Friends for drinks at Samburu Lodge, Samburu National Park, Kenya

Although we didn’t get to see a leopard … as at Amboseli … we were not disappointed by the number of animals and birds that we get to see … most of them close-up. We saw some of Uncle Julian’s favourite animals … the gerenuk, standing on its hind legs eating leaves off a bush … elephants, cheetahs, Grevy’s zebra, beisa oryx and reticulated giraffe … plus buffalo, impala, common waterbuck, Grant’s gazelle, greater and lesser kudu, warthog, dwarf mongoose … and some really cute little creatures called “dik-dik”. Apparently “dik-dik” come in both a Kirk’s and Gunther’s variety but we have no idea which is which. Either way there are a bit like miniature versions of Bambi.Watching the elephants drinking and bathing in the shallow, muddy waters of the river was just a sight to remember for ever.

One afternoon I invited a couple of friends over for a drink by the swimming pool whilst my companions were busy sunbathing. Rather stupidly … perhaps in common with their species … these crazy monkeys thought that I have invited them for a drink “of the pool” rather than “by the pool” ! See photo ! Daft … but cheeky … and necessary to keep a close watch on your camera, wallet, watch etc etc when these little monkeys were around.