THE LOG MESS MUDSTER OF THE NAIROBI NATIONAL PARK

After more than 6 months of rains, the park is looking very verdant with plants growing in abundance and flowers everywhere, however, the road network has been seriously affected in many places. We entered the park early one morning and decided to try driving down what is left of the eroded muddy main road (or should I say 4×4 track) down the eastern boundary from Kingfisher picnic site right down to the Hippo pools in the Athi Basin. We were progressing quite well until we came to a long watery boggy muddy section near the Masai gate. I took a careful look at this obstacle and decided it was drivable, as I engaged in 4×4 mode. As I was about to drive through, I suddenly noticed what looked like a log positioned across the road in the watery mud. It was a strange-looking log as it was perfectly round and symmetrical, then amazingly the log began to move. I looked through the binoculars and had a fascinating sighting, it was a fairly large African Rock Python (Python Sebae), (maybe about 4m long). However, the snake was completely covered in wet mud and the early morning sun was reflecting on the surface of the water. This effect gave an almost mythical appearance as the python raised its head looking a bit like the famous lake monster photos in Scotland. My imagination ran wild as I named this python the “Log Mess Mudster”, not to be confused with the legendary “loch ness monster” in Scotland. Ok! Well, this “lake” was a mere puddle in comparison, but we were treated to a rare clear sighting of a python relaxing and then slowly moving off the muddy road. Wow!! What a rare sighting!

All Pythons (21 known species on earth) are non-venomous, however, they can inflict a nasty bite and use their serrated fangs to grip their prey in order to begin the process of constricting as they crush the life out of their victims. In Africa, there are 2 sub-species, The larger Python Sebae found in Central and West Africa and the smaller Southern African rock python, (Python natalensis) that some people consider to be a separate species. Due to pythons being threatened in some countries, including Kenya they are a protected species. If left alone in the wild, African Rock Pythons generally catch their natural prey (like antelope, monkeys, warthog, large rodents).

It is always good to slow down when driving in the park, this action allows for the driver and passengers to increase the possibility of seeing special sightings, like the rarely seen mythical “log mess mudster” or should I say python? Take care out there!