Even though we’d had a couple visitors already, we were looking forward to having family cross the ocean and set foot in Africa. We checked in to the Fairview hotel, where we’d have a couple nights of luxury. The front desk allowed us to take the shuttle to the airport with the driver so we could surprise Tico’s parents upon arrival.
We had felt the security in other places around the city, but the airport took it to another level. It started before you could enter the parking lot. Charles, the driver, gave us instructions as we approached. We got out and walked through metal detectors in a nearby building while he drove through and had the car inspected with mirrors and the trunk searched.
The arrival waiting area was outside the terminal and we watched as people collected their luggage until we spotted them. We moved behind the crowd to hide ourselves and waited until Claudia and Jay emerged from the building. Surprised to see us, we embraced and they were glad to see us in the flesh. As we exited the airport, we passed zebras grazing on the manicured grass and spent the ride talking about their journey over.
Tico’s mom happy to see us
The next morning we took an Uber to the David Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage for the daily feeding. We didn’t know what to expect, but stood in line with everyone else as we waited for them to open the gate. Everyone filed in and we found a spot along the rope fence. Before long, several young elephants came running single file towards the open space in front of us. Staff members provided them with large baby bottles filled with milk while others sprayed them down with water.
The baby orphans being fed with milk
Each had a background story of how they had lost their mother, most of which was due to poaching or drought. The elephants ate the leaves from branches as we learned about them and some even rolled around in the mud. Once they’d have enough fame for one day, they were led back to their homes. Moments later, another group came parading out to get their milk. This time we were allowed to touch their rough skin and wiry hair if they came close enough.
All the elephants running around close to the crowds
The rough skin of the baby elephant
Dirt shower time!
The show ended and we were escorted out. Jay was feeling side effects of the malaria medicine and the heat wasn’t helping, but by the time the Uber finally arrived to take us to our next destination he was doing better. We were taken to the Giraffe Center, but as we had waited for over an hour to be picked up, the crowd had died down some.
We paid our entrance fee, which included food that we offered to the long-necked animals. There were staff members that answered questions and encouraged us to kiss them. The selling point was the fact that their saliva is antiseptic so there was no need to be worried about germs. We were sold and took turns sticking a pellet in our mouths before waiting for Kelly the giraffe to come with her long tongue and take it from us.
Claudia kissing/feeding the giraffe!
Now Tico’s turn to feed Kelly
More giraffes were resting far in the bush, maybe full from all the snacks
One more round of feeding before taking off
After the activities, we grabbed lunch and decided to relax at the hotel for the rest of the afternoon. The next morning we set off on our adventure through the land of the Maasai people and the Masai Mara National Reserve. After seeing more animals than we had hoped for, which you’ll be able to read about soon, we had one last night in Nairobi.
Family and our favorite beer, “Tusker.” What a great day!
We readjusted to being back in the city by going to the National Museum of Kenya, which is also known as Nairobi National Museum. Multiple people had recommended it since we arrived in the country and we were looking forward to seeing what it had. There was an large section of taxidermy animals that helped us see up close the ones we’d seen in the bush days before. They also had an entire room of birds, which allowed us to identify some that we had seen but didn’t know what they were exactly. We also got to see the real-life tusks of Ahmed the elephant that used to live in Marsabit National Park.
The Nairobi National Museum
The real bones of Ahmed the elephant with the giant tusks
The exhibits weren’t limited to animals though. There was an in-depth history of the country as well as explanations about the various cultures and tribes that are found in in the area. But our favorite section was the area that discussed the origin of Kenya’s nickname, Cradle of Mankind. The rooms were packed with fossils, replicas and explanations of where the earliest remains were found. While the more famous Lucy was found in nearby Ethiopia, the Turkana Boy was found where we had been weeks before and is the most complete skeleton of an early hominin (Homo erectus) to be found.
Origin of mankind in front of Maria
Once we couldn’t absorb any more information, we headed back to the hotel for one last night together. We enjoyed one last Tusker beer by the pool while reminiscing over all the amazing things we got to experience together. Then, we grabbed dinner at one of the hotel’s restaurants. Tico’s parents had an early morning to catch their flight so we said our goodbyes and called it a night.
Helpful tips:
- The elephant orphanage has specific feeding times, which was 11 am for us. Make sure you look on the website as it’s not worth going when they aren’t feeding.
- The Giraffe Manor is next door to the center and offers accommodation and/or a breakfast with the giraffes.
- If planning on doing both the elephants and giraffes in one day, it would be wise to have your driver wait at the orphanage as it is secluded and can involve a good amount of waiting.