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actly a tent slung across some post, but a first-rate lodge with Click...click. Look at those ostriches trotting by right over
all the usual resort attributes. A large dining room and bar, there. Monkeys were ample, in groups or solo. It took awhile
individual air-conditioned guest rooms, and well-trimmed but yes that was a family of cheetahs with mama tending to
strolling grounds (though with strict rules junior. Click...click.
about where and when you might stroll on
your own) betrayed the movies’ roughing it Sometimes it took a bit of driving to spot
in the bush style. a set (tower, pride, cackle) of animals, and
the various drivers were in frequent radio
After a pleasant dinner, comfortable sleep communication alerting each other as to
and breakfast, it was time for our first safa- where a particular bunch was to be seen.
ri. We loaded into our vans, with cameras at Sometimes a dozen vans would be gathered
the ready, and our driver Daniel headed us in the vicinity of a couple of lions lounging
out to locate some wildlife for us to see, ad- twenty feet off the road, or a set of gazelles
mire, and photograph. We had been alerted prancing in the field. Always cameras were
to bring along cameras with high-telephoto busy. Over the next several days, these van
lenses. My past experiences with 35 mm trips headed out twice a day, early morn-
cameras was with long lenses, but today=s ing and late afternoons when the wildlife
digital cameras can come with 18-20 times would be more active.
telephoto power at about the size of an IP-
hone, at a cost of about $100. By now we were learning a few useful Ken-
yan Swahili phrases. Often spouted by us
Very soon we saw the wildlife, most of and locals was “Hakuna matata” meaning
which ignored us as they just went about their regular lives. “no problem.” We were greeted with “Karibu” (welcome), and
They’re used to seeing a couple dozen tourist vans driving by we picked up that always-important phrase “Asante sama”
and stopping to peruse them, so might as well just do what or “thank you.” When we had seen enough and were ready to
comes with outdoors living. And, yes, there was that pack move on, we would say “Sawa sawa” to the driver. (These are
of a dozen elephants lounging beside and crossing the road. phonetic spellings, and may not hold up in language class.)

80 Wine Dine & Travel Winter 2015