Day 92 At Sea

Much of today was like yesterday. It was once again sunny and quite warm. We are sailing west today after sailing south since we left the Seychelles. We are definitely giving the pirates a wide berth. The defensive systems onboard are manned and I remain vigilant watching for bad guys sneaking up from behind. It is quite amazing that someone like me is willing to sacrifice their day and sit in the sun merely to protect the other guests onboard. That is truly selfless…. We have one more sea day until we reach Kenya. Here is a preview of what I have in store for the first two days…. Maasai Mara Overnight Tour---Transfer to Mombasa Airport for a flight inland from the tropical coast, over hills and the vast African plains. If it is a clear day, you may see the snow-capped Mount Kilimanjaro at 19,340 feet. Arrive in the Maasai Mara National Reserve to discover the Africa of your imagination, where vast panoramas include rolling grasslands, dense thickets of scrub, and groves of acacia woodland where predators can hide. Luxuriant forest grows along the banks of the Mara River, shading hippos and crocodiles basking in the heat. The Mara is considered the finest game sanctuary in the country, home to an astonishing number and variety of animals. Depending on the season, hundreds of thousands of migratory wildebeest, gazelle and zebra move back and forth between the Mara and the Serengeti plains and woodlands to the south. In a flash you're out of the plane, into your safari vehicle and off into the bush on your first game drive. With diligence and some luck, you may encounter a family of cheetahs or a herd of elephants crossing the path in front of you. Watch for lions, rhinos and giraffes as well as warthogs and other small animals. At lunchtime, you'll stop for a rest and a tasty buffet at your tented camp/lodge. Meet a Maasai elder this afternoon, who will invite you to visit his Maasai Village. A more extensive game drive will follow this afternoon. Enjoy Mara sundowners and deluxe hors d'oeuvres this evening before returning to your camp for dinner. Overnight at the Governors Camp or similar. Day 2 --- (This is where I am inserting, hopefully, a hot ari balloon ride) In true big game country, you will start early with a morning game drive. Prides of more than twenty lions, including the majestic black-maned male, are not uncommon. Other inhabitants of the Mara include buffalo, leopard, hyena, topi, and gazelle, while hippos can be found along the Mara River. Back at the lodge, a hearty English breakfast awaits. Enjoy the beautiful surroundings of your lodge; then, after lunch, you will depart by air to Mombasa where you will re-board the ship.