Mount Kenya Safari Club was the next stop. It was magnificent! My "room" was a cottage by the water, surrounded by trees. It had a large sitting room with fireplace, spacious bedroom with fireplace, huge bathroom with garden tub, and a big private deck porch from which I observed the numerous birds and monkeys nearby.

Lunch was extravagant, after which a travel companion and I went to the Animal Orphanage where I photographed white rhino, Sykes monkeys, young cheetah and a kikuyu colobus monkey up close. I also met "Lawrence," an aspiring zoologist who was a guide at the orphanage. Afterward, I went to "tea." Later I had a Safari Sundowner in the bar, followed by observing African Chukka dancers, and then a delicious dinner.

The next day we journeyed to Lake Nakuru and Sarova Lion Hill Lodge. Most notable was the caliber of the Kikuyu music and dancing . . much better and seemingly more authentic than that of the previous evening.

On our game drives we saw many vervet monkeys, zebra, bushbuck, reedback, impala, warthogs, giraffe, plus lesser flamingos and a variety of other birds. But my favorites were the olive baboons, which were abundant and not afraid of people. On our drive leaving Lake Nakuru, we stopped at a viewpoint, where a large baboon lingered to be photographed under a shelter.

Next came Lake Navaisha Country Club. In the afternoon, some of us went on a "hippo cruise" to photograph the local hippos, but there weren't many to be seen. However, there were wildebeest, zebra, giraffe and more on an island offshore. I also photographed some local fishermen. Afternoon tea was good and pleasant, with available cakes and crepes. In the middle of the night, hippos came up to graze right in front of my veranda. They were too close to photograph with the telephoto lens on my camera!