Kenya | Day 1: Nairobi - Navaisha (Lake Navaisha)

We landed safely at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, Nairobi at 0630HRS local time. After freshening up we were immediately escorted to our van (everything was coordinated in the UK before the trip, so we knew what to do and which team we were in). Our first stop was Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) headquarters in Nairobi which was ½ hours from the airport. We listened to a brief introduction to KWS, its activities and its goals by Dr. Ed Kiriuki. The fact I was being able to see a giraffe upfront it AFRICA just made me overwhelmed. That feeling was priceless.

First wildlife spotted - Kolbs monkey.

An introduction to Kenya's conservation effort by Kenyan Wildlife Service (KWS) by Dr. Ed Kiruki at Nairobi Safari Walk. 

A giraffe in Kenya!

We continued our travel to Top Camp, Naivasha which was almost a 2 ½ hrs drive from Nairobi. Along the way, we stopped by Rift Valley View Point for a really scenic view of the Great Rift Valley where it is a part of an intra-continental ridge system that runs through Kenya from north to south. The overlook is also an excellent place for bird-watching; among other things, we saw African citrils, olive thrushes, variable sunbirds, common bulbuls, and red-billed fire finches.

Great Rift Valley scenic view. 

The view along the way to Top Camp, Naivasha. 

A Superb Starling spotted near our campsite.

Unloading our stuff and putting up the tent at our campsite.

In my safari OOTD with the view of Lake Navaisha. 

Dung beetle.

Prior to arriving Kenya, we were briefed that we will be staying in tents thus in Navaisha we camped on a hillside above Lake Navaisha. After a mentally challenging tent-erection afternoon, we headed to the lake for a boat trip. It was an amazing afternoon as we were able to see birds such as fish eagles, a marsh harrier, yellow-billed storks, both pink-backed and great white pelicans and African jacanas. There were also hippos in the water! After a very long day, we went for a drink or two at the lakeside bar before calling it a day.

After settling down, we were on our way to Lake Navaisha for our first activity - boat ride!

At the pier awaiting for our boat. 

Some birds chilling by the lake. 

My first hippo spotted!

A bird ready for take off. 

Our first sunset in Kenya. 

Colobus Monkey. 

An awesome bar where we had our "welcoming" party.