No one comes here for pleasure; everyone arrives with the utmost respect for nature and life. Some say that if you only have two chances in your life to travel to another continent, you should choose Africa both times. So, here I am again in Africa.
“Every place the sun touches is our land,” is a line from “The Lion King” that left a lasting impression on me. As a child, watching Simba grow from a pure, innocent cub into a strong adult lion, this was one of the most memorable quotes.
The animal kingdom isn’t just a savanna or a zoo where pets are raised; it should be everywhere the sun touches, which is the realm of animals. It’s just that we have never truly coexisted harmoniously with animals until I came to the heart of Africa—Kenya. Here, on this vast plain, I finally experienced the real animal kingdom.
Lake Nakuru National Park was established to protect bird species, but it also serves as a haven for endangered black and white rhinos.
The landscape here is very pristine, clean, and harmonious. The low density of animals gives it a haunting beauty. In recent years, the forests of Mount Mau in western Kenya and other water sources feeding Lake Nakuru have been damaged. Coupled with ongoing droughts, the rivers flowing into Lake Nakuru have gradually dried up, shrinking the lake’s size. This has led to a decline in flamingo numbers due to insufficient water and food sources. The chance of seeing large flocks of flamingos has decreased dramatically. What was once a paradise for flamingos has faded away, and this enchanting haven is drifting further from us. However, you can still see flocks of these adorable pink birds, creating a stunning pink landscape.
Pristine and haunting, Lake Nakuru is the only place where I saw rhinos during my trip to Kenya.
The final stop in Nakuru is the flamingos. Although the number of flamingos here has long declined, seeing a vast expanse of pink birds gathered on the lake for the first time was still incredibly stunning. From a distance, it looked like a pink sea. I had heard that flamingos had the most mesmerizing colors, and seeing them in person made me marvel at the wonders of nature!
However, since our vehicle was too far from the lake, we wanted to get closer to this pink spectacle. As we were walking, local police with guns stopped us. They told us that the nearby buffaloes were very dangerous and that we should only view from a distance, not approach. So, I didn’t manage to get good photos. But I later captured some close-up shots of flamingos in Amboseli, leaving me with a lingering regret of not having a closer encounter with flamingos in Nakuru.
Lake Nakuru may not be as thrilling as the Maasai Mara. If the Maasai Mara is like a dazzling ruby, captivating and impossible to look away from, then Nakuru is more like a pure white pearl—elegant, serene, with a unique spiritual charm.
Reflecting on the once-thriving ecosystem of this place and seeing its current delicate beauty evokes a sense of melancholy. It’s not just about missing the chance to witness it at its peak, but a deeper fear that such a beautiful place might one day slip further away from us. Let’s do everything we can to cherish and protect it.
Masai Mara National Reserve
Kenya’s Masai Mara National Reserve is considered one of the world’s most famous wildlife sanctuaries, covering an area of 1,800 square kilometers. This unparalleled kingdom of animals is the largest wild sanctuary for mammals and is known for its rich biodiversity and vibrant landscapes where a variety of animals thrive.
Today is the first day of our safari in Masai Mara. Safari means “hunting journey” in Swahili. Hemingway detailed his East African hunting experiences in “The Green Hills of Africa.” Nowadays, hunters use cameras and camcorders instead of rifles to capture images.
As we drive through the vast East African grasslands and scrublands, accompanied by the blazing sun and swirling dust, the indescribable vitality feels like a powerful spell. No other words can fully capture this unique sensation.
Today is the day to spot the “Big Five.” The Big Five Game refers to five of Africa’s most powerful and iconic wild animals: the Lion, Elephant, Black Rhino, Leopard, and Buffalo. They are called the Big Five not because of their size, but because they are the most challenging to hunt on foot.
Among the Big Five, the Black Rhino and Leopard are the hardest to spot. We saw a Rhino at Lake Nakuru National Park the other day, so today our main goal is to find a Leopard.
Guided by James, who has 26 years of experience tracking animals, we drove over the bumpy, sun-drenched, and dusty plains of Masai Mara. Occasionally, the car radio would relay information about animal sightings, and we’d race off to check them out.
Then, a Leopard appeared, perched on a tree surrounded by shady bushes. Everyone held their breath, unable to contain their awe. It was absolutely stunning.
It lay quietly on a high branch, its body stretched out, limbs gently extended, and its long, thick tail occasionally drooping or curling. Its fur displayed a unique pattern of spots, shimmering in the sunlight with a blend of golden and black hues.
Lazily lounging on the tree, it seemed completely indifferent to the row of jeeps beneath it with their “long guns and short cannons” (cameras). We raised our lenses, hoping it would shift its pose. Patiently, it graciously showed different angles, making the moment perfect. Its head was slightly lifted, eyes fixed ahead as if searching for something in the distance. In this serene moment, it displayed its deep, wild nature as a predator.
It turned its head, its gaze resolute and focused, as if waiting for the right prey or observing other changes. The whole scene was filled with mystery and power, embodying the majesty of a top predator in the jungle.
On the Masai Mara grasslands, every cheetah and lion has its own name due to their rarity and value. Each one is tracked and protected.
Today, we encountered the “Nashpai family”! Nashpai is a female cheetah born in June 2015, and she has raised four cubs. Their father is Jasiri, a male cheetah from Serengeti.
The African leopard can reach speeds of up to 70 km/h. It has a well-proportioned body, medium-length limbs, and walks on its toes. With highly developed senses of sight, hearing, and smell, as well as sharp canines and carnassial teeth, the leopard is a skilled predator. Its upper carnassial teeth have three cusps, while the lower ones have two. The molars are somewhat reduced, with smaller crown diameters compared to the height of the outer incisors. Leopards have soft fur with distinct patterns, five toes on the front paws, and four on the back. Their sharp, retractable claws are perfect for climbing and hunting.
Despite its relatively small size, the leopard’s speed is astonishing. While we were in the car frantically trying to snap photos, one suddenly leaped toward our vehicle in an instant. It was like a race against life itself—crossing a vast distance in a flash, leaving us stunned. I was so shocked that I nearly dropped my camera, especially since the car window was open. Given the leopard’s speed and jumping ability, it could have easily pounced through the window and attacked me.
However, wild animals in their natural habitat tend to be far less aggressive than those confined in zoos. As long as we behave responsibly and avoid provocative actions, they typically won’t harm us.
As more vehicles gathered around the leopard, I couldn’t help but feel that our leopard king was starting to get annoyed. After all, no one enjoys being surrounded by a crowd of onlookers snapping photos. So, I told our driver, Steve, to get us out of there and make a quick exit.
The Maasai Mara is undeniably another world—one that belongs entirely to animals. Spanning more than 4,000 square kilometers across Kenya and Tanzania, this wildlife sanctuary is home to over 90 species of mammals and more than 450 species of birds. Everything here remains in its original, natural state.
The first feeling upon entering the Maasai Mara is often a sense of danger and fear, but it is soon replaced by a deep understanding of what true peace and tranquility mean. There are no news broadcasts here celebrating harmony while people live in constant fear. In this pure animal world, what one creature eats is predetermined by nature, and every moment of peril in the food chain brings the promise of new life. There is no need for hidden rules or cunning strategies—each animal lives in its own way, and every way of life has its own brilliance.
As the sun slowly slipped behind the clouds, the golden glow of sunset spread across the vast savannah, turning the Maasai Mara into a shimmering silhouette. The animals, having completed their day’s journey, vanished into the fading light. In that moment, the Maasai Mara was frozen in a sea of radiant twilight—more graceful than a pastoral idyll, more dazzling than a cityscape at dusk, for it belongs entirely to the purity of nature.
