The fun pool

This morning we were up with the sun again. Showered got Breakfast and then headed straight for the pool. I then headed for Buccaneer Diving and booked a dive for the Sunday, the day after our return from the Safari.

After lunch we popped over to the hotel shop and bought some postcards which we then filled in from the comfort of the bar over a couple of Cokes.

Finally we checked out of our room and sat in reception in wait for our Safari guide.

When our guide arrived, Alfonse, he introduced himself and helped us with our rucksack. In the safari bus we introduced ourselves to Tom and Karen, a couple from another hotel who came out to Kenya to get married.

The first animals spotted were Impala

Although I had already travelled by road in Kenya this is where I noticed what side of the road is driven on. It is whichever side of the road has the least holes in it. Oh, and the speed limit is to be ignored, as are pedestrians, they tend to get out of the way just in time. So off to Shimba Hills we headed, stopping only once to pick up another couple, Len and Deborah.

We arrived at Shimba Hills at around 3:00pm. The first animal we spotted in the reserve was Impala, and they duly ran off into the trees and out of sight within a minute. The Sable Antelope and Ostrich where a little more accommodating, they stuck around letting us take pictures and video. Buffalo weren't to hard to find and looked very intimidating, I'm glad we didn't have some kind of disagreement, the Safri Bus would definately of been the loser in any kind of physical altercation with these guys. After leaving the Buffalo we found Impala that weren't so camera shy.

We headed for Lookout Point where we got to stretch our legs and as the location name implies, take in what turned out to be some fantastic scenery. A few photographs later we left the game reserve and headed towards Shimba Hills lodge where we met up with some other Safari wagons for a Sundowner. I thought a Sundowner was going to be a drink but it turned out to be a guided walk up a hill to watch the sun set. Before setting off a guide from the lodge loaded a rather large rifle with rather large bullets, informing us to stay close as those bullets may come in handy. I think I was actually walking on the poor guides feet I was that close, but the only dangerous animals encountered were mosquitoes.

The rare Sable Antelope

It was dark when we arrived at the lodge and a welcome drink was offered to us as we checked in. The most 'welcome' drink I have ever had. It had felt like a very long day indeed. After checking in to our rather groovy rooms, we showered and headed straight to the bar where we found that a Bushbaby had turned up on the promise of a banana, which he was gingerly hand fed by one of the guests. We met up with Karen and Tom and also with Deborah and Len, then we all moved to the restaurant for quite a stunning meal.

Just before retiring* I thought I would pop on to the balcony in our room and see what, if anything, was at the watering hole. Insects seemed to be about all that was there. And one great big dragonfly attacked me. It flew straight at my neck (probably going for the jugular) and then fell through my shirt on to the floor, and appeared slightly more dazed (from the impact, not the odour) than I was.

*For those who have the same IQ as me, retiring is the same as going to bed, can you believe it! My grandad didn't retire until he was 65! No wonder he needed glasses.