A Magic Beach

Back in May, the flooding waters of the Athi River transformed its course through Kulafumbi, felling trees in its raging wake and - in its demise - leaving pristine new beaches, untrodden by man...

Opposite the house, a new beach appears as the flood waters subside, creating sandy white flats in amongst the resilient trees.

This great tree upstream from our house was uprooted by the flood and created a barrier across part of the river, slowing the flow of the water downstream and thereby forming a new beach as the slower-flowing water deposited its multi-ton load of white sand.

Walking up to this new beach in the early morning, we discover a magical place, an unsullied spit of sand fringed with crocodile-trodden mud flats.

A dove casts a long shadow over the new beach.

Sitting silently in the shadows, we watch sandgrouse and doves land in their droves to drink at the river's edge.

A procession of white herons fly in and land ever so delicately - like a fleet of dainty ballerinas.

The peace of this place and this moment is a spell that will be broken by the next rising of the waters, but for now, it's a fragile paradise and we're the privileged witnesses of a magical wonderland.