I’m Lara. I am a fine art travel photographer living in Slovakia. I am spending a lot of time traveling.
I’ve visited more than 53 countries and 300+ cities. My life is a constant movement. I am inspired by new places in their beauty, features, and uniqueness.
My great passion is to share my vision with the others, to showcase the variety of the world, full of color, depth and emotions. It’s not only the nature, but also unique human creations from antiquity to modern times. You can learn more at larairis.com
Day 4
A whole day in Masai Mara National Park. I was especially looking forward to it. And my expectations were not only met but exceeded beyond anything I could have imagined.
It was a true photo safari. The animals in the park were right in front of us. Open savanna. A vast territory. No roads. Our guide had a radio and constantly communicated with other rangers about where different animals had been spotted. The moment we heard that a lion pride or a cheetah had been seen somewhere, we sped off, cutting across the savanna to catch a glimpse of them. The most surprising thing was that the guides and rangers were just as excited as we were, eagerly capturing rare feline sightings on their phones, even though they practically lived in the park.
We had lunch right in the middle of the savanna. Our guide spread a cloth under a lone tree and took out our packed meals, which included juicy mangoes and, surprisingly for Kenya, apples. Just as we finished eating, vultures began edging closer, eyeing us sideways to see if there was anything for them to scavenge.
We saw an incredible variety of animals in Masai Mara. But only in the afternoon did we finally spot the last and rarest of the Big Five – the leopard. We received a radio call that it had been spotted in a tree with a large carcass.
We arrived just in time to witness the scene. The first sign of a predator nearby was a group of giraffes frozen in place, staring in one direction. The leopard, lying in the tree, initially gazed lazily at the few approaching vehicles but then decided to take a stroll in our direction.
I was in awe, leaning out of the vehicle, until the moment the leopard started walking straight toward us with a piercing gaze. For a second, I thought it might attack. I felt a primal fear, even though I knew I was safe inside the vehicle. But suddenly, the leopard turned sharply and disappeared into the bushes. Now I truly understand how predators can dominate with just their gaze, making it clear who’s in charge.
Day 5
We return to Nairobi to visit the Giraffe Center 
and the amazing restaurant “Carnivore“, where you can taste meat from various wild animals.
The road is long and exhausting. We are delayed and arrive at the center late—just in time for closing. But our resourceful guide managed to persuade the staff to let us feed the giraffes for at least 15-20 minutes.
And so, we are alone with the giraffes, tired of the crowd but still eager for treats. Giraffes have long, rough tongues that skillfully take food from our hands. We are beyond excited! This adorable creature with huge eyes and long lashes naturally makes you want to pet it. But just as we reach out, the giraffe makes a sudden and powerful neck movement, irritated that someone dared to even think about touching it. My husband barely dodged in time—otherwise, he would have been sent flying against the wall. Lesson learned: you can feed me, but keep your affection to yourself. After all, I’m not a house cat.
Dinner was, as I mentioned, in an exotic restaurant. Different types of meat are served gradually, not all at once. We got to try zebra, camel, and antelope meat. But the most unique and signature dish was crocodile meat. They serve a tiny piece of white meat, which tastes like a mix of seafood and fish—slightly sweet. In short, it’s so delicious you’ll want more!
Day 6
We head to Amboseli National Park, located in southern Kenya. It’s a bumpy ride for half a day. In the evening, we go on a sunset safari.
Yes, this place is full of elephants—herds, lone wanderers, grazing, standing knee-deep in the swamp. But Amboseli is not just about elephants. We also see wildebeests, giraffes, ostriches, buffaloes, zebras, jackals, warthogs (the real-life Pumbaa from The Lion King), hippos, and even lions, though from a distance.
And here, for the first time, I see a grey crowned crane in its natural habitat and a secretary bird.
And the sunsets here! Bright red or orange, with a huge round sun. Such breathtaking scenes are rare in our latitudes—only in Africa.
Day 7
At dawn, we embark on another morning safari. But what I really want is to finally see the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro. Unfortunately, the previous day, it was covered in clouds. Just as we were about to get into the car, a staff member ran up, shouting, “Look! Look!” Sure enough, the clouds had lowered, revealing Kilimanjaro’s peak in all its morning glory. I rushed to take photos, and the staff eagerly took pictures of us with the mountain in the background.
But my dream shot—elephants against Kilimanjaro—remained elusive. By the time the elephants woke up and started moving, the volcano was once again shrouded in clouds.
Tips for travelers:
– US dollar bills issued before 2000 are not accepted.
– Tipping is expected everywhere, especially in hotels. Have plenty of $1 bills ready 
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Photos by: Lara Iris
