Into Africa: Day Eight: Heading Home
AMSTERDAM — Now that I am out of Africa, the only negative was the airport. I had a little trouble getting out, as I did getting in.
Some people had to have their fingerprints scanned, and mine were done twice. Then the official took an image of my retina. He asked questions, looked me up on a computer, and I knew to keep my natural sarcasm and outrage under wraps.
Into Africa: Day Seven: Back to School
Mara Rianda Primary School is a collection of buildings off a dusty road, not far from the Maasai village we visited. Goats hang out in a fenced off area, laundry dries on lines. The school, built in 1988, has 777 students, all in uniform.
The kids come out to greet us. Lots of “jambo!” calls and the bolder children pose for the cameras, while the shy hide behind their pals. No different from any school in any of the hundreds of classrooms I’ve been in, in America.
Photo courtesy Jacqueline Cutler
Into Africa: Day Six: Anything Can Happen
“The Maasai Mara is not how it was 10 years ago,” guide Joash says, “People are encroaching the area. Humans are coming and coming. The climate used to be rainy and the Maasai Mara used to be green.”
Much of the land covered today was brown.
“We have to watch,” Joash warns. “It could disappear.”
Photo courtesy Doan Nguyen
Into Africa: Day Five: Saftey In Numbers
Before I jump into today, remarkable even by those who live in the bush, I must tell of last night.
The strict rule at the camp is no one must ever go out alone at night. Last night, it was proven why. A guide, with a heavy flashlight and stick, was walking me to my tent, about three city blocks from where everyone congregates. There’s a bar, a hut to charge electronics and a restaurant.
The unmistakable scent of elephant poop hit me.
Photo courtesy Jacqueline Cutler
Into Africa: Day Four: Awesome Experiences
Yesterday I learned when toasting with a German, you must look the person in the eye or risk seven years of bad sex. Not quite the nature documentary tidbit but National Geographic Channel has brought together journalists from around the world, and that meant epic drinking and loads of fun. Anyone who has ever worked in a newsroom knows that the very best conversation happens at the bar at the end of the day. And I can now say that I have done tequila shots with South African tour guides, mosquitoes are seriously large here and you can still form words after being awake for 36 hours.
Photo courtesy Doan Nguyen
Into Africa: Day Three: Orphaned Elephant Refuge
Outside of Kenya. Journalists from Italy, Poland, Germany, Romania and National Geographic Channel staff pile into a small bus. The driver, Elias, stops for rolling paper so one of the Italians can roll her cigarettes. Downtown Nairobi on a Sunday morning is quiet as any city is on that day and time. The city is a little worn, a little gray and sad. Many skyscrapers, but many unfinished buildings; scaffolding is up and they look abandoned.
Photo courtesy Jacqueline Cutler
Into Africa: Day Two: Traveling Adventures Continue
It is an unusual airport that makes Newark look organized and cheery. The person supposed to meet me wasn’t around, and I waited about 90 minutes. I made many acquaintances and several men offered me rides. That seemed like a decidedly awful idea.
Photo courtesy Doan Nguyen
Into Africa: Day One: The Journey Begins
Writer Jacqueline Cutler has just begun the journey of a lifetime — a trip to Kenya to witness some of the world’s great animal migrations. What she’ll be documenting for us here, we’ll be able to see when Great Migrations debuts on the National Geographic Channel this November. We’ll be posting Jacqueline’s adventures daily, so be sure to come back and see what she experiences next.