Siana

We've now spent a little over 2 months in East Africa, and we've kept our big safari hopes for this long awaited moment! The Masai Mara. The morning was almost too smooth. Our tour driver was early picking us up, so we had just enough time to finish our free hotel breakfast. We went to pick up the other tour goers and happened to stop in front of Java house, latte to go! It was a little disappointing to see that the 3 other people we were told were on this trip was actually 7 others... Yep, we're 9 people in a pop top mini van. But we all seemed to get along, the driver is nice, played tetris with the suitcases and off we went for the Masai!

It's trials like today that really show you what it is to be positive, and what it is to be negative in life... We got onto unpaved roads, which we're used to so no biggy. Some on the bus started complaining about the bumps, and about the lack of space or comfort... Then we hit a big bump and broke something on the frame under the van. So we stop, all the men get their opinions in as if they know what they're talking about. The tourist men all agree if the van runs we should keep driving, but obviously the driver doesn't want to worsen his van, it's his livelyhood.

So a few minutes in we decide to keep driving slowly, and apparently a mechanic on a motorbike will catch up to us with a spare belt of somekind. Now a bunch of people are complaining of how slow we have to drive. You hear the van scrape on the ground at every bump. We keep going for maybe 45 minutes and get to a big dip in the road with water running through. You can see the driver is very sceptical. So I offer we all get out to lighten the load. I thought I was so clever! Anywho, we do, and the van passes, but the driver decides to wait for the mechanic so we can fix it.

Mechanic arrives 30 mins later, jumps directly underneath the van which was driven over a large rock to prop up, and works away. 2 hours we were stopped here. Again, this is where positivity goes a long way. It was beautifully sunny out. Nice breeze. We went for a walk, only nature and the odd person in sight. Most of the people in the area are Masai, they still where their colourful, often red blankets around them, gauged ear lobes (much bigger then mine, finally they won't judge me!), women have big dangling jewelry... Jack eventually read her book under the tree, some of us just chatted... And then some of the others were either bitching or sporting a good resting bitch face, calling the booking companies to complain (we all booked through different companies, they just put us all together). I for one, had a very pleasant and relaxed afternoon, just not like I had planned it. I actually caught myself complaining but about the complainers. Jack kindly reminded me that it was no better. She really is the eternally positive one.

Finally getting to camp just as it gets dark, we get checked into the nicest tent set up! There's a tiled washroom in the back of each tent with full shower and flushing toilet! There was one tent for 2 people, and 2 tents for 3 (one personne was staying at a lodge). These are the times where the heteros get the advantage again... They were wondering how to split the people, so the most logical set up was the hetero couple in the 2 person tent, 3 girls in one and 3 boys in the other. Jack and I get a roommate and two separate little single beds. No possible goodnight kiss, not even a quick "I love you". Just a generic "goodnight ladies" to my two roommates.

Now that the van is fixed, nothing is going to stop us from seeing those big kitties tomorrow!Read more