I woke up that morning with so much excitement today was safari day at Nairobi National Park. The thought of seeing lions, rhinos, and buffaloes just a few kilometers away from Nairobi’s skyscrapers felt unreal.
As we drove through the big park gates, the sun was already high, and the air felt heavy with heat. For hours, the lions hid away, resting in the shade, but the park wasn’t quiet. Birds filled the skies hundreds of them. I couldn’t believe how many species lived there, from the funny secretary bird strutting across the grass to the graceful crowned crane.
Time passed slowly, and I started to wonder if we would ever spot a lion. Then, as the day cooled and the shadows grew long, everything changed. At around 5 p.m., we saw them a pride of lions rising from the grass, moving slowly, their eyes sharp and focused. My heart raced. It was like stepping into a nature documentary, but this time, I was right there, watching it happen live.
And the view… that was something else. The wild animals were right in front of us, yet in the distance, Nairobi’s skyline stood tall. A city of glass and steel on one side, raw wilderness on the other. The contrast was so powerful a reminder of how close the natural and human worlds really are.
By the time we left the park, the sun had set, painting the sky with orange and purple. I felt both thrilled and humbled. I had just lived a childhood dream meeting the Big Five in the heart of Africa.