IMG_3018.jpg
Serena Hotel in Nairobi
The write-up on this tirp in the Writing section of this web site contains several paragraphs on this chain of hotels and lodges.
Shutter Speed : 1/809
Date Time : 2012:10:06 07:07:15
Equip Model : Canon PowerShot A495
ISO Speed : ISO-125
Focal Length : 6.6
Aperture : F/2.99
IMG_2939.jpg
Serena Hotel in Nairobi
Shutter Speed : 1/317.37
Date Time : 2012:10:06 00:34:28
Equip Model : Canon PowerShot A495
ISO Speed : ISO-80
Focal Length : 14.8
Aperture : F/4.5
IMG_3029.jpg
Serena Hotel in Nairobi
All of the Serena hotels and lodges had a "locator" sign like this near the entrance. A few other places had similar signs.
Shutter Speed : 1/79.34
Date Time : 2012:10:07 00:07:22
Equip Model : Canon PowerShot A495
ISO Speed : ISO-400
Focal Length : 21.6
Aperture : F/5.78
IMG_2920.jpg
Serena Hotel in Nairobi -- interior of the lobby bar
Note the umbrellas, which seemed to be light fixtures (apparently not on when this was taken)
Shutter Speed : 1/19.84
Date Time : 2012:10:06 00:13:58
Equip Model : Canon PowerShot A495
ISO Speed : ISO-500
Focal Length : 6.6
Aperture : F/2.99
IMG_2921.jpg
Serena Hotel in Nairobi -- lobby/lounge area
Shutter Speed : 1/15.03
Date Time : 2012:10:06 00:14:14
Equip Model : Canon PowerShot A495
ISO Speed : ISO-800
Focal Length : 6.6
Aperture : F/2.99
IMG_2923.jpg
Serena Hotel in Nairobi -- taken from inside lobby bar looking out onto bar tables on patio
Shutter Speed : 1/19.84
Date Time : 2012:10:06 00:14:38
Equip Model : Canon PowerShot A495
ISO Speed : ISO-500
Focal Length : 6.6
Aperture : F/2.99
IMG_2924A.jpg
Serena Hotel in Nairobi -- lobby lounge area
Shutter Speed : 1/15.03
Date Time : 2012:10:06 00:15:02
Equip Model : Canon PowerShot A495
ISO Speed : ISO-800
Focal Length : 6.6
Aperture : F/2.99
IMG_2927A.jpg
Serena Hotel in Nairobi -- lobby lounge area
Shutter Speed : 1/8
Date Time : 2012:10:06 00:15:47
Equip Model : Canon PowerShot A495
ISO Speed : ISO-800
Focal Length : 9.84
Aperture : F/3.51
IMG_2925.jpg
Serena Hotel in Nairobi -- lobby lounge area
Most people shown here were in the Vantage Travel group
Shutter Speed : 1/9.92
Date Time : 2012:10:06 00:15:16
Equip Model : Canon PowerShot A495
ISO Speed : ISO-800
Focal Length : 6.6
Aperture : F/2.99
IMG_2936.jpg
Serena Hotel in Nairobi -- lobby lounge area
Shutter Speed : 1/19.84
Date Time : 2012:10:06 00:21:30
Equip Model : Canon PowerShot A495
ISO Speed : ISO-500
Focal Length : 9.84
Aperture : F/3.51
IMG_3026A.jpg
Serena Hotel in Nairobi
This was in main dining room. Part of the evening buffet.
Shutter Speed : 1/19.84
Date Time : 2012:10:06 12:09:33
Equip Model : Canon PowerShot A495
ISO Speed : ISO-800
Focal Length : 6.6
Aperture : F/2.99
IMG_3020.jpg
Serena Hotel in Nairobi -- guest room interior
Serena Hotel in Nairobi -- guest room interior
Shutter Speed : 1/30.06
Date Time : 2012:10:06 07:13:24
Equip Model : Canon PowerShot A495
ISO Speed : ISO-400
Focal Length : 6.6
Aperture : F/2.99
IMG_3022A.jpg
Serena Hotel in Nairobi -- guest room interior
Shutter Speed : 1/50.56
Date Time : 2012:10:06 07:14:16
Equip Model : Canon PowerShot A495
ISO Speed : ISO-400
Focal Length : 6.6
Aperture : F/2.99
IMG_3019.jpg
Serena Hotel in Nairobi -- guest room interior
Shutter Speed : 1/60.13
Date Time : 2012:10:06 07:13:12
Equip Model : Canon PowerShot A495
ISO Speed : ISO-400
Focal Length : 6.6
Aperture : F/2.99
IMG_2928.jpg
Serena Hotel in Nairobi -- pool
A bit of the poolside bar is visible on the left hand side of this photo.
