Beautiful Kenya: Safari

God's beautiful creation is all around us; in every country, throughout the world.  Yet there are few places today where an abundance of wild animals roam freely in their natural, God-created, habitat. Kenya is one of them.

Safari is a Kiswhali word meaning travel or journey. In the late-1800's, Colonialists adapted the word to use in reference to going on an overland journey throughout Africa; especially when the journey was a big-game hunt.

While Joe's brother Steve visited us in May, we wanted to take him on safari to experience Kenya's wildlife.  We didn't take him to the world renown Masai Mara for his safari experience.  Instead, we first boarded The Ark; a large hotel built like a cruise ship, similar to what might have been the design of Noah's ark.  This "boat" doesn't go out on the water, instead it's located next to a large watering hole where the animals naturally come to drink and look for food.  We enjoyed sitting on 1 of the 4 decks (some open air, others enclosed) and watched the animals come and go, play and drink and even fight!  

It was a really special experience!  We even woke up to a beautiful sunrise over the watering hole coming up behind Mt. Kenya; the 2nd tallest mountain in all of Africa.

On the 6th Day, "God made the wild animals… and the creatures that move along the ground." Genesis 1:24-25

Sweetwaters Serena Camp is located in the Ol Pejeta Conservancy.  The Conservancy has a large focus on restoring the continent's population of black rhinos which are endangered.  We spent 2 days there and saw many rhinos.  This is a treat, considering at the Masai Mara there are so few rhinos (less than 25 in the entire preserve), that it's very rare you might see one even after days on safari.  

Sweetwaters is also located next to a large watering hole.  The horseshoe shaped grounds opens-up to a the plains where many zebra, antelope, warthogs, water buffalo and many more animals hang out.  We could literally sit on our safari tent veranda and watch the animals! 

In the early morning hours, you could even catch a glimpse of Mt. Kenya before the clouds roll in.

We went on a few game drives in search of seeing lions or leopards; sadly, they were too stealth-like for us.  We encountered many other beautiful and rare animals, including lots of babies. 

The highlight might have been when we were driving on a path which grew less and less like a path the farther we drove in the mud from the previous day's rain, and we ran into a road block of a stranded watering truck…and at the same time, another road block of a heard of elephants who wanted to cross over the road.

We feel immensely blessed to live in a country with such beauty and diversity.

"How many are your works, O Lord! In wisdom you made them all; the earth is full of your creatures." Psalms 104:24