When Dave finished his legal work in Nairobi, we flew down to the Maasai Mara.  We landed on a gravel runway out in the mara (African savannah grassland) and we stayed at the Fairmont Safari Club—in a tent on the Mara River.  There was a whole pod of Hippos in the river right outside our tent and they are VERY noisy!  Each day we went out with a guide on safari and were completely enchanted by the beautiful African animals that cover and graze in that land.  We saw them all—except for a leopard.  We watched lions stalking herds of animals for a kill, we saw thousands of wildebeest and zebra migrating to feed on the lush grasslands, we saw giraffe, elephants, hyena, cheetah, monkeys, ostrich, Thompson gazelle and all other kinds of antelope type animals, rhino, beautiful birds and so so much more.  Our guide, Samuel, was very knowledgeable and good at tracking.  We had bought a new telephoto lens for the camera before we left and took some of the most incredible pictures.  One of the highlights of our trip was visiting a Maasai village.  They are one of the few tribes in Africa that have really kept their unique culture and dress.  We sat with the Chief and he was so open to telling us everything about the people and the culture.  The women sang and danced for us—and the men danced with this low, gutteral sound they make.  Part of their dancing is taking turns jumping very high.  They stretch their ear lobes and wear lots of beaded jewelry pierced into their ears and around their bodies.  They live only on milk and the blood of their cows—with some meat now and then—no fruits or vegetables.  Their lives are very simple and regulated by the culture.  It was fascinating.  We bought several items from the tribal people who had made them—and took their pictures.

We had a special experience at the hotel in Nairobi.  After several days of our going in and out-- with our missionary badges on--many of the doormen and bellmen would ask us to pray for them and they all became very friendly.  Finally we told them we would bring them some special literature.  We got some Books of Mormon, Plan of Salvation pamphlets and "Pass Along" cards and presented them to all of them on our last day.  They were so thrilled.  We keep praying that they will read the book and their hearts will be touched.  Our badges draw so many people to us with questions and comments.  We LOVE IT!!!

The beautiful African savannah grassland.  The giraffe eat the acacia trees up to this height--as far as they can reach.

Baby hyena are always born black.  It's rare to see one because the mom usually keeps them hidden in the den.

The lions are usually in prides of 15 or so.  Life in the wild is a bit hard for these young males--we felt a little sorry for them, but we sure kept our distance.

We had a little flat tire in the safari vehicle.  Luckily it was not in a dangerous spot and we were able to get out for a minute.  We were with a couple from Washington DC.

These fellows-cape buffalo--are as mean as they look.  However, the bird on his nose is his friend.  They sit all over the grazing buffalo and eat the tics, lice and other insects off of them.  Isn't that a symbiotic relationship?

Giraffe are some of the most graceful, beautiful animals in the wild.  They were everywhere.

This is our tent camp on the Mara River.  We had hoped to see the "great migration" where thousands of wildebeest, zebra and Thompson gazelle migrate every year to the better grasslands and cross the Mara River with crocs leaping to get them and lions stalking them on both sides of the river.  However, nature does its own thing and they were still down in Tanzania--the crossing is late this year.

 The Maasai women sang to us.  There were about 150 members of this village--built in a circle and lined on the outside with a hedge of thorn bushes to keep out the predators.  They bring their cows into the center of the village at night to protect them.  During the day they graze outside in the grasslands.

 The Maaisai men danced.  Most of them--and the older boys-- were out watching the cattle, sheep and goats grazing.  Their wealth is determined by the number of these animals they possess and they watch and care for them very carefully.

 These are fearless warriors.  The only weapons they carry are a club and a homemade knife.  They have to deal with lions coming after their cows and they kill them with these weapons.  It is considered important to have killed a lion to be a "man" or a "warrior"  This causes a little bit of conflict with the conservationists!

 Their houses are always built by the women.  They are made of wood poles covered with grass and then "frosted" inside and out with a thick layer of mud and cow dung.  The roof is sod.  These will last 15-20 years--and then they have to build a new one.  They are very small and some of the women have 5-10 children.  This picture shows the whole of the inside.  Dave is sitting with the chief of the village on what is the only bed.  They build a fire in the center.  It is a polygamist society--men with man cows can buy more wives.

As always, the children were so adorable.  They had not toys, but that didn't deter them at all.  These are trucks and cars they had made out of rocks and mud--and they were having so much fun with them!

They do not use matches to build a fire.  This is a Maasai man making his fire--it's quite a process.

This is the village chief--who spoke very good English.  However, most of the other people in village spoke only their language.  He was very open with us and we were impressed with his leadership and his love for his people and his culture.

This is the little plane we flew on to the Maasai Mara and landed on the gravel runway.