Nairobi National Park

Your writer was taught ‘safari’ by his mother, now 85, who stopped by for a run in the Nairobi National Park last saturday on her way to Tanzania……

First we came across Ujonjo at the top of the Mokoyeti valley

He proceeded to bellow -the first time that Ma had seen a lion roaring

Down the road we met a second male, whom I believe to be Ujonjo’s son…here he is listening to Ujonjo roaring whereupon he responded with his own  full-bodied bellow, which echoed up & down the valley. Truly awesome, to use an over-used word…..

‘Son of Ujonjo’ -any names out there? -in the Mokoyeti valley

We then moved to the Athi Basin & the Athi Dam, magical in the early morning light.

Herds of zebra & gnu were coming to drink along with noisy Yellow throated sandgrouse making their distinctive ‘tirikoko’ calls: which is why the Maasai call them……..tirikoko…….

Black backed jackals are uncommon in the park (one of the few females was recently killed by a speeding vehicle) so it was more Ma’s Luck to find this pair: these animals pairs for life……

Next up was the splendid sight of thousands of zebra in the valley between Eland Hollow & the East Gate junction, along with masses of other plains sp. -see in the background below

And these 5 White rhinos…..

Last of all, we found yet another maned lion, this one consorting with a lioness close to the milling herds near Eland Hollow.

What a day! What a park!