Firstly may thank you all for your individual part in our recent holiday to Kenya.
We arranged the holiday at fairly short notice last December, and offer our thanks to Laura for her skill in organizing flights, accommodation etc to our very exacting requirements including being in a specific place (Lake Nakuru) for the morning of the Annular Solar Eclipse. From previous experience, to complete all the required transactions with only 1 phone call and 3 emails was exceptional.
From the moment of our arrival at Nairobi until the moment of our departure we were looked after by George Siamento our guide and driver from Eyes on Africa Safaris. We consider this to have been a most excellent piece of luck. George is a warm character, helpful and personable, probably the best and most knowledgeable guide we have met in recent years. He maintained our itinerary for the trip and also provided variations as we requested thus making the trip, both interesting and relaxing.
His skill in spotting game from 2 miles or so was amazing and provided such great photographic opportunities that we were regularly the first and sometimes the only ones on the scene. If we had had one, we are sure that our tick list would have been completely full with bonus marks awarded particularly for being so close to some of the big cats and away from other vehicles at the same time.
Our best moment came on Friday 15th January when we arrived just before dawn at Baboon Lookout facing east and overlooking Lake Nakuru. The three of us were alone except for a few baboons for almost half an hour before others began to arrive. The Lake was like glass and the dawn light provided a magical and unforgettable pre-eclipse spectacle. All thanks to George for locating and taking us to this superb viewing platform. The solar eclipse was excellent, a ring of fire is rarely seen.
 
Lake Nakuru and the eclipse were our specific holiday highlight, but mention must be made also of the other places we visited.
Beautiful Crater Lake, especially the game walk with Elijah on the first afternoon, walking so close to so many wild animals generates a really good feeling. Sarova Lion Hill Lodge was good, especially the food.
Maji Moto – along with a Dutch couple, we renamed it Magic Moto. The Masai looking after us are wonderful people, fun, helpful and informative – especially Sankale Ntutu, who also has a keen sense of humor and how Nakola the chef managed to produce such food in his small kitchen amazed us.
Masai Mara – the camp was not as we had expected, with rows of tents overlooking the plains, but secluded and in the bush thus giving it a genuine feel of the wild.
Overall we had a great time but all too soon the holiday was over and it was time to return home. We have no doubt that we will return to Africa again, most likely for the Total Solar Eclipse 3 Nov 2013 perhaps earlier one can never know.
If it had been possible, we would have stayed longer in Kenya but our resources did not allow for it this time. When our safari came to an end, we realized that we had come to regard George not just as our driver/guide but as a long lost and newly found friend, for it felt as though we had known him for ever. We will try and maintain contact and also will perhaps consider what we could do for the school at Maji Moto.
Our thanks again to all involved, but especially to our friend George.
Chaz & Sue Stevens, UK |
