KENYA – Aberdare Mts

Today we made a loop through the southern Central Highlands to find 3 Kenyan endemics. beginning at the Wajee Nature Reserve (see early blog) we had good views of our first endemic, the Hinde’s Babbler as they moved through the lower section of the sanctuary. Walking up a narrow trail in the woods to look of the African Wood Owl we stumbled across a massive ant trail that just happened to be all along the track we were trying to negotiate. Once we got through that with a few bites, we could enjoy the mixed party of Ruppell’s and Chat Robin Chat (above), White-starred Robin, Slender-billed Greenbul and Mountain Thrushes that were busy feeding. Looking in the other direction the Wood Owl was being mobbed by Kikuyu (Montane) White-eyes and Green-headed Sunbirds.

The Aberdare’s Nature Park is very scenic, traversing a number of habitats as you climb to about 10,500 feet. The long and winding road, including stops took us almost 6 hrs to traverse. We began we a wonderful grouping of mammals. A lone bull Forest Elephant was busy striping a small tree he had bought down. Three monkey species were right in front of us. White-throated Guenon’s feeding in the open short grass, Black-and-white Colobus running across the road and up a bare tree and on the hill side Olive Baboons were moving through.