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A few weeks into our african adventure, we left the little village of Machakos and headed for the Rift Valley for a few days of relaxation.  Our destination was the Maasai Mara (a large park reserve in south-western Kenya).  Our tour guide kept on telling us that we would see animals but it may take longer than expected…. this is not your African Lion Safari (Ontario styles ).  These animals are not kept in a fenced area… they roam around freely.  We were SO lucky to have seen all the animals we did.  Obviously, they’re not all posted here.  But here are a few of my favourites:

The Rift Valley

Some kids on the side of the road seeing us in our van!

They were VERY ecxited!

Catchin’ a ride up a large hill…

We hadn’t even arrived to the official reserve area and we saw some zebras.

Young Masai kids

This photo is hanging in my living room  There’s something amazing about Acacia trees!

The lazy lions would not wake up, until….

….I started yelling out with my cat voice!!  It was quite ridiculous and hilarious… but as the lions started waking up, everyone was very happy with me!

thank you 70-200 mm f2.8L lens

I love the birds hanging out on this giraffe’s back

My favourite photo of the safari… Our eagle-eyed tour guide spotted this cheetah LAYING DOWN IN HIGH GRASS from VERY far away!!!

My heart was racing as I was trying to take the photo because he kept on yelling “We’re not supposed to be here… hurry take your shot and let’s go!!”

Can you see Shrek in this next photo?

check out his legs!

Tomorrow’s post will be about my experience visiting a MASAI TRIBE!!!

Thanks for reading… and don’t forget to comment

By now, you may have come to realize that I have a passion for traveling.  But what you may not know is that I would rather travel on a mission 9 times out of 10.  There’s something about going to a place and being thrust into a different culture – with people who live SO differently than you!  There’s nothing like it.  I’m always left inspired and impacted for the better.

In recent days (and because of my upcoming trip to Zambia!!!) I’m reliving my Kenyan/Rwandan trip I took back in 2007.

FYI photogs… these photos were taken pre Mark III 1Ds.  Back then, I was still rocking out the 20d  :)

First stop Nairobi… This was the view we had from our hotel called “the WAB”!

The potholes in Kenya are SO brutal.

While in Kenya, we spent most of our time in Machakos… a little town an hour outside of Nairobi.

The kids have gorgeous spirits… and they LOVE to touch the top of your head (you’ll see this in many of the photos!!) I have NO clue why!!

the facilities

my sister Amy and her lovely friend Bella – whom she became very fond

their reality…

I’m not sure about this scaffolding!

their security system

The simple joys of life.

On the left: humble toys.  On the right: Amy giving the kids stickers.

TIP: ALWAYS bring stickers!!!

This kid had NEVER seen a MUSUNGU (white person) and kept yelling “musungu, musungu” as we walked by!!

MY best Kenyan memory… arriving at a local church and being welcomed with dancing!

What we didn’t know was that, another church was expecting white people to come and visit (photo below)… and we weren’t planned for that.  But I took on the challenge and decided to go to that church and speak to them!

I will never forget this moment. While I was speaking, the translator paused.  When I asked her why she wasn’t asking the children my question “how old are you?”.  She told me “I can’t ask them that question because these children do not know their ages.”

a young girl counting the mornings church offering

the church I spoke at…

And lastly, here’s a photo of my mom holding a “gift” for speaking at the church

I took thousands of photos while I was in Kenya/Rwanda… so there will be a few more posts to come this week

Happy Monday!!