Breakfast demolished, car packed and we are on our way by 9:00 a.m. for a leisurely drive to the main gate and back onto tarmac. With the rain the night before some of the park roads could be challenges so we have left ourselves plenty of time to exit, we have to be out the park by noon, we paid for three days and it works on your time of arrival, and so, as we arrived around noon we have to be out by noon. Nice and simple, just the way I like things.
So, on our drive out who was out and about enjoying the morning with us :)
Ah, this guy is a Black Stork, he is not resident, only having his visitor visa, just stopping by for a break on his migratory journey from North Africa to South Africa or some other country in that vicinity.
Out of the blue, the totally unexpected, hardly seen. Two zorilla (also know as the Cape Polecat or African Skunk), nocturnal creatures, related to the skunk family. I have never even heard of these treasures, did not know they existed. Just goes to show, we learn something new all through our lives and brings to light just how much we don’t know. Just a thought, do we need to know everything, does it become information overload!!!!!!
Alan was so quick with the camera, his was packed away and he had hold of mine in the front of the vehicle. Pete just said - WOW - quick - look and Alan grabbed the camera, click, click, click through the front windscreen, just on the off chance a picture was captured. Awesome.
I have cropped the photo here so you can get a closer look at these wee beauties :)
Again the vehicle stops, this time Pete picks up my camera, from his side he is in the right position to capture the old man again, the Colobus Monkey
How about this for a reclining chair :)
The last four legged creature we saw was my wonderful hyena, come to say bye-bye and another smile on my face. No photo, just one captured in my memory box.
We made really good time, the roads were fine, a little muddy but what the heck, that is what 4x4 vehicles like, lumpy, uneven terrain with a few muddy patches so ice-slaking techniques can be practiced. Just after 10:00 a.m. we passed the TreeTops gate and a few metres further on our exit from the Abedare National Park.
An uneventful journey back to Nairobi, all in daylight, far safer to be on these roads at this time of day, hijackings etc. still occur. After stopping at Nakumat, the all over the place big supermarket chain, the equivalent to UK’s Tesco, ASDA and the likes to grab some fresh bread and more mangoes to take to Mombasa we headed home. OK not our home, but Pete and Mo’s, it does however, still feel like home to us too :)
Not here for long, our plan is to be away by 6:00 a.m. tomorrow morning for our next adventure to the coast with a one night stop-over at Kipalo in Tsavo West.
Early to bed, early to rise as they say so that is where I am heading now - time to go horizontal. Chat to you tomorrow. xx
Wow, look at those Zorilla move ...what an amazing photograph. Well, we're in the same blissful state of ignorance treasure ...I'd never heard of these beautiful animals either.
ReplyDeleteAhh, bet it was a wrench leaving the wildlife behind ....oh m you have seen some woderful animals and your photography has really come on in leaps and bounds. What pleasure it has been seeing so many wonderful creatures as you've spent time with them in their habitat.
Mmmm, supermarket shopping , poor you......bet you don't find that 'must have' shot glass so perhaps you will have to make do with a little tipple.
Lots of love xxx ♥ ♥ ♥
How fantastic... I've never even heard of them neither.... cute looking critters though. :-) Do they have the same stink values as skunks ???? :-D
ReplyDeleteYour photos have been wonderful - I am so enjoying your trip from my 'desk' :-D xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx