Namunyak Twin Peaks

This striking hill overlooks the Namunyak Conservancy in Samburu East, about 75kms from Isiolo. There is a valley here which is cool and scenic.

Wonderful Weaver

A white browed sparrow weaver (Plocepasser mahali) soaks in some mid-morning sun in Mweiga, Nyeri.

Longclaws, Neck Games and Newborns

 
Even dull and overcast days can be fun. Nairobi National Park in October is cool, cloudy and wet, but a full day in the park can be very rewarding. An early treat served up was seeing a yellow throated longclaw bird up close. This colourful beauty posed calmly by the roadside as I took a picture, setting the tone for a great day's viewing.

supermodel: yellow throated longclaw

The park's central plains teemed with wildlife: kongoni, wilderbeest, Grant's grazelle and giraffe grazed and browsed placidly under the cloudy sky. I was treated to a great show by a pair of giraffe - they  swayed their necks, gently intertwining and separating in a slow, rhythmic ritual. And when it was over, they went their separate ways.

neck games - the first move

scoring with flexibility

silent whisperings

parting of ways

At the Athi Basin dam in the east, a lone zebra frolicked in the shallows as a flock of marabou storks looked on in bemusement. The zebra was clearly having the time of its life, dashing and splashing about.

splash dash

Towards the middle of the day the sun emerged to share its warmth and reveal something special: a new born Thomson's gazelle was taking its first faltering footsteps as its mother looked on.

baby tomi: finding a footing in life

In the south, later in the day, raptors were in evidence, and I spotted a tawny eagle, perched and ready.

king of the sky: the tawny eagle

While on a stroll at the Hippo Pools I saw a terrapin lounging on a log in the river, and got close enough to observe its wickedly sharp claws.

serrated hinged terrapin: river lounger

Driving through the forest in the west as the day drew to a close, I stopped to enjoy a beautiful, flaming sunset. By this point I was thoroughly satisfied with the day's viewing.  Unbeknownst to me, the park had saved its best (and most terrifying)  treat for last...

Totally focussed on capturing the sunset, I was oblivious to the presence of an adult black rhino less than 20 metres away. The brawny beast, reputed to have the sharpest hearing, was clearly irritated by car, camera and me, and CHARGED. I was confronted with a photographer's worst dilemma: to hold fast, take the picture of a lifetime and suffer a mangled car (or worse) or flee and live to fight another day. Discretion won out and I zoomed away as the sun dipped below the horizon and darkness claimed the sky...

- END -

When Bronze Beats Gold

In nature, if you sit still and patiently for long enough, something beautiful will come to you.

The bronze sunbird is quick and agile.

The male - bold and showy

The female-svelte, elegant and understated

Always in pairs, the male and female perform an elegant aerial ballet. In perfect sync they dart and hover, seeking sweet nectar from flowers and resting only fleetingly. They call often to each other, keeping the lines of communication open.

The male's iridescent plumage is bold and pleasing, an ode to the Creator's palette. The female's discreet colours allow the eye to absorb form and subtle detail.

MARTIAL EAGLE - A RARE SIGHTING

Nairobi National Park - 21 February 2010

A lazy Sunday game drive in yielded something i've been looking forward to for many years - my first sighting of the majestic Martial Eagle. This magnificent raptor is Africa's largest eagle. Now quite rare, it was acknowledged by our forefathers as a fearsome predator, capable of swooping down and snatching up poultry and small livestock.

Immature Eagle - lighter colour than adult

Whenever i'd hear friends talk about their own Martial sightings, I would have to be contented with merely looking at bird books. However, as the saying goes, it never rains but it pours: this time i had the chance to view the bird at leisure, as it cavorted on a fallen acacia branch. Its sheer size, large staring eyes, hooked beak and wickedly sharp talons clearly justify its exalted status among raptors.

Massive lift-off

As an avid birdwatcher, this was a truly memorable treat.

Masinga Dam

About:

Masinga Dam is a large reservoir along the Tana river that stores water for the Kamburu Hydro-electric power plant downstream.

The Road:

About 170kms from Nairobi along the Thika-Matuu road. Good tarmac all the way, not much traffic.

Accommodation:

Masinga Dam Resort, run by Tana Athi River Development Authority (TARDA). Self contained rooms as well as basic and executive tents are available. Secure, fully fenced site with security. Prices range from Kshs. 600 for basic tents to Kshs. 3,000 for a double executive room (Rates for Bed Only -Option of B&B, HB or FB available). The resort overlooks the dam.

Restaurant and lounge/bar. Food is generic, but the kienyeji chicken & roast potatoes was superb.

View of dam from the Resort

Opinion:

An accessible, comfortable place, good for a stress-free weekend getaway. Family friendly as well - lots of space for kids, with a mini playground, volleyball court and pool (which was out of service).

Sunset gold

Of Interest:

The dam is said to measure 120sq km in area and is a popular venue for watersports event. This year, however, it is completely empty. A disturbing scenario...

Proof of Empty - this is usually deep underwater

Broken earth - the environment cries out

NAIROBI NATIONAL PARK: Monitor Lizards, Kongoni & Gazelle

26 NOVEMBER 2008

A mid-afternoon meeting along Mombasa road placed me in the unenviable position of returning to the office at the start of the infamous evening traffic jam, made worse by ongoing road repair works.

Conveniently, though, the East Gate of Nairobi National Park (off Mombasa Road) offered a way to bypass the traffic snarl up, enjoy a short game drive through the park and return to the office in time to get some more work done.

The location and elevation of the area around the East Gate rewards with a commanding view of the Ngong Hills to the west and the grassy plains to the south. The grass is tall this time of year, and a keen eye is needed to spot wildlife. My first sighting was a ring-necked dove perched in an acacia tree.

Ring-necked dove

Driving on, I spotted a solitary female kongoni (hartebeest) antelope grazing contentedly, and a quartet of Thompson’s gazelle affectionately nick-named ‘Tommy’. These gazelle are small, graceful antelope. Their placid demeanour while grazing seems at odds with the continuous, edgy swishing of their short tails.

Kongoni Antelope

Thompson’s Gazelle

The drive was also a fruitful one for bird viewing, and I saw blacksmith plover, Egyptian geese, rufous-naped lark and zitting cisticola. One particularly rewarding sight was a female pin-tailed whydah, perched on a twig and seemingly feigning indifference to the attentions of a colourful, long-tailed male hovering in courtship display flight around her.

Pin tailed whydah – female

What had started out as an incidental game drive was turning out to be a rich game viewing experience. At Hyena Dam, one of my favourite locations, I spotted a monitor lizard basking in the warm afternoon sun. This is a large reptile, over 1 metre long. Its black-and-yellow patterned skin and soulful eyes with dark circular irises make it an intriguing creature. After a few moments of wary appraisal, it flicked out its black forked tongue and, perhaps not liking the sound and scent of the car, slithered off into the tall reeds by the water’s edge.

Water monitor lizard

Emerging from the park through the Main Gate off Langata Road, I reflected on its wildlife diversity: birds, mammals and reptiles all coexist here, in this island of nature isolated from the nearby hustle and bustle of the city.