Shutter Speed : 1/501.46
Date Time : 2012:10:06 00:18:13
Equip Model : Canon PowerShot A495
ISO Speed : ISO-200
Focal Length : 6.6
Aperture : F/2.99
IMG_2929.jpg
Serena Hotel in Nairobi -- pool
Shutter Speed : 1/250.73
Date Time : 2012:10:06 00:18:23
Equip Model : Canon PowerShot A495
ISO Speed : ISO-80
Focal Length : 6.6
Aperture : F/2.99
IMG_2932.jpg
Serena Hotel in Nairobi -- exterior
Taken behind the hotel.
Shutter Speed : 1/158.68
Date Time : 2012:10:06 00:19:15
Equip Model : Canon PowerShot A495
ISO Speed : ISO-160
Focal Length : 6.6
Aperture : F/2.99
IMG_2933.jpg
Serena Hotel in Nairobi -- exterior
Behind the hotel, looking in a slightly different direction than the previous photo. It's a in an area that seems to be a suburban office area, perhaps developed within the last couple decades
Shutter Speed : 1/250.73
Date Time : 2012:10:06 00:19:28
Equip Model : Canon PowerShot A495
ISO Speed : ISO-160
Focal Length : 6.6
Aperture : F/2.99
IMG_3034A.jpg
Fountain in Front of the hotel
Shutter Speed : 1/101.13
Date Time : 2012:10:07 00:08:44
Equip Model : Canon PowerShot A495
ISO Speed : ISO-400
Focal Length : 17.55
Aperture : F/5.03
IMG_3031A.jpg
Fountain in Front of the hotel
Shutter Speed : 1/125.37
Date Time : 2012:10:07 00:07:55
Equip Model : Canon PowerShot A495
ISO Speed : ISO-160
Focal Length : 6.6
Aperture : F/2.99
IMG_3030A.jpg
Fountain in Front of the hotel
Shutter Speed : 1/79.34
Date Time : 2012:10:07 00:07:41
Equip Model : Canon PowerShot A495
ISO Speed : ISO-125
Focal Length : 6.6
Aperture : F/2.99
IMG_3034B.jpg
Fountain in Front of the hotel
Shutter Speed : 1/101.13
Date Time : 2012:10:07 00:08:44
Equip Model : Canon PowerShot A495
ISO Speed : ISO-400
Focal Length : 17.55
Aperture : F/5.03
IMG_2944.jpg
Karen Blitzen Home/Museum
Shutter Speed : 1/1243.34
Date Time : 2012:10:06 01:19:34
Equip Model : Canon PowerShot A495
ISO Speed : ISO-125
Focal Length : 6.6
Aperture : F/2.99
IMG_2946A.jpg
Karen Blitzen Home/Museum
An interesting tree. The walkway at left was apparently added long after she sold the property.
Shutter Speed : 1/60.13
Date Time : 2012:10:06 01:51:13
Equip Model : Canon PowerShot A495
ISO Speed : ISO-400
Focal Length : 6.6
Aperture : F/2.99
IMG_2947A.jpg
Karen Blitzen Home/Museum
Gardens behind home.
Shutter Speed : 1/634.73
Date Time : 2012:10:06 01:52:23
Equip Model : Canon PowerShot A495
ISO Speed : ISO-160
Focal Length : 6.6
Aperture : F/2.99
IMG_2951A.jpg
Karen Blitzen Home/Museum
Gardens around home.
