An Africa odyssey

[JohnM]

A long drive the next day to Samburu National Reserve which took in a major change of habitat as we drove up over the lush highlands and down to the more arid plains. Mt Kenya was obscured by cloud.

Generally, the main roads are good, but progress is slowed by a plethora of speed bumps, so it makes it tiring for the driver.



Total safari progress so far:



Our lodge for the next two nights.



As visitors to game lodges in Africa would know, it is often necessary for a member of staff to be patrolling in the nearby gardens whenever food is being served, armed with a shanghai (more often ging in WA parlance) to discourage baboons and monkeys. PJM trying her hand.

 

[JohnM]

Samburu National Reserve is a 165-square-kilometer protected wildlife area located on the banks of the Ewaso Ng'iro River in northern Kenya. It’s noted for the ‘Samburu Special Five’: rare northern species adapted to the semi-arid climate, including the Grevy’s zebra, reticulated giraffe, Somali ostrich, gerenuk (giraffe antelope), and Beisa oryx. Also, elephants, lions, leopards, cheetahs, and hippos along the riverbanks.

Plenty of action on our afternoon and morning game drives.



Elephant footprints and one-horned oryx.



Dik-diks. Very endearing and they became real group favourites. They mate for life. If one dies or is killed, the other tends to fret to death or surrender to predators.



Reticulated giraffe.



Waterbuck, another dik-dik, black-backed jackal, oryx, Grant’s gazelle, baboons.