One day Sisters Mary Christine and Teopista took me on a safari in Nairobi National Park. This park is the only national park within a city. As we drove along the dusty roads though flat grasslands, the city skyline was visible in the background. Vincent, our driver, helped us spot animals and informed us about them. He also provided me with binoculars.
The roof of our jeep was raised so we could stand for better views, even balancing on our seats. We saw these animals among others: zebras, giraffes, lions, monkeys, buffalo, crocodiles, baboons, ostriches, hippos, rhinos, hyenas, impalas, buzzards, and a waterbuck. The city park had no elephants.
I’m ready to leave. The hat and shawl weren’t needed and soon removed.
Our tour began where three circles mark where elephant tusks and rhino horns are buried as a testament to eliminating poaching.
The hippos were hiding.
Giraffes were plentiful. I learned that they walk with side legs together. Can you spot the giraffe looking at you?
A parade of about fifteen zebras crossed the road in front of us.
We saw female impalas and one male on the side of the road. Now you understand the logo for Impala cars.
Many ostriches live in the park.
A Kenyan soldier guided us on a walking safari around Hippo Pools. He helped me walk over rocky parts of the narrow path and kept me from falling off cliffs. He pointed out an alligator, whose legs can be seen in the photo, and took us to a black rhino’s cave.
Here is a rhino with a white bird on its back. The bird keeps the big animal free of insects. We also saw a mother rhino walking with her child walking a distance behind her.
We waited on the road to see if five female lions would stand. Sister Christine could see them, but to me they were invisible until one stood, something Sister said was a blessing. I have it in a video. At the entrance to the park, Sister Teopista took a picture of a statue of a lion in case we wouldn’t see one.
I also have a video of a group of baboons coming toward us on the road. We had to cover our snacks so they wouldn’t jump in the jeep and steal them. Two hyenas were walking toward us too, but I only captured one of them with my camera.
Here is the origin of the song “The Lion Sleeps Tonight”:
