Kenya Safari Part XII continued

Finally, I'm posting the end of our Kenya safari. I'm using this opportunity to thank every one of my readers for enjoying this trip with us! I also want to try and answer a few questions which have arisen over the weeks. Arija, the Goliath Heron is the largest heron in the world and stands 154cm tall. I'm 164cm so it would reach up to my shoulder. It's a very graceful bird and although we didn't see any young, it was thrilling to see these birds on the top of the tree!  BTW, I couldn't resist posting my favourite photo of it again!

Goliath Heron seen on Lake Baringo on our tour in December 2011

Dearest Betsy, I'm sure my Christmas card from you will arrive via the mine office shortly. It goes to Eldoret where it waits at the Posta (Post Office) until a driver goes to town for business and brings it home. I'll let you know as soon as I receive it!

Fred, thank you for reliving Kenya with me through my general posts and recently in my meanderings through the Kenyan Parks and lake resorts.  

Eileen, re the lion's injury around the eye area: I think this is an old male and he's been pushed out of the pride by a younger stronger lion.  Perhaps he'll be OK, but he might starve to death having no females to hunt for him. Sad and cruel, but that's nature...

After a delicious Christmas dinner at the lodge, we rested until late afternoon when we went out for a last ride around the park. We still firmly believed we'd see a leopard, but sadly didn't! We did see many many birds on the lake, storks, comorants, gulls and of course, pelicans. We also saw a small family of flamingo. As the other 999,997 Lesser Flamingo had flown off the Lake Natron, their natural breeding ground, I was thrilled that I managed to photograph these three remaining flamingo.

The only pair of Lesser Flamingo at Lake Nakuru...

...and their offspring - a juvenile flamingo!

The next morning arrived all too soon and then it was time to leave the park.

Even leaving Lake Nakuru National Park is a pleasurable ride through fever tree forests

I managed a photo of a baby buck (fawn) with the herd before the mother walked in front of it, concealing from view

And a baby baboon catching a ride!

Incredibly, as you exit the Lake Nakuru National Park gates, you enter the town of Nakuru.

Every house along the road just outside the park has murals of wild animals

 I loved the artwork on the walls with washing on the lines and life in Africa going on as always

Soon we were on the B24 heading for home

And the final 24 km into the valley!

Although it's almost a month since our holiday, I still remember every animal, bird and experience. I will be posting about birds over the next few weeks. Thanks for joining me on this wonderful safari across Kenya.