JOGGING IN THE SERENGETI     12th January 2009

To start this journal off., I think i am going to have to toot my own horn. Yesterday afternoon, I went running in the Serengeti Park: What an experience!!! Never before in my life has someone said to me, in all seriousness, that I should be very careful of the lions.

Having recovered from our ascent of Mt. Kenya, we left Nairobi on the 10th January to drive down to Tanzania for a safari. I am still not sure what I think about the idea of safaris, but when you see these beautiful and amazing animals up close, many of my principles about leaving them alone... well, they may not go completely out of the window, but they do seem a little compromised.

I was lucky enough to get to go to an animal orphanage a few days ago, and one of the Centre's brochures had a tourist riding a giant tortoise. Without any doubt, I thought that this was not right. I felt that the poor tortoise was over 100 years old, and he had to put up with the indignity of some fool riding him. However, I rode him too! Just so we are all clear on this, the tortoise who is named "Speedy, is so strong that there is no way he felt either me or the monkey riding on his back. Nor did he seem to mind. The monkey's name was Herbert (I decided to name him, as the tortoise had already been given a name.

I have been pretty tired these days. This usually happens when I am on holiday, so I was not thrilled about the early wake up call this morning to get to the Serengeti plains where the wild things are. I soon got over the early start though, when we came across a pride of lions. The local drivers are very good about keeping a respectful distance and turning off the engine, while animals are being watched.

Being so close to these magnificent animals in their natural habitat was the experience of a lifetime. They did not seem at all concerned about us, but then again, they did not look too hungry.

Internet access and service here is terrible, so my apologies to all those to whom I should be writing. The frustration is not worth it. The people I meet are out of this world friendly, and I am really enjoying the chance to meet new people and to taste something of the culture here.

Tomorrow we are leaving for Ngorogoro crater and some more wildlife viewing, before we head back to Nairobi. This drive will be a long one, but I am looking forward to seeing the city of Nairobi itself, and looking forward to meeting some young soccer players out here. Now that will be something to write about.

A bientot

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