Kenya: Nakuru, Masai Mara, Amboseli, Tsavo West and East with in2kenya Giovanni - part 3 — travel diary by lacrisa

The story

AMBOSELI – TSAVO WEST

I wake up, I stretch, still under the covers, already savouring the new day. Boiling hot shower, then off, breakfast, we're ready to set off again. The day greets us with a bright dawn, the red sun rises among the branches of a tree. In the distance we glimpse, hidden by the tall grass of their own colour, a pride of lions, they are approaching. We stop. Then the intuition of our guides leads us to move a little further ahead, along the road. Here they come, right toward our car. There are eleven of them!! a padded step, some still with the blood of the prey on the fur of their coats. They are females and a young male, with the beginnings of a growing mane. The leader of the pride has a radio collar. 3 hyenas follow them.

They come very close to our jeep, slow down, check, then quicken their pace, cross the road, go toward the water, to drink, after the rich meal!! We leave the park, and take the road that will lead us to Tsavo West. Arriving in the park we're welcomed by an absolutely unexpected landscape. Enclosed between the hills, an immense expanse of black lava!! Shetani Lava Flow!! As far as the eye can see, only stretches of lava!! A very evocative and particular landscape. We continue our safari, to reach the Lodge for lunch. The Ngulia Lodge is on one of the hills that dominate the park, and the view is spectacular, below us arid, dry stretches of savannah.

In the afternoon, after lunch, we go to visit the Mzima Springs, a particular place, where the water gushes from the lava earth, it's limpid and transparent, with reeds on its banks, hippos cooling off and crocodiles waiting!! On the way back, near a water spring, a fantastic cheetah that is drinking awaits us!! Then, with its grace, it gets up, walking and licking its whiskers, it moves away. But the surprises aren't over!! After dinner a veritable spectacle of nature awaits us!! The leopard!! It arrives with a padded step. Seeing the agile muscles moving under that glossy coat is truly breathtaking!! It climbs the tree and starts to eat!! You can see its strength, yellow eyes shining in the night!! It's frightening and at the same time enchanting! I could stay watching it all night, for a moment I think that, it would only need to make a leap, and it would be where we are.

For it, a metre and a half, two at most, is a joke to overcome. But it's just a momentary thought, I'm too enchanted and happy to think about that!! I don't stay all night watching it, only because it's the one that leaves. So I get up, and go to sleep. African night

TSAVO WEST – TSAVO EAST

In the morning I wake up, I start to feel sad!! only 2 days left, then this safari ends too!! Ugh, I'm already thinking about the next one!!! We climb into the jeep, still sleepy. The temperature is decidedly different from that of the first days up north! I'm no longer wrapped in the blanket. A jacket is enough for me. I feel the coast approaching. As we leave the park, 4 lionesses bid us farewell from the dry grass of the savannah. We arrive at the entrance of Tsavo East park and immediately come across 2 giraffes. As we drive along the road the landscape changes, now here's the red of the earth!! We arrive at Mudanda Rock, a formation of red rock formed millions of years ago. We get out and climb onto its back! From here we see the boundless landscape of Tsavo! I'd like to stay here, it feels good, but we have to set off again.

We come across a group of zebras, some little ones resting, lying on the red earth. Then here, on our road, 4 elephants, two adults and two calves. They're beautiful, covered in mud, they're trying to imitate the grown-ups. They stretch out their trunks, try to drink. They're beautiful but very funny!! One of the elephant cows, however, doesn't like our arrival. She spreads her ears, raises her trunk, trumpets! She takes a step toward us shaking her enormous head!! Well, I'd say it's better to leave!!!! Towards evening, when we're heading back to our camp, there's a pair of young cheetahs. Comfortably lying down. One is legs in the air!! They get up, elegant, they move. They stretch, cross the road in front of us and start stalking. They've seen a group of gazelles in the distance. One crouches, the other moves aside. They start approaching, low among the grass.

Off, there, one has set off. Mamma Mia, it's really fast!! The gazelle runs in zigzags, the cheetah behind, trying to anticipate its moves, but nothing comes of it. After a few minutes it gives up its probable, perhaps, future prey. They meet again, lick each other... it'll be for next time!! African night

TSAVO EAST – COAST

In the morning, I look around. Today is the last day. Here at Ndololo camp, honestly, I'd stay a couple more days!! It's truly a beautiful camp. Just redone. The tents are spacious, a beautiful bed made of roots. I go to have breakfast, we are truly in the savannah. The camp is directly in the park. There are no fences. What a spectacle. It's immersed in and perfectly integrated with nature!! During breakfast, a herd of elephants arrives at the waterhole near the restaurant, and in front of the tents. What colours!! Because of the earth of the park, they aren't grey like those of Amboseli or Nakuru, or Mara, but red, a beautiful reddish brown. Beautiful. And with this spectacle, I bid farewell to my last safari. We climb into the jeep, and set off to conclude our trip. On the way home, we meet zebras, gazelles, giraffes.

And the last one, as if to greet us, on the bank of the Galana river, a lioness comfortably lying down!!

Good morning Africa, here you are again to give me emotions and life. The safari is over, I'm sorry, but I'm happy, I'm about to return to my African home. I want to see it again, to reopen it. Kwaheri savannah, see you soon. Because you know I'll be back here before long!!!!