The terrible bloodshed and chaos in Kenya may seem too familiar to most of us. Many African nations are torn apart by violent factions, destroying their mutual homelands over tribal and political differences. Sudan is the most visible to Americans now. But Kenya deserves special attention, as well. This is a strikingly beautiful land, and its leaders, although corrupt, had the good sense to be among the first to outlaw killing safaris, to preserve their greatest natural resource: lions, wildebeest, buffalo, cheetahs, and the incomparable leopard.
In 2002, my husband and I took a photo safari in Kenya. The first time I saw a lion, I thought, I could die happy because I have been so close to one of this greatest of animal wonders. The country was already losing tourism dollars from the after-effects of the bombings of the U.S. Embassy in 1998, and then the general lack of travel after 9-11. Our safari group would normally have had 18 travelers, but had only four. It made the experience special for us, but Steve and I felt sadness for our driver, Peter, who was only working a fourth of the time.