Shutter Speed : 1/39.67
Date Time : 2012:10:06 01:53:19
Equip Model : Canon PowerShot A495
ISO Speed : ISO-400
Focal Length : 21.6
Aperture : F/5.78
IMG_2954.jpg
Karen Blitzen Home/Museum
They apparently rent out the grounds for various kinds of events. The tents were there temporarily for something planned for later that day.
There is a difficult-to-see dark range of hills immediately above the center of the photo (just above the treeline). This is a range of "mountains" whose name is the Swahili word for knuckles. These are mentioned near the beginning of her book, Out of Africa, when she describes her home in Kenya.
Shutter Speed : 1/202.25
Date Time : 2012:10:06 01:54:07
Equip Model : Canon PowerShot A495
ISO Speed : ISO-100
Focal Length : 21.6
Aperture : F/5.78
IMG_2979.jpg
Giraffe Center -- Nairobi
Shutter Speed : 1/101.13
Date Time : 2012:10:06 02:50:37
Equip Model : Canon PowerShot A495
ISO Speed : ISO-160
Focal Length : 14.8
Aperture : F/4.5
IMG_2978.jpg
Giraffe Center -- Nairobi
Saw signs with this "Polite Notice" heading at several places in both countries. I wondered if it had some kind of special meaning in their legal system. It might also be the English translation of some common Swahili phrase.
Shutter Speed : 1/60.13
Date Time : 2012:10:06 02:50:28
Equip Model : Canon PowerShot A495
ISO Speed : ISO-100
Focal Length : 9.84
Aperture : F/3.51
IMG_0565A.jpg
Giraffe Center -- Nairobi
Shutter Speed : 1/317.37
Date Time : 2012:10:06 02:15:20
Equip Model : Canon PowerShot SX40 HS
ISO Speed : ISO-160
Focal Length : 150.5
Aperture : F/5.78
IMG_0562A.jpg
There are at least three giraffes in this photo.
The upper-level observation area is visible at left. Here you can look the giraffes in the eye, and feed them by hand. In this view the giraffe is eating pellets (giraffe chow?) from one of the feeder boxes attached to the structure.
Shutter Speed : 1/809
Date Time : 2012:10:06 02:14:48
Equip Model : Canon PowerShot SX40 HS
ISO Speed : ISO-200
Focal Length : 6.5
Aperture : F/4
IMG_2960A.jpg
Giraffe Center -- Nairobi
Another view of the observation structure for visitors. Wish I had "straightened" this one a bit.
This is a Rothshild Giraffe. It doesn't show up well in any of the photos in this album, but one distinguishing feature of this type of giraffe is they do not have a pattern on their legs from the knees down.
These particular giraffes are not native to the area around Nairobi. My understanding is that their habitat is in the extreme western part of Kenya and in Uganda (even farther west). This place started in the late 1970s as a breeding program in response these giraffes becoming endangered due to civil war and other types of disorders in Uganda (and habitat loss in Kenya due to economic factors). They try to resettle the ones bred here in other national parks in Kenya (some of the parks outside their historic natural habitat).
Shutter Speed : 1/125.37
Date Time : 2012:10:06 02:14:13
Equip Model : Canon PowerShot A495
ISO Speed : ISO-160
Focal Length : 21.6
Aperture : F/5.78
IMG_2963.jpg
Giraffe Center -- Nairobi
The guy at upper right later kissed the giraffe.
Shutter Speed : 1/404.5
Date Time : 2012:10:06 02:21:08
Equip Model : Canon PowerShot A495
ISO Speed : ISO-80
Focal Length : 6.6
Aperture : F/2.99
IMG_2975.jpg
Giraffe Center -- Nairobi
They had a warthog, who seemed to be there to eat the giraffe pellets that fell to the ground. Perhaps giraffes cannot pick these up off the ground.
Shutter Speed : 1/125.37
Date Time : 2012:10:06 02:47:54
Equip Model : Canon PowerShot A495
ISO Speed : ISO-160
Focal Length : 21.6
Aperture : F/5.78
IMG_2969.jpg
Giraffe Center -- Nairobi
The warthogs will sometimes sort of kneel and "walk" on their front legs while eating. It seems to be related to them not having much flexibility in their short necks, so the kneeling is their way of getting their mouths close to the ground.
