This morning, Fr. Celestino, Fr. George, and I set out to Amboseli National Park with the assistance of a driver/guide. The park is a few hours drive from Nairobi, with only a few roads left unpaved. We arrived to find a group of Massai women selling jewelery outside the gate. I was annoyed with their aggressive sales tactics, but Fr. Celestino and Fr. George negotiated with them (in Swahili) to take a picture.
The park is a vast desert where wildlife roam freely. It is provided water by the snow-capped Mount Kilimanjaro just across the border in Tanzania. Before we even entered the park, I saw giraffes munching on tree leaves and a secretary bird crossing the road. Once inside, however, I was able to observe many animals, including zebras, wildebeests, gazelles, baboons, and elephants up close and in their natural state. We also climbed observation hill, where we took pictures against the breathtaking background of the Nyiri desert.
At dusk, we retired to the Kibo safari camp, which accommodates travelers in tents equipped with electricity, hot water, and flushing toilets. We enjoyed a tasty dinner followed by entertainment during which Massai men performed some of their traditional songs and dances. Despite being a little nervous about sleeping in a tent in the same park as elephants and lions, I had a restful sleep.
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