• Dan and Candyce Traci
  • Dan and Candyce Traci

Africa+The Great Migration

Travel through Kenya and Tanzania Read more
  • Trip start
    October 2, 2024

    Off to Nairobi!!

    October 2, 2024 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 66 °F

    We are very excited to begin our latest adventure. Although TSA precheck and Clear were let's just say "less than good", we are now awaiting our 14-hour flight to Kenya. We are also excited that we are spending our 19th wedding anniversary sleeping on a plane on the way to this next Great adventure. Happy Anniversary my love .Read more

  • Travel day....

    October 3, 2024 in Kenya ⋅ ⛅ 64 °F

    Nothing happened today other than arriving safely, totally exhausted. Checked into our hotel, The Trademark in Nairobi. Lovely mall attached to the hotel....nice dinner and now bed. We get picked up at 730am tomorrow for our first real exposure to Kenya... Nairobi National Park. They appear to be big on Black Rhino. Will have pics to share tomorrow. BTW, the climbing guys is a sculpture up and down the Trademark.Read more

  • Nairobi National Park

    October 4, 2024 in Kenya ⋅ ☀️ 64 °F

    Fun drive and day.... although our driver got lost in the park and the last hour we just circled the same area....about 4 times!! NAIROBI NATIONAL PARK is an important breeding center for the endangered Black Rhino. Saw quite a few animals, including Can's favorite: the MONKEY! Didn't see any of the big guys like giraffes or lions or elephants but did see quite a bit including Vervet Monkey, Ostrich, Hippos, Baboon, Wart Hogs, Fiscal Sheik (the bird), Crocks, Zebra, Water Buffalo, various kinds of Deer, Impala among others. One surprising thing was the proximity to Nairobi.
    You could see the cityscape in the background of some of the photos.
    Staying tonight at the Hemingway in a gorgeous, gigantic suite.
    Read more

  • Amboseli National Park

    October 5, 2024 in Kenya ⋅ ☁️ 68 °F

    Flew down to Amboseli this morning in a small puddle jumper....I panicked a bit when the door closed but Candyce was there for me. Once up I MOSTLY calmed down but it was still close to overwhelming with my claustrophobia. But SOOO worth it. Amboseli, with Lawrence as our driver, has a large, diverse group of animals. So much so that I am going to spread out some of today's videos and photos into multiple footprints. After waiting all day, Kilimanjaro finally let us see her this evening on our second game drive of the day. I managed to frame the largest mountain in Africa with a tree, which looked awesome. There were elephants galore throughout the day. Lunch at the Tawi Lodge, also gave us a show, as 3 large elephants walked within 50 feet of us as we ate. Also, the first of many, many fantastic sunsets. The leopard we "spotted" (weak joke) blended in so well we almost missed it. Amboseli is in Southern Kenya and about a 30 minute flight south of Nairobi.Read more

  • Amboseli Day 2: reflections

    October 6, 2024 in Kenya ⋅ ☁️ 63 °F

    The cover photo on this Footprint, Candyce took at the end of the day and was one of the highlight shots of the trip as we watched a large herd of elephants walk towards us over about a 15-20 minute time span. Day started with a morning drive and decided on massages instead of an afternoon Game Drive. The animal of the day was definitely ZEBRA, as we literally saw 1,000+. But saw everything again today. Some spectacular reflecting shots of Flamingo and Wildebeest in the water. I also have in here 2 or 3 of the baby Lion hiding away down a path. We knew mom was close but only saw the baby today. One problem we will have is sorting through the 300+ photos to have 20 to post. Same with videos...and only 2 to post. Lawrence has been our driver for the Amboseli game drives. Delightful.Read more

  • Trip from Kenya to Tanzania

    October 7, 2024 in Tanzania ⋅ ☁️ 64 °F

    A very long arduous car trip from Amboseli to Tanzania. This will be some extra photos and videos from previous days. Includes Lions (a pride of 7) one of our lodges and more. Just a hodgepodge. Our trip took us through Arusha, where we had a lovely outdoor lunch and then down to Tarangire National Park in Tanzania.Read more

  • Swala Sanctuary Tanzania

    October 8, 2024 in Tanzania ⋅ ☁️ 63 °F

    A remarkable birthday with an 8 hour all-day game drive followed by a romantic dinner. Their idea of a birthday candle is much different than mine as you can see in the video. Such beautiful, kind people. Our driver for the next 4+ days in Tanzania is Sampson….great guy. Very knowledgeable and proud. The Cape Buffalo is a VERY imposing presence. This shows just a close up of one, but we saw herds of them throughout this visit. The lodge was NOT glamping. It was fantastic. The animals came close to us both out in the grasslands and right on the grounds of the accommodations.Read more

