The cliffs at Hell’s Gate are home to various bird species. PHOTO | SARAH OOKO
By SARAH OOKO
In Summary
- But while you are stuck in the wilderness that is Hell’s Gate - surrounded by God knows what - you suddenly become vulnerable and realise that you are not the only child of the universe, that other creatures and plants also have a right to it.
Visiting Hell’s Gate National Park is a favourite for
most Nairobians due to its proximity to the city - about an hour’s
drive. It may therefore seem like a common destination to many people.
But that is far from the truth.
Whether you have been there once or a couple of times, the
experience is often different each time depending on the people you go
with, the guide you pick and how you choose to explore the park - on
foot, in a bicycle or vehicle.
After a recent visit to the park, I would recommend
the destination to adventure lovers who love mystery and get a thrill
out of living on the edge - adrenaline junkies.
If you are this kind of person, touring the park
from the safety of a vehicle or while cycling would not be your thing.
You will instead choose to take on this untamed jungle on foot.
Though walking is allowed, the Kenya Wildlife
Service (KWS) has a signpost at the entrance indicating that visiting
the park is at your own risk and it will thus not be held responsible
for any damage or injury. Seeing that notice might be a little scary,
but that is the kind of stuff that makes adrenaline junkies tick.
Once the journey begins, a few metres from the KWS
administration block, you leave civilisation behind and find yourself in
the midst of dry savannah land with towering cliffs on the left. These
cliffs are breeding grounds for birds such as vultures, eagles, augur
buzzards and swifts that will keep you company – perched atop the rocks -
as you walk.
Out of nowhere, crawlies like huge monitor lizards
and other mysterious reptile-like creatures will be seen peeping through
some rock crevices as others remain still, basking in the warmth of the
mid-morning sun. They will mind their own business so long as you keep
your distance.
The earth road - shared by motorists, pedestrians
and cyclists - divides the park grounds into two and provides a vantage
point for observing happenings around you. If you want a sense of
chilling adventure where you actually feel lost in the wilderness, take
the walk early in the day (say between 9.00 and 10.00 in the morning)
before people fill up the park.
Alone, or with a small group at that time, it will
seem like you have been swallowed by the universe and are now part of
the jungle eco-system where you co-exist with the wild animals dotting
the horizon.
Urbanisation offers humans a sense of false
bravado, making them feel superior to other creatures as they hide in
the comfort of their homes or rely on modern weapons to keep wild
animals away.
But while you are stuck in the wilderness that is
Hell’s Gate - surrounded by God knows what - you suddenly become
vulnerable and realise that you are not the only child of the universe,
that other creatures and plants also have a right to it.
Humbling experience
This is a humbling experience that stays with you
even after leaving the park. It changes your world outlook and even your
relationship with fellow human beings.
Game animals in the park that you are likely to
encounter include gazelles, buffaloes, warthogs, giraffes, zebras,
hyenas, antelopes and hyraxes. While in their territory, you cannot
bully them. So you survive by adhering to the rules of the jungle.
This involves understanding the animal kingdom just
like we strive to understand humanity so as to co-exist amicably in the
society.
No comments :
Post a Comment