Walking with the Animals

Lake Navaisha - Monday, March 14

We reached Lake Navaisha in the late morning, which gave us time for a little safari adventure before checking in to our lodge. So, we drove to the lake for a boat tour to see hippos! The lake was beautiful, the sky was clear, and the hippos were easy to spot (with the help of our boat tour guide). He drove us around the lake, pointing out various kinds of birds and the families of hippopotamus hanging out among the reeds in the middle of the lake. We saw some baby hippos (the first of many baby animals we would see on safari) and some very, very large daddy hippos. They were mostly submerged in the cool lake water, with just the tops of their heads (with knobby ears, eyes, and nose) and their wide backs sticking out above. It was my first taste of seeing one of God’s amazing wild animals so up close and it was thrilling. I was also quite thankful for the great zoom lens that allowed me to capture the beauty!



Hippo staying cool in Lake Navaisha.



An unexpected addition to the morning hippo tour was a walking safari through a park that bordered the lake. Our guide took us across the lake, showing us more exotic birds along the way. We were met by another guide when we got of our boat lakeside. It was just a few steps into the park and we were literally walking among the animals. I was mere yards away from zebras (and baby zebras!), wildebeests (and their very awkward babies), giraffes (so graceful), and waterbuck. It was amazing! And it was the just the beginning an adventurous day... 




Yes, I'm walking around with Zebras!

 



Just a stroll with the wildebeests.





The most beautiful giraffe!