Discover Kenya: Day One Amboseli Safari Adventure & Wildlife Experience
The landing time in Nairobi was 6:00 AM. After going through customs at the airport, they didn’t ask for the yellow booklet or a tip, but surprisingly, it took over an hour to buy a SIM card, with very low efficiency. However, this is the only point where tourists can buy one after leaving the airport. 1100 shillings for 10G of data is enough for a 10-day trip.
After buying the SIM card, we got straight into the off-road vehicle heading to Amboseli National Park. The journey from Nairobi to Amboseli takes 3-4 hours. There are many speed bumps on the highway, and every time we hit one, we would bounce up from the back seat. Then, there’s a very bumpy dirt road, and at every turn, we felt like the car was about to flip. Luckily, it didn’t. Please fasten your seatbelt!
We arrived at the park entrance at 12:30 PM. Before the car had even stopped, several locals surrounded us, selling various crafts. They always start with a high price. If you don’t want to be bothered, don’t ask for the price, because once you do, they think you must buy and will keep chasing you to bargain.
The local people and the crafts they hold cannot be said to look alike; they are exactly the same. They wear a lot of earrings that have been pulling their ears for years. There was also a guy leaning against a tree, basking in the sun, looking carefree.
Just a few steps into the park, we saw a herd of zebras, which made it feel very African. Upon arriving at the park, we first checked into our hotel, had lunch, and then set out again at 4:00 PM to find animals—because the active times for animals are from 6:00 to 10:00 in the morning and from 4:00 to 6:00 in the afternoon.
There is a night safari that is said to show many different things, including animal hunting, but we didn’t have time to book it. The hotel is called KILIMA. The rooms, except for being a bit small, are generally good, with unique decor. As soon as we got out of the car, a guy rushed to help with the luggage.
After checking in, they would bring the luggage to the room, and 100 shillings per person as a tip is enough. Blue monkeys often visit outside the balcony, so make sure to close the balcony door. We were careless, and one came in and stole some food when we weren’t paying attention.
Right after setting out in the afternoon, we saw a very alert antelope. Elephants in Amboseli are almost everywhere, and birds are always on them. Despite their gentle appearance, elephants are very powerful and could crush us with one foot. To stay alive, don’t get out of the car.
During our day and a half in the park, we only saw giraffes twice. Their elegant figures always make people stop to admire them.
Fortunately, on the first day, we saw a pride of lions, but all we could see were lionesses. I counted, and there were probably more than 7 or 8, but they were far away, and even a 400mm telephoto lens wasn’t enough.
We were amazed to see wildebeests crossing the road, thinking it was quite a spectacle, until we arrived at Masai Mara and realized that what we had seen was merely a small appetizer for the grand feast of wildlife that awaited us.
On our way back in the afternoon, we encountered two buffaloes leisurely making their way home. It was a humorous sight, as a bird perched nearby seemed to take on the role of a natural “censor,” ensuring the scene remained family-friendly [laughing].
