KENYA – Samburu : Life……

The entrance to Samburu NR has a mural (left)
depicting a lioness and a baby Oryx. The amazing story unfolded a few years ago, and that was made into a short documentary, of a lioness that cared for an orphaned Oryx. It only lasted for a week or so but it took everyone by surprise as word quickly spread of this unusual phenomena. Unfortunately the oryx met its demise when a male Lion could not resist such an easy meal.

The natural world is full of such wonderful events and here in East Africa being on safari means that you have a chance of encountering absolutely anything, and if you have a keen interest in the birdlife then you have the best of both worlds.

Following a maize of tracks some of which we have no idea where they lead, but it is ok as it will eventually lead to something recognizable. The landscape has that dried out look. The grasses are golden, an assortment of mainly acacia shrubs mostly bare, the taller one are covered in weaver nests, while the foliage on the Flat-topped Acacias is still a deep green. It is easy to spot where the river flows, when it does, as the riverine habitat is a green swathe snaking its way through the landscape. Evergreen Saltbushes and Toothbrush dominate this part along with small stands of Doum Palms. The Koitogorr Hills situated across the river in adjoining Samburu dominate the area we usually spend most of the time working. The beauty of these parks, surrounded by distant hills and peaks, is astounding.

Bird wise even this arid area has plenty to offer. Hornbills are very evident with Red-billed and Von der Decken’s as are Superb Starlings and Fork-tailed Drongo’s. White-throated Bee-eaters (right) can been in good numbers flying short sorties from bare perches while Little Bee-eaters prefer the lower limbs. Lilac-breasted Rollers wait patiently for the next passing insect above them.

Diminutive Namaqua Doves with their long tails were encountered along the sandy tracks near the river and the chunkier African Mourning Doves usually flushed well before we reach them. The plaintive high pitch whistle of Blue-naped Mousebirds (left) could be heard in many locations with several birds being a lot more cooperative that than the White-headed Mousebirds.

With the river having dried up the rangers had dug several trenches along the course so that the animals could at least get some water though the elephants seemed to prefer to dig their own wells! At one stop we encountered an enormous herd of at least eighty Reticulated Giraffe (below) all making their way from the Samburu side to drink and then continue into Buffalo Springs.