With its capital city in Nairobi, Kenya has numerous wildlife reserves containing thousands of animal species. It has a land area of 580,000 km2 and a population of nearly 39M residents.
3 Highlights: Nakuru, Masai Mara and Mombasa:
Flamingos picture,
Safari and
Relax in Indian Ocean's warm turquoise waters,
respectively:
a country where nature has been exceedingly gracious.
Nairobi is the capital and largest city of Kenya. The name "Nairobi" comes from the Maasai phrase Enkare Nyirobi, which translates to "the place of cool waters". However, it is popularly known as the "Green City in the Sun" and is surrounded by several expanding villa suburbs.
Nairobi is the 2nd most populous city in East Africa, with a current estimated population of about 3M. Nairobi is currently the 13th largest city in Africa, based on population and 4th largest in infrastructure development and its size.
We got the first contact with the Nature. The hotel gets a long sight of savannah. More than the eyes could see...
Lake Nakuru National Park:
Nakuru means "Dust or Dusty Place" in the Maasai language. Lake Nakuru National Park, close to Nakuru town, was established in 1961. It started off small, only encompassing the famous lake and the surrounding mountainous vicinity, but has since been extended to include a large part of the savannahs.
All flamingos seems a pink stain! But curious that a flamingo's pink or reddish feather color comes from its diet, which is high in alpha and beta-carotene. People eat beta-carotene when they eat carrots.
Baboons got around and shared this piece of land with us.
The Masai Mara National Reserve (MMNR) covers some 1,510 km2 in south-western Kenya. It is the northern-most section of the Mara-Serengeti ecosystem, which covers some 25,000 km2 in Tanzania and Kenya. It is bounded by the Serengeti Park to the south, the Siria escarpment to the west, and Maasai pastoral ranches to the north, east and west. Rainfall in the ecosystem increases markedly along a southeast–northwest gradient, varies in space and time, and is markedly bimodal. The Sand, Talek River and Mara River are the major rivers draining the reserve. Shrubs and trees fringe most drainage lines and cover hillslopes and hilltops.
We stayed on the banks of the Talek River in the world famous Masai Mara Game Reserve. We choose to stay in a tent lining up along the Talek River, overlooking the plains of the national reserve.
And let the safari begins!!
Actually, we had a big scare with an elephant. We crossed our jeep near him. But, suddenly, he stopped and spread its large flapping ears out wide and started to move behind slowly, in our direction. And generally, when they do this gesture is a signal of intimidation, attack…We were so near that we didn´t have time to go back, so we stood, silenced and prayed!! But fortunately he maybe thought we are not a threat and continued his way. After, the tourist guide told us that an elephant had a great memory, remember for years…maybe same jeep had made some bad to that animal…Maybe…I remembered a Agatha Christie book “Elephants can Remember”. The book made all sense in my mind at that instance!
Buffalo
Hippopotamus
The hippopotamus is a large, mostly herbivorous mammal in sub-Saharan Africa. The hippo is responsible for more human fatalities in Africa than any other large animal. Male hippos actively defend their territories which run along the banks of rivers and lakes. Hippos can run at speeds of over 20 miles an hour and they have enormous jaws which host up to 20 inch canines…
The tourist guide in Portugal told us that a woman when got out its tent, saw an hippopotamus and fainted…Of course, at night was frightened with all that animals noises…Scaring…sleeping inside a simple canvas tent…with any boundaries from game reserves..
Rhino:
And finnally but not least the savannah King, the Lion:
Our jeeps.
Getting closely with lions make us on the one hand to wish to overcome the boundaries and on the other hand desiring to run away. I had asking myself what happens if the lion climbed and got in caravan (I think I didn´t wanna know for share) and, what happens if I jumped off the caravan…? Because the lions had seen so pacific, at moments I didn´t feel threatened at all. Actually there are histories (few of course) that humans raise a lion from early and they could live together, in same habitat. Wonderful, a Nature´s miracle! Remember Christian for example. However, I thought that two things crossing my mind probably have the same “happy” ending for the lion :D Do you know if a lion eats a human being must be killed because it becomes a strong dangerous? By nature the lion is not man-hungry, and actually they live in fear of human kind (lions generally have confined their killings to easier prey). But there are occasional man-eaters. Usually have been aged beasts with bad teeth, or deformed or disabled so that they have been founded impossible to hunt their natural prey. Hunger has driven them for human’s habitations. There, for first time they may taste human blood and this taste creates an insatiable desire for more. The tourist guide said that this happens because of humans’ mineral salt. Once eaten human, the lion have the desire for more and more.
Remember Lyon King? And the bad animals...yes...I saw them as well....hyenas...so nasty the smell.
Female lions are the pride's primary hunters. They often work together to prey upon antelopes, zebras, wildebeest, and other large animals of the open grasslands. Many of these animals are faster than lions, so teamwork pays off.
The landing and launching were very peaceful.
Curiously, if you have a fear of heights, you need not be concerned.
The guide said to us that we would not experience any vertigo, because you were moving with the wind currents, as a result, there was no rocking or swaying or feeling of movement.
And actually, it’s true. I have vertigos and I didn’t feel any fear of heights at all.
Relaxation and peace...
The nature presents us with its divine gift. And we just have to take all senses aligned and. Feel.
Just feel.
3st STOP: Mombasa
The original Arabic name is Manbasa which is called as ‘Kisiwa Cha Mvita’ in Swahili that means ‘Island of War’. The reason behind this is the many changes in its possession that has got a great impact in its long history.
The town is mainly occupied by the Muslim Mijikenda/Swahili people. Curiously, in the hotel that we were stayed, there were same lifeguards near the swimming pool that are muslin, which had all body cover (traditional dress for the Swahili women is a brightly coloured, printed cotton sheet called a kanga, which may have inspirational slogans printed on it. Muslim women wear a covering known as a bui bui, that is traditionally black, along with a head covering called a hijaa). Generally when travel to a sun destiny is used to see all bodies almost necked (Brazil and Dominican Republic are Portuguese most common destinations), is peculiar to see the locals with all body cover. Even on the beach, the foreigners adapt to the customs and don´t get a walk just with a swimming suit.
Bizarre, I felt.
Over the centuries, there have been many immigrants and traders who settled in Mombasa, particularly from Iran, the Middle East, Somalia and the Indian sub-continent, who came mainly as traders and skilled craftsmen.
What actually attract people from distant land to this island are the striking old town and its splendid Arab architecture. The narrow snaky streets, the air often filled with the scent of spices, the local men & women wrapped in bright coloured coastal wears ‘khanga’ and ‘kikoy & women wearing the traditional outfit-‘bui bu’i and the active markets flooded with fresh fish of the coast is the normal scene that a foreigner get to see on his/her first visit. Capitalizing on coastal tourism, the city is well known for its exotic beach resorts and luxurious hotels. Water activities like kite surfing, scuba diving and much more are also a common site on these beaches.
Old Town - Fort Jesus
Portuguese people!
Mombasa's top tourist destination, Fort Jesus was built by the Portuguese during the 16th century for protection from foreign invaders and local riots. The Arabs took over the fort when they came over Mombasa. Fort Jesus displays canons and weapons, and serves as venue for local events and hosts many research programs like Conservation Lab, Education Department and an Old Town Conservation Office.
Loved. Love. Loving. ALL..
