Kenya -- February 1, 2001

We finished our packing, leaving our luggage in the room GUW had kept for the day. Farewells to the three folk (Mary Amy, and Cassidy) who were continuing with a third week and going to the coast. After breakfast the eight of us headed for the market to do the final purchasing of items that will be sold at the GUW fundraiser. Since I am no good at bargaining, and hate doing it, I told Cammie I'd accompany her and carry purchases but that she could do the purchasing.

Behind the shopping center we'd been at several times (within walking distance of the guest house if one didn't mind taking one's life in one's hands trying to cross a busy street) is a market. Because today there was a big market elsewhere, no more than half the stalls in this market were open. Because of that and we were there so early, it wasn't very crowded. It still drove me crazy!
Cammie did an admirable job of haggling, getting the best prices she could.

I did buy a couple of things; might have purchased more but I couldn't tolerate the pushy shopkeepers and required bargaining.

We were picked up and returned with all the purchases to the guest house. Dropped things off and immediately got back in the van to head for the elephant sanctuary. Because we'd started late and traffic was dreadful, we didn't arrive until 11:30. But that still gave us time to observe the orphaned baby elephants being raised here until they're old enough to transition back to the wild at Tsavo East Park. (The time for viewing is only 11 to 12 each day.)

The elephants were quite entertaining, enjoying their mud bath and squirting water.


Check out those eyelashes!

The shelter also has several black rhinos. One goes back and forth into the Nairobi National Park. The other is permanently blind (efforts have been made, but nothing can be done) so must stay in confinement.

There were also a number of warthogs wandering around the sanctuary grounds.











So I did get to see some wild animals on this African trip.

Most of us returned to the guest house where we finished packing the craft purchases and then had a little time to relax and read before heading to the airport. Ann, David, and Allison went on a Safari drive in the Nairobi Park, returning in time to get the bus to the airport. After the market Cammie had gone off to meet with some acquaintances who live in Nairobi; she returned just in time for our airport transportation.

We all got to the Nairobi airport in plenty of time, despite extremely heavy traffic, got something to eat, and sat around to wait for our 10:45 p.m. flight to Amsterdam. I actually was able to sleep for 5 or 6 hours on the flight.