  • Leaving Swala Sanctuary for Gibbs Farm

    October 9, 2024 in Tanzania ⋅ ☁️ 64 °F

    Today is experiencing African culture in a myriad of ways. As we left the Tarangire Park we spotted a kudu...there were 3 but I only got one of them. Also juvenile male giraffes neck fighting. The bad roads were also part of it. We got to Gibbs Farm and there is an incredible WOW as you arrive. It is on a mountaintop with incredible vistas. The ride here took us on a TukTuk ride to a local market and a banana farm. The mountain view is FROM OUR BACK PATIO IN OUR ROOM!! Had a beautiful outdoor concert by a vocal group followed by another BD celebration at dinner.Read more

  • Ngorongoro Crater in Tanzania

    October 10, 2024 in Tanzania ⋅ ☁️ 55 °F

    All day safari into the crater. The trip to the top was scary. Felt like I was hanging off the edge. But once to the top it was worth it. The ride back down into the crater was no picnic either. The animals were GOOD but not great. Here is a collection of some of the pics we took including the Maribu Stork that came to our lunch table . More to come. Asante Rafiki .. Thank you my friend.Read more

  • Heading to the Serengeti

    October 11, 2024 in Tanzania ⋅ ⛅ 57 °F

    Wow. Just wow. We arrived at Serengeti and within 45 minutes we witnessed the wildebeest crossing. Over 2,000, with crocs and hippos to escort them. Our resort is called Bush Tops. Look it up. An incredible place. And our room is spectacular beyond spectacular. And not only did we see the crossing but within 24 hours we witnessed the Big 5. This just moved to the TOP of the list of magnificent experiences.Read more

  • Safari on the Serengeti

    October 12, 2024 in Tanzania ⋅ ☀️ 59 °F

    Pinch me. This camping on the African continent is hard. Had a great trek this morning....Candyce spotted a Serval Cat which we watched hunt and succeeded in grabbing breakfast. Also saw many Topi (antelope), Impala, and an incredible interaction with a male and female Lion REALLY up close. Like 10 feet!! Plus 11 newborn Ostrich. An evening ride is also on the agenda.Read more

  • All day Serengeti Game Drive

    October 13, 2024 in Tanzania ⋅ ☀️ 68 °F

    Left before 7a for a roughly 2.5 hour ride across the northern Serengeti... looking all the way! Did not see what we went for, the Black Rhino, but saw lots of other stuff. The photos are simply an amalgamation of the day. No more game drives today, just going to chill. Here are some pictures.Read more

  • Flying to Masai Mara for final leg

    October 14, 2024 in Tanzania ⋅ ☁️ 68 °F

    Our trip to the airport began with a wildebeest stampede. The attached video was shot 15 minutes after we left Bush Tops on the way to the airport. Amazing ride. Saw a gigantic herd of migrators and a fresh kill being shared by hyena and vultures. Now back to Kenya....and let me tell you: this camping in Masai Mara is no easier!!Read more

  • Hot Air Balloon Ride + Safari

    October 14, 2024 in Kenya ⋅ ☁️ 81 °F

    First of all, last night's game drive was incredible. Black Rhino (hiding very well....there were actually 3), and a pair of male lions playing. Awesome experience. Our driver Nelson was wonderful.. And today was beyond incredible. Nursing giraffe, elephant and warthog. But collectively we saw (and I am likely missing some): mongoose, baboon, warthog, hippo, eland, impala, elephant, Mara Bush stork, vultures, water buck, zebra fresh kill by lions, cheetah (5)....mom +4, leopard + 1 baby, hyena, wildebeest and I KNOW I FORGOT SOME.
    I learned that it is: a tower of giraffe, a memory of elephants, a sounder of warthog, a dazel of zebra, and a raft of hippo. As we approached the exit of Masa Mara we came upon OVER 200 elephants. Many, many babies in the group. We have seen everything we came to see and more.
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  • Last Safari this AM

    October 16, 2024 in Kenya ⋅ ⛅ 63 °F

    Our final safari was also memorable. More lion and a huge Gregory of Cape Buffalo, a Troop of baboon, hippo, zebra, a float of crocs. We also saw a gorgeous small bird that is called a Lilac Breasted Roller...the photo does it no justice...blue and purple when flying. An African Fish Eagle which looks like an American Eagle. From yesterday I forgot a Leap of Leopard . And the 3 male elephants doing a mud bath was awesome!!Read more

  • Hakuna Matatta

    October 17, 2024 in Kenya ⋅ ⛅ 64 °F

    Goodbye Africa....or should I say kwaheri .....Hakuna Matatta! What an incredible trip. I will upload a variety of photos during the day that I haven't had room for to this point. Breakfast, flight from Masai Mara to Nairobi and then a 15 hour red-eye to JFK. Thank you Lord for this remarkable adventure. Currently at Nairobi Airport waiting to come home!! Tried to ADD the BIG 5 in one final spin….because we couldn’t leave off the Jaguar.Read more

    Trip end
    October 18, 2024