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About Safari Walk |
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The Nairobi safari walk is based 7 km away from the
Nairobi city centre just 30 meters from the entrance of the Nairobi
National Park.It is kenya's new conservation based recreation facility.
The facility is supreme in tourism and conservation education due to its
skilled and creative landscape design, detailed interpretation and
wildlife species. Next to it is the Rangers Restaurant . The gates open
daily as from 9am till 5.30pm.The Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) has given
the entire Park a facelift. New concepts and ideas have been
incorporated to make the Park visitor-friendly. There is always
something new to see and so each visit is exciting and thrilling.
For International Visitors, The Nairobi safari walk is an eye opener to
Kenya's National Parks and Reserves. It offers the international visitor
an opportunity to learn what he/she expects to see across the country.
You will get a taste of Kenya's rich animal collection which includes
the white rhino, rare bongo, albino zebra, collection of cats, primates
and antelopes. It is a home to a collection of over 150 species of local
trees.
Nairobi Safari Walk is a conservation-cum-education facility
that has been developed from the former Animal Orphanage. Eleven
hectares of land have been set aside for the construction of this
facility in order to give visitors a sample of Kenya’s rich
bio-diversity. In other words, to set the standards of conservation
education in Kenya. The site also serves as KWS centre for development
of education materials.
Itinerary:
The Safari Walk depicts three major habitats: Wetland,
savannah and forest. Armed with this information, you set off for the
walk. The entrance is a wetland which is terraced in order to
accommodate different types of plants. From here, you move
anti-clockwise into the ground level walk. The attraction here is hoofed
stock (antelope, zebra, wildebeest etc), hyena, rhino, lion, leopard and
cheetah. You get to see the animals in their simulated natural habitats
and with strict adherence to the highest standards in wild animal
husbandry.
Moving on, you enter a release boma, which will be used to
hold the rhino before releasing it into the wild. The boma in this
instance becomes a hide from which spectators will be able to look down
on a rhino through the eye holes - set at different levels and heights.
When the rhino is finally translocated, visitors will be able to also
see it from the ground level.
You then enter into a tropical dry forest. The main
attraction here are the birds. You can also look out for insects and
plants. The walk through this section is really soothing. The area is
cool and benches have been provided for those who prefer to sit and
listen to the birds singing and insects calling.
There is so much to see and learn as you walk down the well
maintained paths. Here you hardly notice how time flies away. At the end
of the walk, you emerge into a “look out” viewing section with views
straight onto a water hole in the Nairobi National Park. This viewing
point gives the visitor an opportunity to see all sorts of game - if you
are lucky.
The final section of the Safari Walk is a board walk built at
tree top level. From the board, you have an aerial view of the whole
facility. You also see a leopard blind which has been cleverly
constructed at tree branch height so that there is no need for one to
look up at the animal. The animal is lounging in high branches. At first
it is scary as you notice that there is no glass in this side, but then
you relax as you discover that the distance between the tree and the
blind is too far a distance for the leopard to jump across. The base of
the blind is covered with an iron sheet and electric fencing for added
security. There are also separate lion and cheetah blinds. Here, behind
a 25 mm thick laminated glass, you sit down to view the lions and the
cheetahs at ground level - in their enclosed savannah habitat.
While doing the board walk, you also get another look into
the park itself, overlooking a dam. From here, you see baboons
scavenging for food. Their young ones clutched on the backs or
underneath their mothers. From the viewing point, you begin your uphill
walk and suddenly emerge at the starting point. You realised then that
the whole board walk actually covers one and half kilometres.
The Safari Walk has been designed to blend in with the
natural environment. It is made of sisal and gum poles. Interestingly,
even the waste bins and light shades are built from these materials so
that nothing looks out of place. And if you are tired and would still
like to capture the breathtaking scenes, there are benches and shaded
areas where one can rest. And if you are thirsty, water fountains are
conveniently located.
You don’t need to feel insecure even for a moment while
strolling in this natural habitat. Electric fencing, moat and chain link
fence have been discreetly placed for the dual purpose of providing a
good view and security. This ensures that the animals remain in their
designated habitats. The unparalleled design of the gates means that the
animals can access their sleeping areas without interference. The whole
walk takes almost two hours. The walk has been artistically constructed
- zig zags, bends, tree canopies, hills etc.
Source: Web of
Victoria
Safaris (2008)
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