Safari!

Hello boys and girls! I know it has been awhile since I wrote about my time in Kenya, but I have some very exciting stories to share with you. My mom is visiting me, all the way from West Harford, CT, USA! She and I decided to go on safari. Did you know “safari” is the Kiswahili word for “journey” or “travel”? It’s true. Our safari was particularly special because we spent it in Maasai Mara National Reserve. This is a very large piece of land where all different animals can live without worrying about hunters. In fact, if you know the movie The Lion King, the land looks very much like the land where Simba, Nala, Pumba and Rafiki lived.

In Maasai Mara, we were able to drive around for hours and see many wonderful animals. We watched herds of elephants, led by one big and strong mama elephant, feed on more grass than you can imagine. We saw a pride of lions one morning just after they had eaten their breakfast – an animal called an eland, sort of like an antelope. There were two male lions and about four female lions with maybe four or five of their cubs. They looked so cute, but we knew not to get too close! Lions are the biggest meat-eating animals in Maasai Mara and can be VERY dangerous. We also saw a mama cheetah, some hippos lying in the mud with their babies, and even a crocodile. He was huge!

Mama Cheetah sitting in the grass.

The crocodile!

Hippos lying in the mud.
Their skin is very sensitive so they use the mud and water to stay safe from the hot sun.

All of the animals we got to see are known as endangered species, which means that there are very few of them left on Planet Earth, and all of us humans must do everything we can to make sure that they continue to live. Humans have hunted many of the most beautiful animals in Africa for hundreds of years and this is why we are now in danger of losing them forever. Luckily, the people of Kenya have decided that no one is allowed to hunt ANYWHERE in Kenya anymore, which is very good news for our friends the elephants, cheetahs, hippos, and all the other beautiful animals here.

Male and female Crowned Cranes.

Rothschild giraffes.
See how they look like they're wearing socks??

African buffalo.
Look at those horns! They can be VERY dangerous when they're angry!

Beautiful flamingos wading in the lake and flying overhead.