We saw giraffes all throughout our time in Kenya and Tanzania, but our first encounters with them was in Amboseli National Park. Many of the giraffes that we saw weren’t actually in the parks themselves but outside of the parks where there were often more trees. Due to delays in our flight to Nairobi, we ended up getting to Amboseli at dusk and we ended up seeing our first giraffe with the sun setting behind the acacia trees. We were completely exhausted from being up for 48 hours, so we didn’t pull out our camera and capture the image. We did, however, have our guide, David, take us back out to the trees that surrounded our camp at sunset the following night in order to try and recreate the experience. We were lucky enough to see a family of giraffes amongst the trees as we watched an incredible sunset, one of many that we would end up seeing.
Many Giraffes Amongst Other Animals During the DayGiraffe with the Sun Behind UsOne of the Young Giraffes with the Sunset in the BackgroundGiraffe Eating LeavesBrilliant SunsetBaby Giraffe While We Waited for SunsetLooking at Us
We’re sure that we drove our guide crazy as we had him move our Land Cruiser to different spots around the many giraffes that were enjoying a late dinner in order to catch them in different lighting and angles. At this point of our trip, we had no idea how many giraffes we would ultimately end up seeing, but the experience of watching the young giraffes with the sun setting in the background was certainly a highlight. We even got a photograph of a giraffe at sunrise on the following morning, which only added to our memories of Amboseli. Wherever we saw giraffes, it was clear that they kept a watchful eye on us to make sure that we didn’t move towards them, but that just gave us the opportunity to make eye-contact with them. It certainly made us wonder what they were thinking about us as we stood in our vehicle taking pictures of them.
Sun Setting as We Watched the GiraffesGiraffe the Following MorningAnother Image of the SunsetGiraffe at SunriseMaking Eye-ContactThe Very First Giraffe that We Saw on Our First Full DayVery Curious
One of the things that most people look forward to when going on safari in Eastern Africa is seeing all of the big cats like lions, leopards, and cheetahs. We certainly weren’t disappointed with our encounters as we had several that were all amazing and different in many ways. Whether watching the lion cubs at play, seeing a leopard climbing up a tree, or having a cheetah jump on the hood of our Land Cruiser, seeing these animals up close was something truly special. We saw lions at almost every park that we visited, but the leopards and cheetahs were more rare to see. We know that we were very fortunate to see the amazing variety of cats, including the caracal cat, which not everyone gets to see.
Lioness Snuggling with Her CubCheetah Relaxing in the GrassLeopard in the TreeCaracal Cat on the ProwlMale Lions are Majestic Looking
Cats have very expressive faces and keen eyesight and they definitely kept their eyes on us as we watched them from our vehicle. Regardless of the species of cat, one thing that they all had in common was how they ignored people and their vehicles with the exception of the encounter of the cheetah who definitely was not afraid of our presence. We visited the parks during the lion’s mating season and one of the more unique things that we saw during our safari was actually a lion and lioness mating. We also saw a leopard eating a gazelle as well as a pride of lions eating the remains of some sort of antelope. When on safari, you are in their environment and the animals are going to go about their lives regardless of the visitors that may come along to watch them.
Family of Cheetahs Heading Our WayLions Getting Ready to MateUnique Coloring CheetahsCaracal Cat on the MoveMore Cuddling Lions
It is hard to decide which of the big cats was our favorite to see during our time, but there is no denying how impressive it is to see a large male lion within arms reach of the vehicle. We had many different encounters with male lions including one that was lying right on the edge of the road. We moved very slowly without sudden movements and spoke in low hushes as instructed by our guide so as not to provoke the lion. We were literally so close to him that we could almost feel his breath as he panted in the warm sun and kept a wary eye on us as we snapped photographs. For the first twenty minutes we were the only vehicle and as other vehicles arrived having been notified by our guide, the lion took offense, growled at us and for a moment there was a sense of fear that he might retaliate against us, but then wandered off into the tall grass before the others had the chance to see his power and beauty.
Male Lion on the Side of the RoadLeopard Climbing a TreeCurious CheetahPride of LionsCaracal Cat Blending in with the Grass
There certainly isn’t any single animal that could be the considered the most important to see during a safari, but certainly seeing the big cats is a highlight. We took so many photographs during our trip that it is difficult to narrow down our favorites. Seeing how affectionate and playful they were was something truly spectacular. They definitely displayed a variety of emotion and caring for one another whether brushing against each other, wrestling with one another, or the lionesses cleaning the young cubs by licking them with their tongues. Although photographs can’t truly provide the same experience as being there, hopefully these images will give you a sense of what it is like to see these magnificent cats in the wild.
Close Up on the Male Lion’s FaceLionesses Cleaning After DinnerLeopard Walking on the BranchesMale Lion Laying Next to His MateChasing Cheetahs
During our city tour of Nairobi, we visited the Giraffe Centre, whose official name is the African Fund for Endangered Wildlife. Obviously the proceeds from people visiting the center go to the preservation of endangered animals in Africa such as the cheetahs, rhinos, and other animals. Having spent the previous eleven days on safari where we saw giraffes in the wild every day, we weren’t sure at first about visiting the Giraffe Centre. It is currently going under some renovations in order to improve the experience of the visitors and to make the center even more green. The highlight of visiting the Giraffe Centre is getting up close to the giraffes and feeding them.
Giraffes Lined Up to be FedGetting Close to the Giraffes, But Watch Out for HeadbuttsGiving Us a Curious Look
If you have young children, going the Giraffe Centre provides a wonderful opportunity for them to get close to these gentle giants and allow them a unique interaction. It is always important to remember that they are still wild animals, although very tame, but they can be unpredictable or playful at times. The famous Giraffe Manor shares the same grounds as the Giraffe Centre and we assume, but aren’t positive, that the same giraffes can be found at both places. It was an interesting experience and we are always happy to support a good cause, but we didn’t stay long at the center as we’ve fed giraffes previously and enjoyed our experiences seeing them in the wild.
Walking into the CenterGiraffe Manor in the DistanceProbably Disappointed that We Didn’t Feed Them
