“This is Kenya”

Lake Nakuru National Park Kenya. Lake Nukuru Lodge and game drives.

5th August 2023

I have several hours today and was determined to get something written. I had attempted yesterday but the WiFi kept just buffering so I gave up, so today I asked the reception if there was a stronger WiFi or area that would let me in.  Voila!!!!  Agnes the lodge manager had welcomed us when we arrived and in true warm Kenyan manner gave us the Lodge orientation and today was so kind and offered me the use of their conference center to sit and write, so I am starting with “Lake Nakuru Lodge ” then will do the Zulu Nyala stories and tips.

I am sitting looking out the window looking out at the endless African plains dotted with hundreds of the well-known Acacia trees that Africa is known for all over the world and Lake Nakuru in the distance. I see 3 rhinos, the herd of buffalo are still out in the open area grazing as well. Some baboons running across the lodge lawn and dozens of busy industrious Weaver birds twittering loudly in the trees next to the window as they build their nests for their bird wife's inspection.!!

We arrived in Lake Nakuru a few days ago and settled into our lovely chalet at Lake Nakuru after another delicious lunch. The Lodge is in the middle of the Reserve with sweeping views of the open plains and Lake Nakuru in the distance. The dining area, bar and all the buildings are beautifully decorated and well maintained. The young Maasai dressed in traditional dress walking around on the patio. Adds to the whole feel of Kenya    PHOTOs

Karibu, the Kenyan greeting “welcome” and we certainly felt welcome as we were offered a glass of juice to wash down the dust by a happy smiling receptionist holding the tray of juice.  Certainly adds to the atmosphere. I highly recommend Lake Nakuu Lodge for a most enjoyable stay in Kenya.

We are so enjoying the people in Kenya as everyone we come across for any reason is smiling and happy and of course happy to see us. They do hospitality so well, love their Jobs and are so genuine.

This is clearly high season in Kenya for Safaris as there are at least 60 other Safari company jeeps filled with visitors from all over the world.   

 Now to share our early morning game drive filled with today's game stories.

6am before dawn, we climbed into our Safari jeep with Daniel, our awesome guide for this week in Kenya well before any other jeeps were ready to go.  It was still dark as we bumped along the dusty road filled with anticipation for the morning sightings. As the sun began to slightly light the veld, we were treated to a large herd of buffalo grazing totally undisturbed by presence and only gave an occasional glance of curiosity in our direction.

Right around the next bend there was a beautiful family of Rothschild Giraffes highlighted by the sunrise, busily eating the leaves with their long black tongues working around the long sharp thorns. I am mesmerized by nature and could sit and watch for hours. All animals are equipped with what they need to live successfully and it is too bad us humans don't always use what we have !!!   

We were still the “Early Birds” out on the roads with none of the other dozens of Jeeps disturbing the early morning animal behavior. Many of the different animals have young that are only about 2-6 months old and we were treated to mother, baby, and family animal morning activities. A Buffalo calf suckling his mother at the water's edge while the herd enjoyed their morning drinks at the waterhole and the other calves frolicking about. 

A few hyena families enjoying the morning, one mother lying on the middle of the road with her baby feeding quietly totally disregarding our jeep rudely driving up to them. Disgruntled, they got up and moved to the side and continued the morning feed. Another hyena family nearby were also taking care of their young  and twin cubs were jostling for position on their mother !!  

Further down the road after several huge bumps in the road we came across a herd of 15 giraffes all close to the road also having their morning feed of leaves between the thorns. The 2 baby giraffes were barely able to reach the higher branches so settled for the lower bushes. Adult giraffes have long necks to eat higher up with dark tongues to avoid sunburn and also cannot eat lowering their necks for long or the blood rushes to their brain and they pass out !!! Nature is astounding.

Near the giraffes was our next treat , a family of Warthogs with 4 lovely very young piglets all running across the road with their tails up like antennae. Warthogs and Giraffes have a very symbiotic relationship so are often near each other as do so many animals with their own symbiosis. A Warthog relies on the giraffe to spot trouble as they are always kneeling down eating so they know to run when the giraffe does !!! Poor Warthog, they are one of Africa’s Ugly 5 and  their name as we know from Lion King is Pumba which translated is “stupid”. So you see them run off with the Griffies to safety and forget after a few minutes why they are running, stop and go back. I wonder how we humans know this !!!  

When you are on a game drive, each of you watches their side of the jeep for animals near and far, hidden by their camouflage or running away and alert the driver guide who normally spots the game before we do and our guide Daniel is always on the ball. He sees things way before we do in the distance and always has good information for what we are seeing but this morning I got the spotter prize. I was sure I could see 2 Rhino hidden in the brush not too far on my side and yelled “Daniel stop, reverse, Rhino hidden on the left”

What another treat this spotting was. We patiently sat watching the brush move a little and the Rhino slowly leave their cover as they browsed towards the road and there they were right in front of us crossing to the other side.Now we could clearly see they were  Black Rhino by their mouths built for plucking leaves off bushes and not browsing like the White (Wyd) Rhinos do, once again, nature provides what's needed.

As we pulled away the radio chatter began as the other jeeps were now out on their game dives and the guides all stayed in contact to let each other know what they had seen and where.  They also stop as they pass each other and chatter away in Swahili to let the others know what they have seen as we wave to the other tourists with their heads out of the open tops of their jeeps. 

As always we enjoyed the herds of Zebras with their individual striped patterns, the Impalas that are ever present with their constantly wagging little tails brushing away annoying flies, baboons striding purposefully somewhere and troops of monkeys grooming each other looking for lice or whatever it is they look for and wrestling playfully. A huge flock of Pelicans and another area hundreds of Flamingos 

We had hoped to see a lion this morning but we did see his paw print so we just missed him !!

As we were heading back for breakfast we came over the hill and what a surprise, not an animal but a beautiful narrow waterfall cascading down a high cliff into the water below. Daniel drove the jeep across the shallow river and we were able to get out of the jeep on the other side to take some photos of each other and the waterfall with a buffalo skull.

We got back at 9 for breakfast and were again welcomed by the staff  with their happy greeting of “Jambo and Karibu” and Phillip, our ever-attentive waiter said he would bring my pot of tea with milk on the side as he remembered from yesterday. The end of this morning was also special, we had fun with the waitstaff and cooks making pancakes and omelets. They asked me if “that man” pointing to Ron is my husband and stared in disbelief that we had been married for 53 years…… 3 times older than they are.!!!

We had a lovely conversation with Danile ( our guide) over our breakfast about how he lives in his village and his philosophy of raising his daughter and the value of an all encompassing education. Education must prepare a child to become the best person he or she can be. According to him, the older generation of some Kenyans believe education is what the child needs so that when they,the older parents are old, that child can take care of them !!!  We also compared our political systems and as everywhere many in government are in it for themselves. Realizing the staff were still at their food stations in case we still wanted more despite it being nearly an hour after breakfast ended we apologized for holding them up and headed out. They had not wanted us to feel rushed to leave just to get their stations cleared up. This is Africa.