Shutter Speed : 1/250.73
Date Time : 2012:10:06 02:25:00
Equip Model : Canon PowerShot A495
ISO Speed : ISO-80
Focal Length : 21.6
Aperture : F/5.78
IMG_2981.jpg
Elephant Orphanage
This was just inside of the Nairobi National Park. Going thru a gate, to enter the park, we had our first view of the heavily-armed park rangers (did not take a chance of photographing one of them, since I wasn't sure of the rules). The are largely an anti-poaching force and seemed to be pretty much on the level of a SWAT team, with respect to weapons.
Shutter Speed : 1/501.46
Date Time : 2012:10:06 03:14:27
Equip Model : Canon PowerShot A495
ISO Speed : ISO-80
Focal Length : 12.05
Aperture : F/4
IMG_0601.jpg
Elephant Orphanage
The attendants are in the long green coats. Tourists are in the background, wearing (mostly) brighter colors. There are other tourists (visible in some other photos) beside me and to my left. There was a rope line separating us and the elephants.
All the elephants are supposed to be age 3 years and younger, and have become separated from their mothers (usually due to the death of the mother). They stay here until they are weaned.
Shutter Speed : 1/634.73
Date Time : 2012:10:06 03:43:29
Equip Model : Canon PowerShot SX40 HS
ISO Speed : ISO-160
Focal Length : 7.88
Aperture : F/4
IMG_0576A.jpg
Elephant Orphanage
The attendant (with his back to the camera) is parading this baby along the rope line, allowing people to pet him (or her?)
Shutter Speed : 1/809
Date Time : 2012:10:06 03:19:15
Equip Model : Canon PowerShot SX40 HS
ISO Speed : ISO-160
Focal Length : 4.3
Aperture : F/4
IMG_0580.jpg
Elephant Orphanage -- Nairobi National Park
This is the same baby as in the previous photo. The baby seemed as excited about an opportunity to pet the tourists as the tourists did by the opportunity to pet it.
Shutter Speed : 1/1243.34
Date Time : 2012:10:06 03:27:51
Equip Model : Canon PowerShot SX40 HS
ISO Speed : ISO-200
Focal Length : 4.3
Aperture : F/4
IMG_0570A.jpg
Elephant Orphanage -- Nairobi National Park
This was the smallest baby (although not their youngest, they said). It seemed to have it's own private attendant with an umbrella to protect it from the sun. This attendant and this baby left after about 10-15 minutes, taking this baby off display earlier than the others.
This baby ears are sort of folded back over its shoulders. The tips of the ears appeared to be wet (as did those of two or three of the other babies). I assumed it was a sign of its immaturity, but I'm not sure.
Shutter Speed : 1/404.5
Date Time : 2012:10:06 03:17:02
Equip Model : Canon PowerShot SX40 HS
ISO Speed : ISO-200
Focal Length : 44.66
Aperture : F/5.03
IMG_0604.jpg
Elephant Orphanage -- Nairobi National Park
Shutter Speed : 1/250.73
Date Time : 2012:10:06 03:44:08
Equip Model : Canon PowerShot SX40 HS
ISO Speed : ISO-200
Focal Length : 24.61
Aperture : F/4.5
IMG_0592.jpg
Elephant Orphanage -- Nairobi National Park
After about 30 minutes, they took the first group of elephants out of sight and this second group came in -- at a run.
Shutter Speed : 1/501.46
Date Time : 2012:10:06 03:41:23
Equip Model : Canon PowerShot SX40 HS
ISO Speed : ISO-160
Focal Length : 22.16
Aperture : F/4.5
IMG_0568.jpg
Elephant Orphanage -- Nairobi National Park
This is why they were running. This appeared to be perhaps 2 or 3 gallon contains, and they each got two.
Shutter Speed : 1/1002.93
Date Time : 2012:10:06 03:16:42
Equip Model : Canon PowerShot SX40 HS
ISO Speed : ISO-100
Focal Length : 10.07
Aperture : F/4
IMG_0596A.jpg
Elephant Orphanage -- Nairobi National Park
You can see this foreground elephant's second container of "milk" (a synthetic formula, really) at the attendant's feet. Note how two others in the background are also taking formula, and one is waiting its turn.
