A Day to Remember
2023 Trip Blog #2
Written by Sydney Whitlock
Today we went on a safari at Nakuru National Park, located right beside our hotel, Lion Hill. It was an incredible day, and one I will never forget. As we entered the park, we were greeted by a mother warthog, and four of her babies. They wandered into the trees as we continued down the path in the open-roof kombi driven by Paul. Down the hill, we saw dozens of water buffalo, antelopes, and zebras, as well as one rhino in the distance. We continued toward a group of monkeys along the side of the road and even saw a mother nursing her baby.
We turned around to a different path, and suddenly, Paul started to speed up. We zoomed through the forest, toward a very exciting surprise! After we passed a narrow dirt road on the water, I spotted a lioness on the prowl. All the kombis gathered around as we watched the lioness search for her next meal. She had her eyes on a group of warthogs which ran away speedily. Calmly, the lioness continued to approach the pack and suddenly she made her attack. We were in disbelief that we had witnessed such an incredible phenomenon; the circle of life. The lioness ate her dinner as we watched from afar.
As we continued on, Paul took us down another exciting pathway. We remained vigilant, searching for wild animals on the safari. We passed an airstrip that is used for wildlife conservation officers and groups of people who come to check on the rhinos. Through the trees I caught a glimpse of what I thought was a giraffe. As we approached, we could clearly see the long, spotted neck of a mother and her baby. It was incredible watching them eat and interact as we passed by.
We headed back toward Lion Hill, once again seeing the lioness calmly pass by right in front of us. We saw pelicans, storks and spoonbills in the water, and even saw one hippo right off the shore. We were met by more monkeys as we headed out of the park. I can definitely say my first safari was one of the best experiences of my life!
