Written by Kathy Mutch
Nakuru Park
February 4, 2018
The combi roof is up, the sky blue with soft white clouds floating lazily by. A warm breeze greets us as we enter Nakuru Park, a national Kenyan park for protection of wildlife and to allow visitors to see the natural habitat. Paul, our combi driver, has been with MCOH as a driver and participant in our medical camp work since the beginning, and our good friend.
We stand in the combi, our eyes searching to find the more elusive animals (like the 300 lions that make the park their home) and keenly watching the animals that come so close to the combi, like monkeys, gazelles, water buffalo, giraffes, zebras, warthogs, etc as they go about their normal life, aware of the combi, but not concerned by it.
We saw white rhino – endangered because of poachers looking for their tusks, leaving the bodies to rot. The Kenyan government and people have stood up and now rhino numbers are improving. We saw one eland – an unusual sighting. Paul told us many interesting fact about the animals such as: there is no inbreeding, many partners stay together for life, and of the symbiotic relationships like the ibus and the water buffalo.
One of our most special sightings was of a mother rhino and her newborn. The maternal instinct of protection and pride in her little one was so evident.
As we bumped along the roads enjoying not only the animals but also the beautiful land of rocky cliffs, salt water lake (Nakuru) and watering holes, uniquely shaped trees, swaying dry grasses, and listening to the birds, a feeling of peaceful connection to this land and to the Kenyan people came over me. I was reminded of Paul’s comment when we arrived – “Welcome Home”. We are all family.
Love to family and friends in Canada,
Kathy Mutch
