They say that visiting Africa changes you forever and I for one believe it. I spied on groups of elephants, played with baby cheetahs, and got a personal welcome from a group of Masai warriors!
The trip was orchestrated by Micato Safaris, a family-owned and operated business that has won virtually every travel award available for the quality of their trips. I was immediately taken in by their obvious delight in sharing their home country and culture with us.
After a lengthy flight from New York, we began our African adventure in Nairobi, ensconced at the historic Fairmont, The Norfolk hotel. Built in 1904, the elegant hotel, hard by the bush, is said to have been the starting point for the development of the city of Nairobi. Originally designed as a place for weary game hunters to rest and relax, it has since played host to dignitaries from around the world. The hotel's architecture and decor is a glorious mix of colonial and African influences and I could easily picture the ladies and gentleman of Colonial society sipping their drinks on the beautifully appointed out door terrace.
After an amazing welcome reception, I went happily off to bed for some much needed rest. The next morning after a safari briefing from Micato (always important to know how to behave in the midst of wild animals!) we lunched at the residence of Ambassador Michael Ranneberger, the current US Ambassador to Kenya. He is a fascinating man, who has made his life in diplomacy. He is responsible for relations with Somalia and has aided diplomatic efforts in Mogadishu, Cuba and El Salvador. The ambassador was a very gracious host and we had a delicious luncheon.
The next day we headed off into the bush and the majestic plains of the Masai Mara. I was eager to see some elephants and hunt some of the other Big Five animals, armed with my trusty camera.
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