Sanctuary Farm camping with new friends

Micah, Thabo, and Silas at Sanctuary Farm

On the weekend, we joined Leah and Matt's friends for an overnight at Sanctuary Farm. We visited this lovely place along Lake Naivasha with my parents, but this was our first time camping there. Cora and Silas made a new buddy, Thabo, and they spent some fun time with their little friend Micah and his new sister, Elyce.

Baby Elyce (Ellie) and mama Leah

Micah loves bikes, especially if they belong to Cora or Silas

Matt and Ellie

We spent the weekend doing safaris on foot/bike and horse, swimming in the pool, and playing Settlers of Catan by the fire. It was great to get to know Eva/Thabo and Pam/Rob/Jackson -- Matt and Leah's friends -- a bit better, and to spend some time with Matt, Leah, Micah and Ellie before they move back to the States at the end of June.

Setting up camp

Walking from our campsite to the hotel where Matt & Leah were staying

Cora exploring and imagining and singing, as usual

Biker gang

Climbing fun

Vervet monkey tree

Waterbuck

Thabo and Cora found a wildebeest tail. Nimona later ate it

Silas and Thabo were bike racers all over the farm

Leah and Micah, me and Silas

This was my first time back on a horse after my accident in May. Did I even tell you about that? My horse spooked, reared and hit my face with the back of hers, then slipped and rolled on my leg. I was able to get my stirrups off before she stood up again but I was sore and swollen for a week. I haven't gone back to "get back on the horse" until this weekend, and after about 20 minutes I got off "because Silas was uncomfortable."

We were REALLY close to these juvenile giraffes

Baby Jackson and Micah on a hippo statue

The hippos coming in to graze from the lake

In the middle of the night, we could hear the hippos munching and moving around the fence where we were camping. Eva and Thabo were in a tent nearby, and it was their first time camping in Kenya. Luckily we had an askari (guard) to watch the hippos while we slept. 

On Sunday, we all headed to lunch at Camp Carnelley's for pizza before beginning the 2-hour drive home to Nairobi. 

Eva, Leah, Rob, Jackson (front), and Pam at Carnelley's

Thanks for a great weekend, everyone, and we hope to see Eva/Thabo and Pam/Rob/Jackson when we get back from our trip to the States. We will really miss Matt and Leah, but I am not thinking about that yet.