All I Want for Christmas is a Hippopotamus!!


Lake Naivasha and Nakuru National Park were absolutely amazing...a lake full of hippos and a park full of beautiful bright pink flamingos lining Nakuru's lake!! Breath-taking absolutely breathtaking!!! My first sighting of a solo hippo among a flock of pelicans was unbelieveable!! He looked like a big grey rock amongst all these white long-billed pelicans!! Driving further through the park we spotted buffalo, antelope, white rhinos (babies and mama), giraffes (sorry Michelle I just couldn't maneuver it's neck enough to fit in my bag for Lexie ;) ), a family of baboons, one hyrax and an orange-headed and blue-bodied lizard!! The viewpoint where we had lunch was too great a sight to capture it's intensity. Nakuru was really beautiful!

Lake Naivasha was full of hippos! My friend Kelly and I were the only two to take advantage of a boat hire and ride out to Crescent Island! A lake full of hippos and one flying hippo!! We were mulling along in the boat and all of sudden about 50ft away a hippo comes leaping out of the water!! The sight was priceless!!! On Crescent Island I had the opportunity to walk without a guide and spot animals, some of which were fish-eagles, giraffes, wildebeest, zebras and antelopes! That was a bit intimidating...looking through my lens and seeing a wildebeest staring back at me...YIKES!!! That was definitely another highlight of this fantastic once in a lifetime trip!!!

To all of you who have been posting on and reading my blog...THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I'm really happy to know you are enjoying my travels and coming along for this amazing journey with me! I think of all of you often!!!

9 comments:

travelj said...

Fantastic!! I am so pumped you made it to Crescent Island!!! :-))) Yeah!! Doesn't it feel like rapid-fire awesomeness?? Sensory overload?? Keep enjoying the world girl!

lori said...

Hip... HipHop... Hipopananomous!
can't wait to see ALL of your pictures!!!!!!

be safe!
xoxo

kristie said...

Manali, I've been following along and can't wait to see your pictures so take lots!! kristie

Becca said...

Hungry hungry hippos!!!! i love hippos!!! and flamingos!!! too cool:) i'm super excited to see your pics!!!

Leesa said...

This must be the trip of a lifetime for you!! I cannot wait to see the pictures! Miss you! Called Momma Shah today to say hi and for her to tell you Aly and I say HI.

Unknown said...

You aren't going to WANT to come back home!

Unknown said...

Wow!! It certainly does sound like a trip of a lifetime Manali. Totally awesome!! Stay safe, XOXO

Anonymous said...

Lexie will understand!! Glad you are having a wonderful time!! Miss you bunches!! Love you!!!

Unknown said...

What an awesome experience!!! Can't wait to see pics and hear more about it when I see you next :) Love you, miss you!!!