Today we went on a game drive in Shimba Park. The park is about 1 1/2 hour drive from the port. The port is on an island and we have to take a ferry to get to the mainland. The vans we go in are basic – no air conditioning, little comfort, pop top to view animals, seats 7, so our little group toured together.
The drive to the park reminder us of our earlier trip to Kenya – garbage piled on side of road, little shacks selling everything, half finished buildings, dirty run-down building, mud huts with thatched roofs, dirty, shoeless children. This is a Muslim country and many of the women are dressed in the traditional Muslim black robes, some with their faces covered. Those not in the black robes often wore brightly colored long skirts with shawls covering their heads or sometimes bright turbans.
We see many young men sitting beside the road, sometimes with motorcycles. Kids on bicycles often with no,shoes.
As we wait in line for the ferry young men walk to the van selling trinkets, cashews, toys.
On the game drive we see a variety of animals, not in large quantities, but we understand there are more in the park.
At the ferry, the park and along the roads we see many army/guards all armed with semi-automatic weapons, both men and women.
We have lunch at a resort in the park. Very basic, built by a small pond with animal trails leading toward the water. The food service is chaotic and the food is hardly edible, however with the meals on the ship we are likely spoiled and don’t miss one meal.
We saw elephants, bush bucks, giraffes, sable, gazelle, monitor lizards, cape buffalo, baboons, fish eagles and wart hogs.