An Africa odyssey

JohnM · Thursday at 11:53 PM

Mt Meru, to the west of Mt Kilimanjaro. Mt Kilimanjaro is Africa’s tallest mountain at 5895m, while Mt Meru is Tanzania’s second-highest volcano at 4566m.

Coffee plantation near Arusha. This traditional shade-grown agroforestry system produces lower yield, slower ripening and enhanced flavour complexity compared with modern full-sun cultivation. The coffees of Tanzania, Kenya and Rwanda are excellent – and Ethiopia of course, the home of coffee.

The Arusha clocktower, symbolically, but not quite accurately, marking the halfway point between Cape Town and Cairo. Mt Meru looms over Arusha.

Heading east of Arusha towards JRO and Kili dominates the skyline, with the volcanic cone/crater clearly visible from this side.

Then hauling out of JRO at sunset, looking out of a dirty window.

And thus ends the Tanzanian part of our odyssey.

JohnM · 2026-10-04T17:05:51+1100

Another night at the Four Points, NBO and then on the bird to Mombasa.

And to our hotel on the beach for the next night.

The tide in the afternoon was very high, inundating the beach up to the hotel’s wall, so we didn’t get a chance to walk on the beach.

JohnM · 2026-10-04T17:58:41+1100

Next morning it was off to Vipingo Ridge private airstrip to begin our aerial safari across southern Kenya for the next eight nights. Five flights to eventually return us to WIL (Wilson GA airport) in Nairobi.

Destinations: Tsavo East NP (1 night), Tsavo West NP (2 nights), Amboseli NP (2 nights), Masai Mara National Reserve (3 nights).

This will be a contrast to the African massage of driving long distances on rough roads and save a lot of time. Bring it on.

Scenic Air Safaris is headquartered at WIL, with this secondary base at Mombasa.

Cessna Grand Caravan configured with six recliner seats and two on the bench at the rear bulkhead.

Hauling out of Vipingo Ridge.

It was about a 40-minute flight to Tsavo East. We entered the park and meandered to our lodge.

JohnM · 2026-10-04T18:05:03+1100

Grant’s gazelle. Lilac-breasted roller.

The Tsavo parks are major elephant sanctuaries.

The male giraffe was trying his luck but she was not quite up for it – at least in front of onlookers.

And of course you’ve always wondered…

Continuing the theme…

Gerenuk – giraffe antelope. They can stand on their hind feed for prolonged periods, reaching higher into the trees to browse.

JohnM · 2026-10-04T18:08:34+1100

Then to our lodge in time for lunch.

As we were about to set off on our afternoon game drive, this was found in the grounds of the lodge. Elephant dung beetle (Heliocopris species). A female because it lacks the large horns characteristic of the males.