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.

 

[JohnM]

Next morning, we watched a group resting lions for quite some time before they spotted a group of warthogs and set out towards them. Initially quite casually, then a flanking strategy developed as they fanned out – while ignoring all the safari vehicles. But it was never hyper-enthusiastic. It seemed opportunistic. If they could do it easily, OK, but they did not appear to be so hungry that it was imperative. Interesting to watch, nevertheless.



The warthogs are off. As soon as they start to run, their tails go vertical.



So the lions went sightseeing instead.

 

[JohnM]

And we carried on near the river.



Our lodge is amongst the trees on the other side of the river.

 

[JohnM]

Vulturine guineafowl.



Grevy's zebra



Hornbill.



This solitary zebra caused much mirth. We stopped close to him, and he appeared to be asleep or in some sort of trance on his feet, while obviously having some enjoyable dreams. After watching him for some time, he suddenly woke with a start or snapped out of his reverie, must have seen us, and immediately bolted with loud braying.



Weaver bird nests.