Waiting for Warthogs

Linda Lou Burton posting from Sweetwaters Serena Camp, Ol Pejeta Conservancy, Nanyuki, Kenya – My eyes were as blurry as the camera lens in the pre-dawn light. I’d been up since 4:30, had my cup of tea, made one for Rick. No point in trying to sleep, it was way too noisy here. Snoring, yes. Wind flapping against the tent, yes. Animals gathering at the water hole, oh yes! Besides all those sleep deterrents, I was wide-awake excited.

Rick was way ahead of me on the “animal count;” he’d seen elephants and buffalo and all kinds of wildlife on yesterday’s afternoon game drive while I was taking a nap. Including ugly-tusked, grunting warthogs. Now, here we sat on our porch, waiting for the sun to come up, trying to spot which animals were right in front of us.

I zoomed the camera across the distance to the dining hall, all lit up; breakfast preparations underway; guides and drivers gathering to get vehicles ready, routes planned out. Was that the shadow of an impala I saw, silhouetted against the window’s light? It moved, a slow-gaited walk, neck swaying, much too long for an impala’s neck. A giraffe, perhaps? My perspective was skewed, the animal was at the water hole, the dining room way beyond that.

Sweetwaters Serena Camp is laid out around a large “water hole,” with dining room, lounge, and offices overlooking the view; Mt Kenya and its neighboring peaks the perfect backdrop. The 56 tents curve around the water hole on either side. Which means – wherever you are, you can watch the animals as they come to get a drink, and socialize.

The animals can watch the people too. Now we can see a row of gentle grazers at the fence line, looking at us. “How many people start their day like this?” we wondered, back and forth, barely believing it ourselves. Just then someone stepped around the corner of our porch. It was Abdi, followed by my early-morning wheelchair driver. “Jambo! Good morning! Are you ready for a game drive today?” Abdi asked.

“I am indeed,” I answered, climbing into the wheelchair. That’s my foot you see, I’m shining the flashlight ahead as I’m being pushed along the bumpy path towards the dining room, and breakfast, and a day full of animal sightings — elephants, buffalo, and yes, even warthogs, I hope. That’s Abdi and Rick ahead, early-morning talk.