Tales From a 12-Year-Old: My Time in Kenya (Day 3)

I really enjoyed day 2 of my Kenyan adventure. Come follow me on day 3 of my time in Kenya.

Amboseli Game Ride

We went for another game ride at seven in the morning. We saw many animals such as elephants, buffaloes, zebras, wildebeest and several birds. We saw a young hyena with a long thread coming out of its neck. The thread was actually a thin wire that must have been from a trap that poachers set up. When we continued to drive back to the hotel, I saw a hippo grazing in the grass. As we decided to go closer, it took off running. I never knew that a hippo could run that fast!                             

We saw lots of plum Helmeted Guinea Fowl scratching away at the ground. They had white spots, blue faces and throat and a red head. As dusk approached, the Francolins would appear as if by magic on the dusty path. This speckled bird has a densely feathered throat that makes it look quite regal.

Birds of Africa

Birds have always fascinated me. When I spot birds in the wild, it makes me feel as if I found a rare treasure. The birds with their elegant form and the beautiful colours are like a well-crafted painting that cannot be replicated. Watching them fly gives me a sense of joy and freedom.

As we drove down this magical world of animals and nature at its best, we saw many unusual birds like the White-eyed Slaty Flycatcher that is entirely grey except for its white rings around its eyes, the Eurasian Roller, which was my aunt’s favourite with a light blue head, neck and belly and a light brown upper back.

A beautiful song greeted us as we parked to enjoy the view of Mt Kilimanjaro. Amongst the leaves of the acacia tree, I spotted the Coucal with its brown wings, white eyebrows and a long black tail. As we identified the bird, we learnt that Coucal was banished by the cuckoo family because it started hatching and taking care of its own eggs and chicks. However, it is not the female Coucal who does the job but the male. The female still sings and fritters away her time.

As I devoured my lunch of white steamed rice with Kenyan meat curry at the lodge, I looked out of the window to see an absolutely gorgeous tiny kingfisher sitting on a branch and looking keenly at the ground. It was the tiniest variety of kingfisher called the Pygmy Kingfisher that has an orange eyebrow, white throat and a white stripe on the side, purple wash on its head and the most startling bright blue wings and tail. An interesting fact about this variety is, unlike other kingfishers, this doesn’t eat fish but instead makes do with insects.

The Secretary bird was another species that was my mom’s favourite. It was magnificent with its long legs and two elongated central tails. The adults have red faces and the children have yellow faces. The quill-like feathers on the crest resemble pens tucked behind the ear.

Wherever there was stagnant water in the Serengeti, there were Egyptian Geese. Looking at them was enough to understand the source of their name. A chestnut eye patch surrounds a yellow eye patch as if they had put on some really heavy ancient Egyptian eye makeup. They were always seen in pairs just like the Crested Cranes. This is  because the pairs live together forever and if one dies, the other dies in grief.

When we stopped to eat our picnic lunch near the little lake, I decided to walk around with my camera to take pictures of the scenery. I discovered the Sacred Ibis with their pure white bodies and black-tipped feathers, black legs and a very long curved bill that looked as if it could dig out any insect from the ground.

Then we spotted our first pair of Ostriches. Their black or grey feathers determine if they are male or female by the level of bounce when they run. They run so elegantly that it felt like they had trained in track and field. They seem like easy prey for a predator since they are flightless but  Matthew told us that they had a very powerful kick that they use to defend themselves.

Our first sighting of the largest flying terrestrial bird which was about 1.2 metres tall, the Kori Bustard. Given that it was so easy to spot and the heaviest flying bird, it was no surprise to learn that the bustard has been hunted to the point of extinction. The Long Legged Plover pecking at the grass of the Savannahs for had also surfaced and was a common sight as we drove down the roads of Amboseli.

We stopped to see a fox that was protecting her cub and a Martial Eagle sitting just 20 metres away. I was admiring its size and dark head and brown spotted chest. Matthew told us that it could take down an animal as big as a Thompson Gazelle fawn.

The most unusual bird I spotted was the Hammerkop, which derives its name from the Afrikaans word meaning hammerhead. My mom has a fascination for crows and thinks that they are the most intelligent and adaptable birds. She spotted a small flock of Pied Crows whose white bellies extended all the way up to form a white collar across the shoulder, making it appear rather well-dressed.

Time to Go

It was the morning that we were leaving. I thought about all that I had experienced. The colourful birds, the magnificent animals, the spectacular scenery of the Savannahs and of course, all the new friends that I had made. 

Kenya is an amazing country and I’m sure to visit it again. It was time to make our way to our next destination, Tanzania.

Photo Credit:

Frank Vassen