When I started mentally composing this Best of Africa post I envisioned a variety of images that captured the light and the beauty and the expressiveness of these wild and untamed animals of the African savanna.

But as time went by it became clear that there was more than wildlife that comprised the Best of Africa – the beautiful and happy and warm and friendly and earnest and hard working people of Kenya and Tanzania.

It is impossible to take photos of all the wonderful people with whom we interacted over two weeks, but there were so many common themes that repeated again and again: genuinely friendly, warm, lovely smiles, extremely hard working, great attitudes, curious and engaging.

The morning we spent in Amboseli with the Maasai tribal village members will stay with us forever.

And now to the wildlife: