from sticks and cow dung. Feeling welcome as we
were admitted to this special culture and it's everyday routines. |
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Now on to the Luxurious Mt. Kenya Safari
Club where we had a sunken bath tub so large you had to walk down the steps
into it ... a luxurious living room with a fireplace, and a large bedroom
... all with a view of Mt. Kenya. |
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We rushed to visit the
Stephanie Powers Animal Orphanage where we fed the rare bongo, & colobus
monkey. Observed the cheetah, white rhino, crowned crane, pygmy hippo, &
so much more.
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Next came Maasai Mara where we landed
on a remote airstrip. We stayed in cottages that I called our Flintstone
house where you heard zebra chatting through the night, ate breakfast by
the Hippo Pool, took daily game drives to watch cheetah, elephant, leopard,
lion, hyena, cape buffalo, giraffe, wildebeest, zebra and more ... All roaming
free ... Here we found the ultimate photographers paradise. Family was the
dominant theme here. Animal babies were at play everywhere. Elephant, Lion,
Cheetah, Bat-eared Fox, Baboon, Zebra, and |
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Wildebeast ... All the family units we
were privileged to observe in survival training as nature provided the classroom.
Maasai Mara was the crowning touch and a fitting end to my dream. |
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Kenya was everything I dreamed it would
be and more ... The people of Kenya ... were the best. Everyone at
Park East Tours,
and the management and staff of the lodges will always have a special place
in my heart. Without their guidance and generosity in sharing their knowledge,
this experience would have been very different. My best friends, who lived
there 4 |
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years, gave me the correct perspective
when remarking "You will never again be the same when you return from Kenya"
HOW TRUE! |
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A special thanks to 5 people who touched
my life in a very special way...Joe & Tony ... Your kindness, dedication,
& constant smiles will replay in my memory always... Samuel ... Thanks
for being so kind as to share your knowledge of the native animals, numerous
birds, & special plants of Samburu. I consider your friendship a real
blessing. Bob ... what special memories you brought our way while showing
us the beautiful animals of Maasai Mara. I still watch the leopard video
and am amazed that you were able to spot it. |
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Thanks for your part in making my love
of animals come to life by seeing them in the wild. Jackson ... What can
I say about you my friend? You made us feel so special. Never getting tired
of our endless questions. Sharing your knowledge with us so freely. Thanks
for making us feel so welcome in your country. You, my friend, are truly
a very special human being. I am so thankful God brought our paths
together. |
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Who knew...A girl from Tennessee ...
who dreamed of someday seeing the animals she loved so much as she watched
the Safari specials on TV or thumbed through the pages of so many books ...
would be able to live that dream. My life has changed... I will never view
the world, or the animals in it, the same way ... because I was able to live
my dream. I am planning to revisit the beautiful country of Kenya because
I have many other entries I must add to my Park East Safari Journal ... |
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Through my business, my husband and I
have traveled to Hawaii, Egypt, Germany, Austria, "Around the World in 18
days" (Bali, Singapore, India, Switzerland, & Spain), Australia, New
Zealand, Alaska, this African Safari in Kenya, and a stop in Amsterdam. Until
9 years ago, I had never been west of the Mississippi. Now I have a passport
full of exciting destinations. |
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It seems as tho we found a group of special
friends and traveling buddies. Where will we be in 2000? Why in South America
of course ... Traveling down the Amazon, and visiting Argentina, Peru, and
Chile ... and maybe we will visit London and Ireland too ... and then there's
always Hawaii... |
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What about your dreams? ... Give your Dreams Wings
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Dreams DO Come True ... Keep on Dreamin' ...
Bonnie Oliver, Indian Harbor Beach, Florida
BOLIVERHOL@aol.com |
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"If you visit only two continents in your lifetime,
visit Africa. Twice!"
R. Elliot |
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Chosen by Kenyan Culture @ BellaOnline
for the month of February, 2001.
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