Elsamere

Hello,

After church we headed on our way out of the city and into the countryside that took us higher and higher. The view was beautiful and soon we could look out over the Riff Valley. People were selling things long the road. Stephen said, “It is because they know many tourists come this way. We will stop on the way home and buy some rhubarb.”

Besides homegrown produce their wares included things they had made such as woven cloths, carved wood, stone bowls, and sheepskin hats. There were just quite a wide variety of products available.

We stayed in a duplex cottage with Sarah, Stephen, and Lexi on the other apartment. It was quite a nice place with a large glass expanse on one side facing the Lake Naivasha. After a sumptuous lunch, Stephen, Leroy, and I headed across lake Naivasha to Crescent Island. Sarah had already been there on a previous visit so she stayed back with Lexi for naptime. We were heading to the only game park in Africa that you visit on foot. All of the animals, no predators included, have been brought in for the movie Out of Africa. If you watch that movie you can see some of the places we visited. Stephen told us, “All of the scenes of the plane landing were filmed here.” Leroy and I have watched Born Free since we have been home and I have the movie Out of Africa at home now.

On meeting our guide we started walking in this rather dry place, when he reached down and picked up a piece of animal dung. “Whose dung is this,” he wanted to know.

It was about as big around as a cherry and had an indentation in it. We all guessed at some smallish animal. We were rather surprised to learn that it is from the female giraffe. Talk about a big body and a small pooper.

As we walked we saw giraffe, gnu (or wildebeest), gazelle (both Thompson and Grant—Leroy can now tell them apart, I just ask Leroy), impalas, African fish eagle, guinea fowl, Egyptian geese, ground plover, and armadillo holes without armadillos.

I hope our guide was right when he passed on this amazing fact, “The wildebeest is the only animal that can stop birth if there is danger. The mother can push the half born baby inside and run away to deliver in another safer spot.” Seems like some talent to me.

Paula

see some pictures at http://picasaweb.google.com/psbradway/LakeNaivashaElsamere?feat=email#