Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

Yeah, with this crowd one never knows.

Peak wingnut was a lie.

The line between political reporting and fan fiction continues to blur.

It is possible to do the right thing without the promise of a cookie.

You know it’s bad when the Project 2025 people have to create training videos on “How To Be Normal”.

Black Jesus loves a paper trail.

Republicans don’t lie to be believed, they lie to be repeated.

There is no compromise when it comes to body autonomy. You either have it or you do not.

Come on, media. you have one job. start doing it.

We will not go back.

“What are Republicans afraid of?” Everything.

if you can’t see it, then you are useless in the fight to stop it.

I like political parties that aren’t owned by foreign adversaries.

Dear elected officials: Trump is temporary, dishonor is forever.

The republican caucus is covering themselves with something, and it is not glory.

Impressively dumb. Congratulations.

White supremacy is terrorism.

Sometimes the world just tells you your cat is here.

Museums are not America’s attic for its racist shit.

One way or another, he’s a liar.

If you voted for Trump, you don’t get to speak about ethics, morals, or rule of law.

Oppose, oppose, oppose. do not congratulate. this is not business as usual.

Optimism opens the door to great things.

Fight them, without becoming them!

You are here: Home / Photo Blogging / On The Road / On The Road – way2blue – TSAVO NAT’L PARKS, KENYA IN JULY [2 of 8]

On The Road – way2blue – TSAVO NAT’L PARKS, KENYA IN JULY [2 of 8]

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After our side trip to Maasi Mara (described in a previous OTR), we flew back to Nairobi where we met the guide and the fellow trekkers.  This series of eight OTR submissions is organized more or less chronologically rather than by theme.

The photos are mainly of landscapes and the bushmen rather than wildlife. In part, because we rarely stopped to photograph animals. And in part, because the landscapes were so vast, with volcanic cones in the distance that we’d approach over the following days. Even so, the spotters were amazing. Apparently they don’t find animals by looking for movement—rather by looking for something unexpected, out of place… Also Washii always knew which of the anastomosing elephant tracks to follow through the bush.

On The Road - way2blue - TSAVO NAT’L PARKS, KENYA IN JULY [2 of 8] 7
MAJI YA CHUMVI 2 MAN-EATERS CAMP.

Another unusual tree, this one—if I remember correctly—with puffy bird nests hanging from the branches.  (We saw prints of African Hunting Dogs on our morning hike.)

On The Road - way2blue - TSAVO NAT’L PARKS, KENYA IN JULY [2 of 8] 6
RIDGE.

Long day as we hiked most of the day (15.2 miles).  Every so often we’d climb up a ridge for a panoramic view…  Here we’re on a narrow linear ridge.

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VISTA.

Another ‘interesting’ tree, this one with a termite mound at its base.

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HIKE.

Same type of very cool tree…

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REST STOP.

Our rest stops were mainly intended to give the crew a chance to refresh their hyper alertness.  Here, Lajori is scouting for animals while his brother, Washii, is watching the guide’s pack.

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TSAVO RIVER.

We made 18 river crossings during our 10-day trek.  We’d cross the river wearing ‘water shoes’ with our boots around our necks (where it was not this shallow, rather knee to thigh deep).  Can I mention that crocodiles & hippos lived in the river, so we needed to cross bunched together so as to mimic an elephant…

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OUR GUIDE.

Our guide’s Scottish family immigrated to Kenya when he was a child, pre-independence.  He began organized walking safaris in Tsavo shortly after big game hunting was banned (although poaching has continued).  (His first walking safari is chronicled in The Shadow of Kilimanjaro written by Rick Ridgeway.)

On The Road - way2blue - TSAVO NAT’L PARKS, KENYA IN JULY [2 of 8]
EARLY MORNING VISTA.

We did see lots of animals as we moved through their landscape, but rarely stopped to take photos.  In fact, this day we ran from a bull elephant—scrambling up a rocky outcrop…  Older elephants in Tsavo all know of a family member or friend who was killed by poachers.  So humans are not looked upon kindly.  We also ran from a charging mother hippo who fortunately turned around for her baby…

Reader Interactions

9Comments

  7. 7.

    eclare

    @way2blue:   We took a boat ride on Lake Naivasha in Kenya, and I shivered when I saw the hippo eyes just peeking out above the water, looking at us.  Many hippo eyes.

  8. 8.

    A woman from anywhere (formerly Mohagan)

    The “puffy bird nests” are weaver bird nests.  Each species of weaver weaves a slightly different style of nest (and there are lots of different kinds of weavers!)

    Thanks for the memories.

  9. 9.

    StringOnAStick

    @lashonharangue: Agree that it’s a baobab tree.  The wide trunk and shape is distinctive, and this isn’t a big one; the huge ones are the sort of thing you expect in sci fi.

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