Shutter Speed : 1/634.73
Date Time : 2012:10:06 03:41:57
Equip Model : Canon PowerShot SX40 HS
ISO Speed : ISO-200
Focal Length : 8.16
Aperture : F/4
IMG_0596B.jpg
Elephant Orphanage -- Nairobi National Park
Cropped version of the previous photo, trying to get more of a close up.
Shutter Speed : 1/634.73
Date Time : 2012:10:06 03:41:57
Equip Model : Canon PowerShot SX40 HS
ISO Speed : ISO-200
Focal Length : 8.16
Aperture : F/4
IMG_0598A.jpg
Elephant Orphanage -- Nairobi National Park
I thought this was so cool. Notice the other tourists with cameras in the background.
Shutter Speed : 1/317.37
Date Time : 2012:10:06 03:42:10
Equip Model : Canon PowerShot SX40 HS
ISO Speed : ISO-200
Focal Length : 30.91
Aperture : F/4.5
IMG_2990A.jpg
Elephant Orphanage -- Nairobi National Park
The dust comes from some of the elephants (off camera) rolling in the dirt.
Shutter Speed : 1/125.37
Date Time : 2012:10:06 03:56:11
Equip Model : Canon PowerShot A495
ISO Speed : ISO-80
Focal Length : 21.6
Aperture : F/5.78
IMG_2986.jpg
Elephant Orphanage -- Nairobi National Park
They were not moving as fast as it may look in this photo.
Shutter Speed : 1/634.73
Date Time : 2012:10:06 03:55:28
Equip Model : Canon PowerShot A495
ISO Speed : ISO-80
Focal Length : 9.84
Aperture : F/3.51
IMG_2985.jpg
Elephant Orphanage -- Nairobi National Park
There is a water hole (mud bath, really) behind the elephant on the right hand side. Those who didn't roll in the dirt went down into the mud after the formula was all consumed.
Shutter Speed : 1/501.46
Date Time : 2012:10:06 03:55:21
Equip Model : Canon PowerShot A495
ISO Speed : ISO-80
Focal Length : 9.84
Aperture : F/3.51
IMG_2993.jpg
Elephant Orphanage -- Nairobi National Park
Kicking up dust.
Shutter Speed : 1/250.73
Date Time : 2012:10:06 03:57:24
Equip Model : Canon PowerShot A495
ISO Speed : ISO-160
Focal Length : 21.6
Aperture : F/5.78
IMG_2984.jpg
Elephant Orphanage -- Nairobi National Park
A couple of these are wet from having just left the mud hole.
Shutter Speed : 1/202.25
Date Time : 2012:10:06 03:55:13
Equip Model : Canon PowerShot A495
ISO Speed : ISO-80
Focal Length : 14.8
Aperture : F/4.5
IMG_2997.jpg
Elephant Orphanage -- Nairobi National Park
Didn't seem to get a photo, but my recollection is that eventually there were three in a pile.
Shutter Speed : 1/317.37
Date Time : 2012:10:06 04:00:28
Equip Model : Canon PowerShot A495
ISO Speed : ISO-80
Focal Length : 9.84
Aperture : F/3.51
IMG_2998.jpg
Elephant Orphanage -- Nairobi National Park
End of the "show".
Shutter Speed : 1/317.37
Date Time : 2012:10:06 04:02:35
Equip Model : Canon PowerShot A495
ISO Speed : ISO-80
Focal Length : 14.8
Aperture : F/4.5
IMG_3004A.jpg
Nairobi Street Scene
Saw many of these drop gates (? -- not sure what the correct term is). This was on what looked to be an ordinary street, but is was apparently a semi-gated community (they let our bus to by to just pass thru the neighborhood on the way to and from the elephant orphanage). I suspect if a vehicle looked like it had people up to no good they would not lift the gate.
Shutter Speed : 1/1002.93
Date Time : 2012:10:06 04:22:11
Equip Model : Canon PowerShot A495
ISO Speed : ISO-125
Focal Length : 6.6
Aperture : F/2.99
IMG_3006.jpg
Tamambo (Restaurant)
We had lunch here. This is in a former residence that Karen Blitzen and her husband were said to have rented for a time (perhaps at a time while their house was being remodeled).
