Africa Top Five: #1 - Flamingos
Within our tour group, everyone had a different "favorite African moment."
For me, the #1 Africa moment wasn't hearing the roar of the lion, or the thundering herds of wildebeest, or even the elusive leopard. It was the spectacular sight of two million (or so) pink flamingos at Kenya's Lake Nakuru. The raucous army (or pat, as a flock of flamingos is called) of graceful pink and white birds, stretching for miles as far as the eye could see, was an absolutely spectacular sight.
This was the African moment that made me smile the most, and the one that I found hardest to leave behind.
Marching back and forth amidst the crowd were clumps of courting flamingos (above and below) performing an elaborate, synchronized courtship dance. According to our guide, the groups are usually composed of one male and 2-10 females. They were like a drill team, performing in perfect synchrony. When one animal turned left, they all turned left. When one stopped, they all stopped. It was a hilarious performance to watch.
Zebras (above) and buffalo (below) mingled with the flamingos.
If I had to choose to see only one thing in Africa, the pink flamingos of Lake Nakuru would be it.
TOP FIVE AFRICAN MOMENTS
That truly is a georgeous scene, with the pink against the shades of blue.
And I thought flamingos were only in Florida...
Joanne: You can sign up here http://www.intoafrica.co.uk/ ;o)
They look fantastic. Did they make a lot of noise?
Genilimaa: Yes, they were pretty noisy. But it was music to my ears
(unlike your brass band ;o) ) They were also kind of stinky, with so many
of them pooping at once. But nevertheless sensational...
Your comment "This was the sight that I found hardest to leave behind"
brings back very fond memories of lake Nakuru. I was born in Nakuru
hospital and when old enough, went to Nakuru school. Every day at school we
looked out over the pink lake as there were more flamingoes there than of
late. I had a wonderfull childhood but did not appriciate it at the time.