I went on an African safari - and saw feeding lions, baby giraffes, and overprotective warthogs

Traveling through Kenya recently, I had the opportunity to strike a major item off my (and many others') bucket list: African safari.

I was in Nairobi, the capital city, and I'd booked a half-day safari in Nairobi National Park, where I had read I could see big game such as lions, rhinos, and buffalo.

I admit I was nervous about not seeing much, since the animals had ample space to hide in the park's 45 square miles, and there were no guarantees I'd see even a wild turkey. However, this being a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, I figured there were far worse ways to spend a few hours.

Here's what I saw.