Welcome back to Day 3 of my Kenyan adventure! Today, our journey takes us from a close encounter with some very playful lions and meerkats on the Maasai Mara to life lessons and music in Nairobi’s Kibera. And, yes, I’m adding another continent to my cannonball count!
The morning began with one last drive through the Maasai Mara, and this one was truly something to remember. Not far into the drive, we spotted a pride of lions lounging around, clearly in a playful mood. These lions were unusually fascinated by our jeep—specifically, by our spare tire. They wandered over, sniffing curiously, and then one of them latched onto the tire like it was a chew toy, pawing and gnawing at it as if testing out a new cat toy. Watching these giant cats play with our vehicle was both hilarious and slightly nerve-wracking.
As if that wasn’t enough, a couple of the lions began climbing the nearby trees, their paws hooked over branches like they were on a giant jungle gym. I’ve always thought of lions as more ground-bound, but they were scaling the trees with a surprising amount of agility and playfulness. Watching them balance and dangle off branches, it struck me how similar they are to our smaller, domestic cats—they were just very large versions of the same thing! It was a reminder that the “king of the jungle” has just as much of a mischievous streak as the cats we have at home.
Just when I thought the wildlife sightings couldn’t get any better, a family of meerkats popped up nearby. The meerkats were absolutely adorable, popping up on their hind legs to get a better view of us and tilting their heads like curious little spectators. Every time our jeep shifted or a camera clicked, they’d go scattering, only to regroup a second later, clearly fascinated by our presence.
Saying goodbye to the Mara was bittersweet. As we drove away from the sweeping plains, I was already missing the endless horizon and the wild beauty of the landscape. But with Nairobi on the horizon, I knew new adventures were waiting.
Into Nairobi’s Heart: Kibera, Mirror of Hope, and a Surprise Jam Session
Arriving back in Nairobi, our first stop was Kibera, one of the largest informal settlements in Africa, home to an estimated 250,000+ people. Driving into Kibera was a powerful experience. The sights, sounds, and sheer density of the neighborhood were overwhelming. Rows of tin-roofed houses sprawled out as far as we could see, and narrow, bustling alleyways were filled with vendors, children playing, and people going about their day-to-day lives.
Our time in Kibera was organized through Mirror of Hope, an organization focused on providing education and vocational skills to people in the community. During our visit, we met some of the students involved in their programs and got to hear firsthand about the impact education has had on their lives. Walking through the neighborhood and talking with the people who call Kibera home was deeply humbling. Despite the challenges they face, there was an undeniable energy, resilience, and sense of community in Kibera that left a lasting impression.
One of the day’s unexpected highlights was a jam session with a local boy who was learning to play the drums. I sat down at a keyboard that Mirror of Hope had set up, and before long, we fell into an impromptu duet—me on piano, him on drums. The beat he kept was simple but so full of joy, and soon, a small crowd gathered around, clapping along and smiling. It was one of those unplanned moments that perfectly captures the magic of travel: connecting across cultures through something as simple as a shared love of music.
Nairobi’s Local Flavors and a Poolside Cannonball
After Kibera, we headed back to central Nairobi for a bit of downtime. We made a quick stop at a local shopping center near our hotel to pick up some snacks, taking our time to wander and sample the local treats. We found everything from cassava chips to spicy peanuts, each more delicious than the last. It was fun getting a taste of daily life in Nairobi, where the city’s energy hums in every corner, from market stalls to street vendors to bustling cafes.
By late afternoon, the hotel pool was calling our names. And yes, I got to add Africa to my growing list of continents I’ve cannonballed in! There’s something special about diving into cool water after a long day of adventure, with the Nairobi skyline in the background. It was the perfect way to unwind before dinner.
As the sun set over Nairobi, we capped the day with a feast of local flavors. The menu included aromatic curry, freshly made naan, and chibati, all washed down with the most delicious, tangy-sweet passion fruit juice. After such an eventful day, the meal hit the spot, bringing us together over stories and laughter from the day.
Tomorrow, we’re off to Nairobi National Park, one of the few places in the world where you can spot rhinos with a city skyline in the background. With any luck, we’ll see both white and black rhinos up close!
Every day here in Kenya brings new adventures, new stories, and new memories. I can’t wait to see what tomorrow holds!
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