We finally got to Amboseli and the guides were amazed.  They had never had this much water here at this time of the season.  Of course the road was closed but as we found out, that was merely a suggestion.

Around the closed sige we go and into the water, which was about a foot and a half deep in the deepest parts.

Our room at the Amboseli Serena Lodge.

Baboons were there to greet us.

This pair was pruning each other.

Great white Pelicans

Not only do they fly in formation they flee in formation.    This group formed as we approached them in our vehicles.

The guides were amazed to see Flamingos here.  "We never see them here" is what they told us.  They also told us that they expected to water to fully evaporate in a few weeks.

Lesser Flamingos

As we approach, they flee and look like they are walking on water.

This bull got curious and seemed to head our way.

Just looking for that right patch of grass.

As we were heading back to the lodge, our guides spotted these lions lurking in the grass.

Really hard to see in the grass.

Their dark ears break up the uniformity of the grass.

As dusk approaches, they get ready to start their nocturnal hunting.

Lions at Amboseli National Park

The next morning we visited a Maasi village.  This is the chief.

They greeted us with song and dance

And gave us each a wrap. Dave and Tom are getting in the spirit of the dance.

They singled out Tamara because of here white hair, remember the Masai shave their heads to cut down on water usage.

Tamara

We were invited to visit their village which is circular with huts along the outside and corals for livestock in the middle.

While we were there and watching this kid was born.

Their huts are mud and last for about ten years, after which they need to be rebuilt.

We were invited to visit one of the huts.  We had to hold hands as it was quite dark in there and it took quite a while for our eyes to adjust to the abrupt change in light.

The chief invited us to the session whee he described how they live completely off the land.  The medicine man walked us through what plants and herbs he uses for various ailments.  The chief talked about the marriage norms. They are polygamists.  The father picks the first wife for his son and she in turn picks subsequent wives.  The husband must provide for all his families.

They demonstrated how they make fire using a couple pieces of wood.

A flat piece of wood with a hole in it is placed over dry elephant dung and then a round stick is inserted in the hole and spun quickly between the palms of his hand until smoke and then fire erupts.

The whole process took under 30 seconds

It was a joy to see how they lived in harmony with the land.

Elephants seem to march single file when they are on the move.

They are a majestic animal

Mother and child

The elephants have a routine. They leave their forest home in the morning and trek out to the grasses of the marsh in the morning for their daily meal.  They then reverse this trek in the evening.

Vultures, a member of the "Ugly Five"

Kori Bustard

Homeward bound.