My last day in Africa...

So it is officially my last day in Kenya, it is very very sad... a large part of me really doesn't want to leave, there is still so much to see and I even had the hare-brained idea to bring Mike back to Kisumu and Bondo for a day so that he can get an authentic people experience in addition to the safaris we've been on! Unfortunately there really isn't enough time (in addition to $200 flight!) and I guess I'll have to wait another decade before I get the chance to come back.
The past 3 days at the Masai Mara were a lot of fun. I was really happy to be back in Western Kenya and I was so desperate to speak Luo again - I harassed every staff member to find out if they were Luo and it turns out the assistant manager was! Cecil thought we were on our honeymoon but I corrected him - he sent a bottle of wine to our room anyways just because I knew a bit of the native tongue! I think I underestimated how amazing Tanzania was because it turned out there were far more animals there, but the Mara was equally gorgeous - while our first drive didn't yield much, on our last drive our driver nearly ran into a lion lying in the tall grass and it growled ferociously at us, causing everyone in the land cruiser to shriek their heads off and the driver had to tell us to calm down. It was scary and awesome. As well, Mike and I finally got to see a herd of elephants up close and that was truly the highlight of the whole trip. In addition the Mara Serena had a hilltop pool where we could just bask in the sun while viewing the Mara at the same time, often we spotted giraffes and elephants in the distance. It was very surreal. Of course I can't end without speaking of the food at the Mara Serena - the soups and desserts were amazing!
I had so much to write last time that I can't believe I forgot to mention the second day in Nairobi where Mike, Julie and I visited the Langata Giraffe Centre where we got to pet and feed giraffes! It was so much fun (Rose I really wish you were there) and there happened to be a giraffe there named Betty as well - we uncannily had very similar personalities - she was very hungry and bossy and she even gave Mike an unexpected big kiss! It was too funny. He got slobbered big time, and Julie has gold video of it. For 150US a whole group of Kenya children can visit the giraffe centre so when I get back I would very much like to fundraise that amount... I think every child would just absolutely love the experience. Afterwards we headed to Carnivore restaurant (the worst name for a restaurant according to any vegetarian, eh Priya), which is one of the top 40 in the world as they serve game meat. I tried some ostrich, crocodile and camel but I didn't like any of it very much... out of all of us Julie ate the most! She is the Carnivore buffet queen. On the way we also passed by the Kibera slums - it's just so ironic that right beside the poorest neighbourhood in Nairobi is situated the Carnivore restaurant.
I also have one more funny story that I forgot to mention - on our flight from Kisumu to Nairobi the aiport security was noticeable slack... I accidentally left my swiss army knife in my carry-on and noone had noticed. Julie happened to have a mango she wanted to eat so I casually handed over my knife to her, so there we were slicing up a mango in the boarding area and while I was afraid my beloved knife would be confiscated a security guard had walked by and didn't say anything. It was too funny, considering on our flight to Mombasa the security gate had on a display a cornucopia of confiscated knives and scissors to deter all passengers from having such things on carry-on. I guess it's just like security at Kingston airport, where they're surprisingly extra anal and ask me if I've packed firearms with stern seriousness every time.
Tomorrow I head to Amsterdam and will be home in 2 weeks!! Kwa heri Kenya...