I need to apologize now just in case these posts end up being out of order. I am writing them as I feel I can. Some of the harder stories will take a little longer due to emotional breakdowns. :(

On a lighter note...about four days into the trip we were given an afternoon off. This was much needed because at this point, at least for me, my emotions were being severely taxed and my body felt like it wanted to shut down! It was a Tuesday afternoon and we had just left an orphanage called Beat the Drum, a home for children with HIV/AIDS. I will blog about that one at another time. Our driver, Kennedy, suggested that we do a water safari to go and see the hippos! HIPPOS...while I was very intrigued I was also scared out of my mind! I have seen too many movies where hippos ravenously kill humans that are in boats! Only to find out that these attacks in the movies always happened at night on the water. Turns out hippos go on land at night...huh who would have known that Hollywood would lie...but that is another story!

We arrive at a lodge and paid 2,000 ksh (at that time 750 ksh = $10.00) per person to take the water adventure. It was a lovely lodge and the walk down to the docks was just as delightful, with the exception of having to watch out for hippo poop!
When we arrived at the dock I was a bit unsure about getting into these little blue boats. Fully knowing that hippos are large and could easily destroy such a vessel. We were handed life vests and distributed inside of the boats bases on size. Comforting! Almost immediately after getting into the boat two jokesters in the front whom will remain unnamed...NOT...Joe and Perry....started to rock the boat! They soon stopped!!! Before I knew it we will riding out into the water to go see the hippos. However, along the way there were unexpected surprises...giraffes...I was thinking to myself...there is a giraffe and it's not in a zoo!!! WOW...then water buffallo...gazelles...it was almost too much to take in! Our boat driver/captain/whatever you would call him...took us closer to the giraffe...I was absolutely astonished...I can't find the words to describe how I felt...

Next we were off to find the hippos and it didn't take long. Lake Naivasha is, dare I say, infested with them. (It reminded me of any body of water in Florida and the alligators that are in it.) There they were, and in groups scattered all about the lake. It is so amazing how these creatures are so buoyant and I am told really good swimmers. They also make a very interesting sound and oh my gosh when the yawn their mouths are very intimidating!!! Or really scary!!! I was pretty nervous, at one point I thought for sure they wanted to charge the boat and take us down with it! Yes, I am a bit dramatic but you would be too when you are so close to a 2 ton creature! I was in their territory...I should have checked to see if our boat driver had a gun to protect us...hmmm, I will have to check that out next time! Our next stop was to an island that very few people get to step on. Thanks to Kennedy and his relationship with this safari group we got to step foot onto an area that is home to gazelles, zebras and wildebeests. This island as no predators on it...supposedly...so these animals can live carefree...except for when people like running humans scare them! HAHAHAH...and in the typical fashion of the American way....we were all really loud which disturbed the animals a little...After spending some time on the island it was time to head back. A very important point to mention is that it was getting close to dusk and that is when the hippos come onto land...oh and unlike boat attacks...hippos are VERY dangerous on land. They have been known to kill people, there are a lot of hippo deaths in Africa every year.

Even though the hippos kind of scared me it was a great way to relax and enjoy God's creation.