Today was the day to spring my big surprise - for months now John has thought the last part of our leave was 4 days in Amboseli - and the reason there was no paperwork was because I had arranged it privately and it was on my iPad - which was true.
Indeed last week whenever asked he would say we were going to Amboseli next and I would have to tell a white lie and confirm it so as to keep the surprise intact.
After a great quality breakfast selection at the Eka we collected our bags and waited for the taxi- they are normally early - but for the first time ever we were let down and Joseph didn't arrive. The hotel were excellent and got us one of their cars with a young lady driver who knew the short cut and back street to Wilson airport - although we moved slowly in places we made it and arrived in the dot of 8am. She even called Musa our contact at Tropic Air and waited with us until he arrived to take us airside and through security - we waited in the lounge area before going to the plane where we met our pilot, Mike. All loaded up we got in, John sat in the back seat while I sat in the co-pilots seat, I asked him where we thought he was going - he said Amboseli - the pilot looked bemused - but I explained to them both that that's where John thought he was going- instead we were going to Kimanchu airstrip for 4 days at Ol Lentille - and a chance to relax and see how the schools and hospitals we support are faring; we would also catch up with our bags which Ol Lentille collected on 13/10.
His face was a picture - and his smile was worth everything - he beamed from ear to ear! I have never seen him look so happy.
Sadly the plane was cold and wouldn't start so we had to get out again - I thought perhaps I may have sprung the surprise too early!!
Choke fixed the plane whirred into action and we were away for a great flight across the Rift Valley we could clearly see all the tea plantations; as we went over the Laikipa plateau we could see all the big ranches and their animals - we counted 8 rhino at one.
An hour and 15 minutes after our takeoff from Wilson we were landing at Kimachu - that beats the 3 hour multi stop with Safarilink then the short charter hop to Kimanchu.
Timothy collected us - our Masai guide- and we headed to the lodge on a road that had been repaired since we were last here.....it was far smoother by African rural standards! On arrival we caught up with Gill and John, met our house staff - Ann, who has looked after us every-time we have been and Ben. Not long after arriving we were at Sultans house having a cup of tea when the ladies from the spa appeared - Mary and Pauline -we said we would see them this afternoon for a massage. Unpacked I decided to go for a swim before lunch; I waited there as that's where lunch was being served looking out from the deck over the conservancy beyond.
John still couldn't believe where he was.
After lunch we met chef and discussed our dietary needs - basically not too much!
Timothy then came to chat through what we wanted to do and we made a plan- a walk tonight at 5pm then a walk every morning at 0630am with visits to the schools and hospital on Friday and Saturday. Then Sunday possibly a picnic lunch.
All the plans made we rested by the pool until our massage followed by our walk..... we saw a young red spitting cobra - but it quickly went into the undergrowth.... Timothy said it wasn't dangerous but it didn't sound as if it was one to be toyed with.
Dinner was at 7.30 pm followed by bed - John was falling asleep over his cup of tea - clearly too much excitement for one day