The Republic of Kenya is named after Mount Kenya or 'Kirinyaga', the 'Mountain of Whiteness ‘of its snow-capped peak right on the Equator Indian Ocean on the East.

How I landed in this Beautiful Country called Kenya? In 2012, I got a call from my agency there is a consulting job in Africa, and I said why not. I have always dreamt of exploring the African Continent, the cradle of Human civilization in East Africa. I applied for my visa takes 1 weekend my yellow fever vaccination and went straight to Nairobi the capital of Kenya on-Kenya Airways.

It’s hard to picturize any country you’ve never been to before, much less a country in Africa when you lived in Asia and Europe cities. What would Kenya look like? I was pretty sure I was going to see the Big 5 Animals in open grasslands which was my dream since I have been reading about them when I was in school in the National Geography Magazine. What stuck in my mind was how do photographers get close to animals and take these pictures which we see. I was a good photographer since childhood so I also decided to buy a professional camera before I embark my journey.

I packed bags and was happy that my love for nature and animals and my job is in the same country. 2 baggage’s 1 small one full of Indian spices other full of clothes began my journey from India. Earlier I booked my apartment online and called them to confirm. I also booked a Safari van drive and guide to be picked up from the Jomo Kenyatta Airport (Named after the First President of Kenya) could see Nairobi National Park. The only capital in the world which has a National Park. After landing I went to meet my client signed the contract and straight off to park with my suitcases lot of water and spend the whole day in the park clicking pics and watching Giraffe, WildBuffalo, Zebra, Rhino, eland, impala. I was still sad I could not see a Lion in the park but that did not stop me from doing my research and reading books about the country and continent.

Late evening checked in to my apartment and work starts next day. I continued work and home and back cooking in the house no Indian restaurant around where I lived. My next plan was it was the season of the Great Wildebeest Migration. So, I packed my gear and booked an Open-Air Safari Land Cruiser from the same camp where I was to stay. Our first stop was in a place called Mai Mahiu, where we enjoyed the lovely scenery of the Rift Valley Escarpment and various mountains, including Mt. Longonot.

The highlight of safari was witnessing the famous annual migration. Masai Mara Ecosystem has been classified among the 'Seven Wonders of the World” due to the spectacular great migration when over 1 million wildebeests and more than hundred thousand of zebras cross the Mara River coming from the Serengeti to the Masai Mara Kenya in search of water and greener pastures. While the migration provided a breath-taking scenery, the entire MaraRiver and game reserve was beautifulwith a variety of animals, including the big five, namely the Lion, Leopard, Buffalo, Rhino, and Elephant.

The Camp in Maasai Mara had 3 safaris trip a day to watch animals with special food and water with them, you can also eat breakfast in the open grassland clicked many pictures, I missed the hot air balloon ride which they say is spectacular. The food inside the camp was European and good, people were hospitable including the Maasai driver guide and yes, they also speak English so I had no problem conversing with them. Our journey from Mara to Nairobi took us 6hrs. I took the option by road to see the country else one can directly fly into Mara airstrips for different camps in small planes. This is should be in the bucket list of people who love nature and animals or even a family trip.

To be continued: -