Visit mith Mike and Colette and on to Akagera!

 Heading to Akagera Game Reserve we stopped at friends, 

Mike and Colette's beautiful place in the country!!  Colette

has had this B&B built and developed the property.  It is so lovely! 

Mike and Isaac and Bruce… but Isaac
was most excited about all the popcorn that
was in the basket!!  Way to Go, Colette!!

Iris climbing the steps to the grand hall
on the main floor… stunning!
 Note all the windows on the far wall.

 Colette does have help here, but she likes to do
most of the cooking herself, as you can see.
And can she ever cook!!!!!

While we were in the kitchen.. the rest of the crew
headed off to see the cows. 

But after the trip to the cows… jet lag and fatigue set in!  

The centerpiece on the table.  See the little bananas?
They are SO sweet. We eat a lot of them here. 

Having fun on the porch looking out over the property.

Michelle and Colette!  

This was the scene looking out the windows (on the back wall) and the kids and I were watching the cows walk up the hill-- through those windows. 

Isaac posing by some of the beautiful flowers that Colette has.
A great day for finding lizards, too! 

Looking back down over the hill.  Mike works quite hard so this was a relaxing day for him.  We were so glad we were able to spend time with him, too! 

Out to see the young calves…

and to feed them, too!
This is literally, cow grass grown for the animals to eat. 

Back at the house.. time for a drink.

Love those nails! 

 Isaac and his plate of popcorn… The best!  We had a delicious meal that Colette had prepared (and i forgot to take pictures of)
and then they had even more guests arrive after we left.  Mike sent me the following picture….  

at the end of a long day for Colette!  

Finally, taking a well-deserved Sunday afternoon nap!
Thanks so much for the fun time we had with you two!
We always love being with you!


We hit the road again to try to get to Akagera
at a decent hour--- before dark. Once you get off
the main road it takes awhile to wind through the
villages to reach the park. 

                   

 At this point we are on the back roads and on the rich red soil.

Lots of kids getting water to take home.  This is a common sight all over the country.
Many, many young children gathering water. 

We drove by this place and discovered a HUGE afternoon soccer game.. or football, as they call it here. Even a covered
"stadium" area… Unique!  Although most were standing.

We arrived at the Park Headquarters and the kids discovered
the new learning and discovery area…
HERE WITH GRAMPA AND AN ELEPHANT SKULL!  

And a crocodile skeleton.

 The guide is filling Adam in on info
and Iris is just taking it all in. 

This was our first view as we rounded the bend to head
to the lodge. I love all the layers: ground, water, reflections, hills, clouds and sky!
Looking off towards the Tanzania border.

At the lodge the kids found the playground.. We had wanted to go swimming. but note the GREEN pole in the background.  When the "chemicals" don't make it here they can't keep it clean.
So, no water play today! 

Isaac wasn't too upset though as he played and explored.

We got settled into our rooms and decided to take a 

short drive before sunset.  

We drove down along Lake Shore Drive ( unlike the one in Chicago) and found these little baboons grooming. 

Totally unconcerned that our car was right next to them,
 but we stayed inside the car.

 Iris really loved the Impala…
and there are lots of them in the park.

 Down near the water we were told that the male rogue elephant had pealed back the roof
of one of the shelters like he was opening up a can.
Clearly, he had!

The boat we would go on later.

 Iris and me looking out over the lake and spotting the storks.

It was almost sundown… so we headed back to the lodge
to get pictures of the sunset.  This picture
I cropped from the next one.  Love the excitement in their eyes.

Bruce was glowing --He was so happy some of our
kids were here! 

The sun starts down. 

This safari truck came in as we were there… Never had seen one of these here before. 

Zoomed in on the sun setting and look what we found..
Elephants dancing in the sun.

dEven without the zoom you can see them.   I ha seen posters like this with the silhouettes but didn't know it
was really something you could see.  We were lucky to spot. 

The darker it became the more illuminated they were.
Stunning, huh?

 My favorite place in Rwanda.

We bring all of our guest to this small
game park---(compared to the Serengeti)
but it is a very intimate place to encounter the
animals.  We've heard tell that lions are to
be reintroduced here soon… That might change
the "nature" of the park.. certainly for the
impalas!  But we are anxious for Michelle and Adam
and Isaac and Iris to see the Park and all the animals
tomorrow…  I hope we can see them all!

love,
margie