Day 19 - Sunday

As usual I am sitting here writting the blog for the day before. This is my last one that I will write in Kenya and I will write the last one on Tuesday morning either in Frankfurt or once we are back in the UK.

An early start this morning to go to the Nakuru safari. We are definitely in a luxurious hotel here and breakfast was happily served for us at 5am! It has to be an early start to get the most out of the Safari. 

The safari park is a really short drive from the hotel. It takes just about 15 minutes to get there and then there is a multi-stepped process to get in. Firstly, a ranger comes on board and does a head count and checks the numbers and the number of seats on the bus. Then off to the ticket desk at 6:30 when it opens to get the tickets. This took longer than I had hoped as we thought we had lost a passport and the panic set in. Lo and behold it had obviously just gotten stuck in with another one. The park, for the first time ever, gave our under-18s the student rate. This was brilliant as it saved us a small fortune. It was also really handy that I stuck the American dollars on a travel money card as they are now completely cashless! This would have been something of a disaster if I had brought the cash. Something to pass on to the next team! The next step is the actual entrance gate where someone again checks numbers and then finally lets us in. All of this happens within 50 yards of each other

We had the customary whole team photo at the park entrance. Every trip always takes this photo at the entrance to the park. 

The safari park itself is vast. The lake itself relies on evaporation to manage its levels so it constantly rises and falls depending on rainfall. The wildlife here is amazing, Seeing animals in their natural habitats. You never really know what you are going to see. Buffalo, zebras and flammings and more birds, and monkeys then you can shake a stick at. There are also Rhino, Giraffe, lions, leopards here too. I have only seen Lions once and I have never seen a leopard here at all. 

We spent the day driving round and managed to spot a number of Rhino and were super close to a beautiful giraffe too. A truly majestic animal. We didn't get to spot a Lion this time despite us driving all over the park.

Our lunch stop was at Lake Nakuru Lodge. A rather lovely resort on one of the hills, looking down over the lake. The resort provided a buffet lunch that was absolutely delicious and a post lunch swim finished off this pit stop beautifully.

Back on the bus, for the last part of the safari and then back to the hotel for a relaxing evening after the early start.

A really beautiful day and a great way to enjoy the end of our epic adventure.

Vivi gave me a letter that she wrote and I chose to read it in the comfort of my own room. I completely balled my eyes out reading it. She was so grateful for the experience and I felt so proud that I could be part of her amazing adventure. 

I know lots of the students are now starting to feel emotional about the impending end to our adventure. I know I will need a tissue or two when we get back to school in Tuesday.