After the previous night’s lengthy drive, we had arranged for a walking safari with a relatively luxuriously late 0715 start. The lodge delivered coffee at 0645 and we drank up and headed up to meet our guide, Rakita. Rakita is a pretty cool guy, looooves to walk and has been guiding for decades. Also Maasai.

Won’t you please help Amos get to 25?

We headed down into the ravine behind the lodge and along the river. We crossed the river hopping boulder to boulder, then climbed up a bit to encounter a troupe of baboons.

Baboons at breakfast

From there we climbed a bit more to an old abandoned lion’s den. It was a stunning view and we had fun climbing around.

Playing on the rocks
Rakita frmed in the lion rocks
Amos and I on the rocks
Amos, Heather and I

There were also great views of “Hobbiton” aka the Lewa Wilderness Lodge.

Hobbiton
Our hobbit hole
Amos tries his hand

From there we kept on climbing to the ridge top, which afforded incredible views all around.

View from the ridge
Superb starling

Walking along the ridge and gradually circling back towards the lodge, we encountered a mom and baby white rhino. We got pretty close up, but the rhino stayed calm and let us get some glamour shots.

50′ away, everyone stay calm.
Rhino selfie

Walking farther down the ravine we saw a greater Kudu, which is apparently very rare and marked by really cool spiral horns.

The very rare greater Kudu

As we descended a little further Amos pointed out a land cruiser in the distance and said “oh there are some rangers over there doing a study on flies . . . lets go talk to them then head back.” I was like . . . ok!

Lewa

Then he started on about how they were gendering the flies and I was mystified but still pretty happy to keep walking. We got there and … “Surprise!” Bush breakfast.

It was all super delicious and beautiful and after two and half hours hiking in the bush very very welcome.

Bush breakfast

We were joined by buffalo weavers (so cross off the second of the little 5) and some elephants on the ridge.

Buffalo Weaver

After this we got in the land cruiser and went to the farm for a tour. I hadn’t realized everything they were serving at the lodge was made there – milk, eggs, fruit, veg, they even had a small tilapia farm. True farm to table. I went wild on macro photography.

Back to the lodge for another amazing lunch, then a swim, then out for another game drive. We were looking for black rhinos and found them almost immediately.

Then we got word of a lion pride on the kill, and headed over for photos.

On the drive back across the savannah, I asked Johnson to stop and let me take a shot of the night sky. Really, really clear and beautiful. Never mind that rustling sound in the field while you set up the tripod . . .

And a long, bouncy, joyous and cool ride back to the lodge for more amazing food (now recognizing it all from the farm) and to bed for another day’s adventures – cheetah day!