Nancy Spoolstra, our very own RAD blogger, has a thing for zebras. Because I know this, I'm keeping a sharp eye out for zebra everywhere I go here in the land of zebra possibilities. As you can see, we've had some luck with zebra spotting ... striping?

Everyone seems to have a special affection for one sort of animal or another. Some are wild about reptiles, for example, a fascination I don't share at all. Back in my days of working with captive exotics in zoos, I occasionally would be required to fill in for someone in the reptile house. Sorry to any rabid herpetologists out there in Blogreaderland, but B O R R R I N G! I'm drawn to fur, not scales.

There are a lot of cat people in the world, and lions get big attention on safari. They're not too difficult to come across and are frequently in pride formation; so can be entertaining with interaction between pride members. Cheetah are not very common in this part of Kenya, and leopard are solitary and hard to find anywhere they live, but give a real thrill to visitors who manage to come across either species. Cats don't really do it for me, either.

The big ungulates, hoofed animals, have fans, too. Like Nancy, zebras are favorites, while others get a huge kick out of the boingy-boingy antelope types. I love the long lope of giraffes, the liquid depths in their eyes and the smell of their particular brand of lanolin that keeps them glossy. Wildebeests do nothing for me, although I would love to watch a bit of the annual migration that sweeps across East Africa.

Primates are my passion. The smaller monkey-types I see here, give me a charge. Apes however are my great love, but unfortunately this part of Africa has none. Boo hoo.

My hostess here in Nairobi is one of the world's famous experts on gorillas. She lived and worked in Rwanda with the mountain gorillas some years after Dian Fossey's death and left only when the genocide there forced everyone out. She then went to Uganda and helped set up the mountain gorilla project in the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest.

And what I wouldn't give to go there someday! No kids are allowed until over age fifteen, so if I want to see my kids see gorillas ... wild mountain gorillas ... I'd better stay healthy. It's a rugged trip.

In the meantime, I'm very happy to be here taking photos of zebras for Nancy and watching Sam develop a love of animals in the wild. He's not yet decided on a favorite, which pleases me no end.