Amboseli Day 2 Dec.16 Tuesday

Up at 5;30 hot tea at 6:00 then on to the AM game drive. First order of business was to return to where the dust up between the lions and cheetah took place. No sign of either species, just remnants of the kill and lots of bystanding plains game. After a morning of most of the typical game for the park we took a drive up to observation hill where you can legally leave your vehicle and trudged to the top. Really is quite a view from the top. From there we chose a road less travelled despite Pauls warnings and advice. We also chose this moment to let Zach get his feet wet driving the vehicle. I think Zach enjoyed the chance to drive in the park, but definately not the road we chose. Lots of volcanic rock, very potholed road with lots of sharp stones determined to puncture a tire. We did safely navigate, and our reward as we headed back toward Ol Tukai and a cold refreshing swim was a male and two female lions.

While at the lodge Zach and Paul played several spirited games of ping pong, you will need to ask them for the results. After lunch, more swimming etc it was once again tea time (4:00 PM) and then out for our evening drive. Went immediately to the area where we had seen the lions and this time found in addition to our original three there were 4 other females with the group. Watched them for half hour or so and carried on to look for additional game, promising ourselves a return to the pride before dark. Once again we had a very close encounter with a herd of elephant....who were very cooperative, some passing within about 10 feet. Great opportunities for photos and video. On returning to the lions we found they had been on the move a bit, but much more to our dismay was the veritable traffic jam surrounding/adjacent to the pride. I think at the high water mark there were 26 vehicles of various shapes and sizes, most crammed full of tourists. If only every vehicle agreed to pay a fee for the lions, after all they were our discovery. At any rate we did stay with them till sundown and were rewarded with some good photos/video, and since our lodge was close at hand we were able to stay with the pride long after most of the vehicles had carried on. Back to the lodge for hot showers and another wonderful dinner with the usual trimmings. Entree choices were milk fed turkey (not quite sure how they do that to a turkey) or beef steak (which was a unamious choice of our group). Another time of tea & coffee around the fire with some excellent conversation and then off to bed around 10 PM. Awoken several times during the night to the hooping call of the hyena and the sound of pounding hooves as some animals thundered through the camp. GREAT DAY!