Sheema, Malia, Cara, and bushbuck, Nakuru NP
August 2006: On Safari with Sheema
Sheema, Malia, Cara, and bushbuck, Nakuru NP
While visiting the US this summer, we told Sheema to come visit us sometime (like we tell everyone). Sheema decided the time was right so one morning I woke and Sheema informed us that she had bought tickets. She was coming to Africa!
Sheema arrived in Nairobi on the 3rd of August, about 2 days after we arrived home from our trip. Her plans were to spend about 10 days in Kenya, then fly to Egypt for a week. We first took Sheema up to Nakuru NP , where we saw lots of game including rhino, flamingos, zebra, giraffes, and waterbuck We took our housekeeper Doreen along with us and we stayed in the WWF House inside the park.
After Nakuru, we headed down to the Mara. We couldnt get a place at a lodge, so we camped, which was fine because we found a great place to camp in the Mara. We camped at a small place outside the Talek gate right along the river. There were local Masai there to watch out for animals both at night and during the day. They would also serve as guides when we were out on game drives.
The drive over was a bit of an adventure. My map was not accurate, so we missed a turn and so were well on our way to Lake Victoria when we discovered the error. We found second route into the Mara which was much more direct than going back to Narok, so we gave it a try. After several hours of slogging through mud and not seeing any other cars, we finally reached a place which we recognized and found our way to Talek gate. It was a bit tense, but I figured that we had camping gear and food and water so we'd be OK. I was very happy to arrive back in civilization, if you can call the Talek gate that.
The Mara was great. We spent most of our time touring around the North-East corner of the park, an area which we hadnt been to before. We saw many animals, including several wildebeast crossings of the Mara River (and one where a bunch crossed over, but then had to cross back because the babies wouldnt cross). We forded the Talek river several times in the Prado, which was a bit unnerving for me, but the girls loved it (I know who's the one who would have to go for help). Another time, we crossed the river on a bridge which was basically two I-beams. Again, rather unnerving. Unfortunately, Ruma had to get back to work after our trip to the US, so she counldnt join us on our trip to the Mara.
Back in Nairobi, we celebrated Cara's 11th birthday, and took Sheema to the animal orphanage in Karen. There we petted some cheetahs! Malia created a school report on cats during 1st grade, so she told us all about cheetahs during our visit (For example, cheetahs are the only large cat that purr, and their claws don't retract).
After that, it was back to school for the girls. Sheema spent a few more days with us in Nairobi and then she flew off to Egypt.