Laikipia Wilderness Camp.

[optig]

This is finally my first trip report on Safaritalk and I'm proud to say that I do have photos. Please don't expect anything great unlike so many other trip reports.

 

I've tried to post my photos but they appeared upside down on the screen.

Edited November 5, 2015 by optig

[SafariChick]

Looking forward to it!

[twaffle]

If you need help with the photos, just ask.

[PT123]

Excellent, looking forward to it!

[optig]

I am trying to post photos on Safaritalk but they are turning out upside down. What could possibly be the problem?

[optig]

I was at Laikipia Wilderness Camp from 1st October to 4th October this year. Like all other safari talkers I was very impressed by the scenery, guiding and sightings of wildlife especially wild dogs. I also got to see Klipsringer, a baboon climbing the sheer of face of a Kopje and a bat-eared fox on a night drive. Remarkably, I also saw a jackal chasing an enormous hyena.

This photo of a bat is one of the most remarkable things I have ever seen on a game drive on safari. Steve, my Samburu guide caught it and took his photo. He has incredible vision. [steve is not to be confused with Steve Carey, the co-owner of Laikipia Wilderness Camp].

I came here specifically to see the resident pack of wild dogs and wasn't disappointed. Steve Carey as well as the resident guides tracked them.

Here I am with Steve and Mugambi, who is a mechanic as well as a guide and in general a jack of all trades.

That is a Grevy's zebra which is one of the sub-species one would see here. My cat sightings were not great here, however I did see three lions on a night drive.

Edited November 10, 2015 by optig

[TonyQ]

@@optig

I am pleased you enjoyed LWC - and you appear to have great sightings of your target wild dogs - they are very close to the vehicle!

[optig]

There are plenty of beautiful reticulated giraffes in Laikipia.

There are also many elephants in Laikipia.

There are decent sized but not enormous herds of buffalo.

Edited November 11, 2015 by optig

[ravipatel888]

Glad to see your trip report here @@optig - and looking forward to more!!

[optig]

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I've got two videos here, one of wild dogs and one of buffalo.

[optig]

What I enjoyed at Laikipia Wilderness Camp was that there was a wide range of activities. Night drives were available and one can stay out as long as they wanted, as were walking safaris and swimming, in the waterhole. Fly camping is also available if one asks in advance. I quite enjoyed my conversations with Steve and Annabelle. Steve pointed out to me that there are so many conservancies with wildlife in Kenya which could be developed for tourism. Thus, the people living on the conservancies will have a vested interest in protecting the wildlife.

 

My next stop was Saruni Samburu Lodge which was located in the Kalama Conservancy adjacent to Samburu National Park. Here I saw a very good example of this model at work.

I have never been anywhere with more spectacular views than Saruni Samburu Camp. It is one of only two places I've ever been on all of my safaris which were worth visiting just for the views. I have to mention that the other was Ndali Lodge in Uganda.

[Tom Kellie]

~ @@optig

 

It's been well worth the wait to see your safari photographs.

They're definitely enjoyable.

Your first trip report is developing very nicely.

Thank you so much for taking the time to prepare it, including uploading images.

How much I love reading about Kenya's landscape and wildlife!

Tom K.

[optig]

In the Kalama conservancy the Samburu tribesmen graze their livestock which they share with the wIldlife. I wish I had photos both of the lodge itself as well as the camels, goats and sheep which the Samburu tribesmen herd. Saruni Samburu also offers a wide range of activities. One can do walks accompanied not only by your guide but by an armed KWS ranger, night drives as well as climb the nearby mountain which the Samburu still regard as sacred.

 

As most of us are aware, Samburu National Park is famous for the northern five. I saw all of them while I was there. I also saw cheetahs, lions and a leopard.

Interestingly enough the manes of the male lions in Samburu don't fully develop. I wish that somebody on Safaritalk could fully explain this phenomenon to me.

[CaroleE]

@@optig

 

So pleased you enjoyed Laikipia and Samburu. Great sightings in both. The Laikipia dogs are looking good and you had some very close encounters with them....really close to the vehicle!

I didn't see any mature male lions in Samburu so very interested to read your observation regarding their manes. Here's hoping someone can supply an explaination.

[PT123]

@@optig

 

Sounds like a great trip! I really like the picture of the elephants crossing the (Ewaso Nyiro?) river in post #6. It gives a real sense of vastness. I'm glad that you got to see of the northern five. Blue legged ostriches are pretty cool.

[ice]

Here's hoping someone can supply an explaination.

 

possibly because of the climate: manes of lions who live under hot conditions grow considerably shorter, lighter and thinner than those of lions who live, for example, in the Kalahari, with winter temperatures dropping below 0°C

Edited November 14, 2015 by ice

[Thursday's Child]

Sounds like a really good trip - and great sightings of wild dog and the northern five.

[optig]

It was tremendously exciting driving through a herd of elephants in Samburu.

[CaroleE]

 

Here's hoping someone can supply an explaination.

 

possibly because of the climate: manes of lions who live under hot conditions grow considerably shorter, lighter and thinner than those of lions who live, for example, in the Kalahari, with winter temperatures dropping below 0°C

Very logical. Why didn't I think of that!

[optig]

The oryx are truly gorgeous animals. It was amazing seeing a confrontation between two cheetahs and a herd of oryx where the oryx outsmarted the cheetahs. The oryx acted in unison and of the oryx charged at a cheetah who ran.

I later had a most memorable sighting of a leopard on a tree. However one can see the limitations of using an IPad when taking photos.

[optig]

Sambara my guide and the KWS ranger.

The scenery was also amazing. As many other safari talkers know, Samburu has some of the finest scenery in Kenya.

Here are some of the photos of the incredible lodge.

Edited November 16, 2015 by optig

[TonyQ]

That is a very impressive herd of elephants! And how exciting seeing a cheetah (with beautiful oryx) and a leopard

[pault]

@@optig Sounds like a really nice pair of destinations. Good to hear your experiences. Was there much going on in the conservancy at that time of year or did you usually head into the reserve?

 

Did you post the wrong pictures at the end of the last post, because I am struggling to see the lodge.

[optig]

@@pault

The lodge is barely visible on the ridge.

[optig]

Saruni Samburu is truly an extraordinary place to stay. It is one of the finest places to stay in Kenya.