There was a traffic snarl-up along one of Nairobi’s busiest highways after motorists stopped to admire the huge herd of buffalo which was grazing by the roadside.
The Southern Bypass was turned into a temporary tourist site by the herd comprising hundreds of buffalo as motorists stopped to watch the beasts in their natural habitat.
Separated only by a fence, many drivers opted to get out of their cars and take photos and videos of the spectacle just near the Ole Sereni Hotel on Tuesday evening, March 30 as well as Wednesday morning.
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“This fellas (buffalos) caused a bit of a snarl-up as motorists slowed down and appreciated one of our Big 5 at the Southern bypass. Others didn’t quite park properly and needed help out of the ditch,” Esther Ngonyo captioned a photo taken at the scene.
The Southern Bypass passes right beside the Nairobi National Park which is the world’s only wildlife capital and home to the Big 5.
The rains recently witnessed in Nairobi are said to have attracted the imposing beasts which were in search of grazing fields.
Kenya is home to the Cape Buffalo, which is also called the Afrikan Buffalo or Black Death due to its aggressive nature.
Experts say that during the rainy season, herds move constantly in search of fresh grazing areas and may quickly disappear, leaving only the evidence of their passing.
About 53 acres was hived from the Nairobi National Park to pave way for the construction of the Southern Bypass despite opposition from conservationists.
KeNHA had set aside a Ksh 3.5 billion endowment fund to cater for any damages caused by human-wildlife conflict.
However, in 2020, President Uhuru Kenyatta committed to expanding the Nairobi National Park to conserve the environment and wildlife for future generations.
“From the time Nairobi National Park was established, instead of stripping land from the park, the government is increasing the land so that we can preserve that park not only for us but for our children’s children,” he said in a speech at Ardhi House in November 2020.
