"Nairobi - Home of the safari" a Nairobi Travel Page by K.Knight

Brilliant pink flamingos, as far as the eye can see, are just a taste of what is to come once you enter the Lake Nakuru National Park, approx 4 hrs drive from Nairobi..
On our first morning in the park we packed out gear and departed at 7am for a day of adventure. After driving for less than 2 km's we spotted 2, yes 2, Leopard sitiing in a tree with a lion on the ground looking up at them. Closer inspection saw the leopard on the bottom sitting on a fresh kill, the leopard at the top wanting the kill and the lion wanting the 2 leopards and the kill! Nature at it peak!

The Masai Mara National Reserve is relatively close to Nairobi, approx 150 kms from the city centre. Having said that, the roads are the most pathetic, pot hole riddled, dangerous, dusty, back country tracks that you can imagine. Be prepared for a very long 14 hour drive to the "Mara." Yes, that is correct, 14 hours!

It seems very obvious from the outset that the money that is allocated to the maintainence of these roads ends up in the pockets of the corrupt officials that "run" the country.

It is well worth the trip as the people, wildlife and scenery that make up the experience that is the "Mara" will be etched into your mind forever more. Di it, you won't regret it.

Known by just about everybody in Nairobi as "The Elephant orphanage," The David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust is a must see when visiting Nairobi.

Anne and I spent a magnificent 3 hours with the beautiful elephants, not leaving before we parted with a meagre US$50.00 to sponsor "LEMPAUTE" for 12 months.

As their website advises... "A gift that not only helps save a life but also bequeaths to the recipient an endearing icon that will be both educational and appealing. This is a living gift of a wonderful animal, the largest mammal on earth, and a gift that enables someone to become a part of the life of the elephant of your choice."

We sponsored Lempaute..

“Lempaute" as her rescuers have named her after the area she was found, is just two weeks old and absolutely tiny. The scouts of The West Gate Conservancy were on a routine foot patrol when they came across this tiny calf walking all alone down a road. The moment she became aware of their presence she ran off into the bush screaming, but then later emerged from the undergrowth and began to follow them. She followed them as they walked for about an hour until such time as the patrol vehicle which was summoned by radio from the Head Quarters of the Conservancy was able to collect them and rescue the elephant. There were no elephants anywhere in the area, and her ears were very sun burnt which would indicate that she had been without her mother for at least 24 hours. She was rescued on the migration route the elephants use in the wet season as they transit through from Laikipia to the Mathews Range and it is suspected she was left behind simply because she could not keep up with the herd.

Want to know more?

http://www.sheldrickwildlifetrust.org/index.asp