It seemed to be adjacent to their large block of land that had been a coffee plantation. Their home (later her home, after they split up) was on that block of land. Apparently, only a portion of the plantation (which may have been 6000 acres) was cultivated. There was also a native village on the land, and the grazing lands for the villager's cattle and other animals.
Shutter Speed : 1/501.46
Date Time : 2012:10:06 04:37:14
Equip Model : Canon PowerShot A495
ISO Speed : ISO-160
Focal Length : 6.6
Aperture : F/2.99
IMG_3007.jpg
Tamambo (Restaurant)
Gardens around the building.
Shutter Speed : 1/501.46
Date Time : 2012:10:06 05:54:23
Equip Model : Canon PowerShot A495
ISO Speed : ISO-80
Focal Length : 6.6
Aperture : F/2.99
IMG_3008.jpg
Tamambo (Restaurant)
In gardens.
Shutter Speed : 1/1002.93
Date Time : 2012:10:06 05:54:40
Equip Model : Canon PowerShot A495
ISO Speed : ISO-160
Focal Length : 14.8
Aperture : F/4.5
IMG_3009A.jpg
Tamambo (Restaurant)
In gardens.
Shutter Speed : 1/634.73
Date Time : 2012:10:06 06:04:31
Equip Model : Canon PowerShot A495
ISO Speed : ISO-125
Focal Length : 8.06
Aperture : F/5.03
IMG_3012.jpg
Nairobi Street Scene
Not a great photo. However, it may be the best photo I ever got showing both (1) the kind of push/pull carts that were commonly used and (2) the use of a heavily-loaded bicycle probably as a cart. Saw several instances like this, where the bicycle seemed too heavily loaded for it to be ridden. However, there were several instances (later on the trip, when we were in more hilly terrain), where the loaded bicycle was being pushed uphill. I wasn't sure but what the "pusher" might have found some way to ride it one he or she crested the hill.
This photo was taken from a moving vehicle (as were many of the other "street scenes" photos from the trip).
Shutter Speed : 1/634.73
Date Time : 2012:10:06 06:26:12
Equip Model : Canon PowerShot A495
ISO Speed : ISO-80
Focal Length : 6.6
Aperture : F/2.99
IMG_3015.jpg
Nairobi Street Scene
The flowers behind were kind of a roadside plant nursery. Passed many such (apparently informal) open-air roadside businesses in Nairobi and throughout the trip.
Shutter Speed : 1/809
Date Time : 2012:10:06 06:28:45
Equip Model : Canon PowerShot A495
ISO Speed : ISO-160
Focal Length : 6.6
Aperture : F/2.99
IMG_3016.jpg
Nairobi Street Scene
This was a horrendous gridlock traffic jam. This policeman (? -- I THINK he was a policeman) was trying to clear it up, with little success. Several informal "volunteer" civilian traffic directors had tried to direct it previously (some of them passengers who had jumped out of cars to try to direct traffic).
When they would get one car out of the intersection (to try to clear it) another would come in and take the place of the one who had just moved.
Shutter Speed : 1/501.46
Date Time : 2012:10:06 06:46:29
Equip Model : Canon PowerShot A495
ISO Speed : ISO-125
Focal Length : 21.6
Aperture : F/5.78
IMG_3024A.jpg
Tusker Time!
Back at the hotel after the first day's tourist stuff. This was taken at the hotel's poolside bar (some of the poolside stuff is visible in the background).
Had initially gone to the patio just outside the lobby bar. However, that turned out the be the hotel lobby bar's smoking area. Surprisingly, the bars in the Serena lodges seemed to be non-smoking. Not sure if that was a law or just company policy.
Shutter Speed : 1/60.13
Date Time : 2012:10:06 09:15:40
Equip Model : Canon PowerShot A495
ISO Speed : ISO-250
Focal Length : 9.84
Aperture : F/3.51
IMG_3025B.jpg
Tusker Time!
Shutter Speed : 1/25.28
Date Time : 2012:10:06 09:16:29
Equip Model : Canon PowerShot A495
ISO Speed : ISO-400
Focal Length : 21.6
Aperture : F/5.78
