Kenya after the Rains (mostly): Meru, Ol Pejeta, Olare Motorogi

[Zim Girl]

@@TonyQ

 

Enjoying this a lot. Love the dwarf mongoose and gerenuk suckling baby pictures.

[Kitsafari]

@@Thursday's Child a very belated Happy Birthday! what a place to have your birthday party.

 

@@TonyQ fantastic birdie photos - even the francolin and spurfowl - often overlooked - appear beautiful. love that cutthroat finch and the butterflies. also liked that photo of the ele and the palms in the baackground, and that sweet photo of the male lion peeking above the bushes. He looked kinda young and vulnerable in the photo.

[deano]

@@TonyQ - I will definitely start being more interested in birds. The elephant interaction images are very nice and your commentary almost put me right there. I love that low rumble noise they make.

 

It is a long time since we went to Kenya and these trip reports are pushing up it the list. Can't believe how red the earth looks there and new critters for me to read about!

 

Keep it coming please.

 

Kind regards

 

deano.

[samburumags]

Great shots. I am always told not to take too many shots of elephants but you just can't help it! So glad you enjoyed Kenya.

[Marks]

What a joy to spend time with elephants

 

True words!

Also liked the herons on the last page.

 

Glad you passed the wild animal roadblock without incident

[ZaminOz]

@@TonyQ

Beautiful images, of bird, beast and landscape!

[TonyQ]

@@Zim Girl

@@deano

@@samburumags

@@Marks

@@Kitsafari

@@ZaminOz

Thank you for your kind comments

[TonyQ]

Meru National Park is 870sq Km – about half the size of the Masai Mara Reserve. In the time we were there we saw two tourist vehicles from other camps, and one from our own camp.

 

Today we would be heading to the Rhino Sanctuary in the west of the park. The Rhino Sanctuary is now about 80sq km (so a large area) - about has about 70 rhino (Black and white).

 

 

The morning started with some Zebra and then Reticulated giraffe

 

Black-shouldered Kite

Beisa Oryx in the long grass

Elephant cross very close to us

Our lion – close to his usual place. He had a look at us and then lay down again

Somali Ostrich

Buffalo – looking and smelling the air

[TonyQ]

As we got closer to the area of the Rhino Sanctuary, more and more flowers lined the tracks

 

 

We passed through a checkpoint, Stanley provided our details and we entered through a gate in a fence. After a drive of about 20 minutes we were delighted to see White Rhino.

 

They had been rolling in the mud.

 

We also saw Grevy’s Zebra and waterbuck in the lush greenery

 

And in In the middle distance – (we also some a long way away.)

[TonyQ]

Then we saw two more white rhino heading in our direction.

 

They all met up, sniffed each other and exchanged gossip. Apparently they are adolescents. It was interesting watching their interaction.

 

 

They moved off into the bush, and we continued on the track. As we rounded a corner we saw

A big male decided he had right of way – though he then did head into the bushes.

 

The skies were overcast today – Stanley said this was an advantage as the rhino stayed out longer. If it was very hot they would go into the bushes earlier.

 

A small plane circled overhead for a few minutes – a spotter patrol looking for poachers. A sign of why the sanctuary is necessary.

 

As we continued, we saw

Reticulated giraffe

Waterbuck

[TonyQ]

We then stopped for breakfast - with good Kenyan coffee - served simply from the bonnet of the car. What a much better option than going back to camp!

Pygmy Falcon

We watched a number of Vervet monkeys – and they watched us

As we continued, we saw a variety of wildlife, including Beisa Oryx and Common Zebra

[mapumbo]

@@TonyQ your rhino sightings were somewhat better than ours. We saw five in total but still great to have the sightings.

 

Glad that Kenya is dedicating the resources to preserve this good number of rhinos in one location.

[Safaridude]

@@tony Q

 

The hartebeests in post #38 are "Meru hartebeests". The Meru hartebeest is one of three Coke's/Lelwel hybrids found in Kenya (the other two are found in Laikipia -- often called Kenya hartebeest -- and Ruma National Park -- often called Jackson's hartebeest). There are only a few small herds of Meru hartebeest left, so you had a very special sighting!

[Safaridude]

@@tony Q

 

It's incredible to think that Meru was practically poached out 20 years ago. It is one of the few success stories in conservation.

[TonyQ]

@@Safaridude

It is amazing how the park has recovered. We loved it!

I had only heard of the Meru Hartebeest because of the trip report you did with Matt. I am pleased to have seen it.

[Terry]

@@TonyQ

 

Your "green" Africa is so beautiful and so different from the Africa I know. I love the photo of the impala almost hidden in the wild flowers. .. the red elephants playing in the mud.. and your grey heron photo is exceptional.

 

The Gerenuks are precious.. and strange looking, but still beautiful.

 

I am enjoying it all very much. Thanks for posting.

 

Terry

[Tom Kellie]

~ @@TonyQ and @@Thursday's Child

 

Gorgeous, Wondrous and Delightful!

Your images are those to which I aspire and your commentary is just right.

That you started with lovely Meru moves me, especially garlanded in wildflower blooms.

Your insect images are nothing short of TERRIFIC!

Thank you for posting these.

Tom K.

[TonyQ]

@@mapumbo

It is good that they are being protected

@@Terry

Thank you - it was our first trip during a green period - it was very different and we really enjoyed it.

@@Tom Kellie

Thank you for your kind words

[TonyQ]

One of the (many) reasons we came to Meru was the hope of seeing Gerenuk. So we were thrilled to see some more of them

Doing what gerenuk do

And a very short video

It was a real pleasure to watch them!

[TonyQ]

As we headed back towards camp we continued to enjoy the viewing

 

Female Somali Ostrich

Rosy-patched Bush Shrike (and rather a brutal kill!)

After a good lunch and rest we set out on our afternoon drive.

White-throated bee-eater

Pygmy Falcon

Chesnut weaver

We regularly saw very large flocks of these, and the males were in their breeding plumage

[TonyQ]

We spent some time approaching some Grant's Gazelles, firstly with the light behind them, then nice sunlight on them.

Grant’s Gazelle pawing the ground, with females safely in the distance

Black faced Sangrouse

 

We made our way along a little used track through a forest area. Patches of grasses were back-lit by the lowering sun. It was beautiful.

Zebra

Buffalo enjoying a late afternoon bath

 

We saw a Go-away bird, a spur-winged plover and a Black Headed Heron

 

We then came across a group of elephants who made sure the baby was protected as they crossed the track.

Buffalo after his mud bath

An excellent day in a beautiful park!

[mapumbo]

One of the (many) reasons we came to Meru was the hope of seeing Gerenuk. So we were thrilled to see some more of them

Meru3-32.jpg

Meru3-30.jpg

Meru3-33.jpg

Doing what gerenuk do

Meru3-34.jpg

And a very short video

Meru3-35.jpg

It was a real pleasure to watch them!

Really good gerenuk shots. We were never able to get very close to them. What a unique looking animal.

[SSF556]

@@TonyQ..just put a deposit on an Offbeat safari in June...will be starting at Meru and liking your pics....

[xelas]

To read a trip report while still on its own trip ... Must be odd ... But yours, @@TonyQ ... I just could not resist!

Such a variety of wildlife, from big to tiny. And the overcast skies helps with the colours. Your photos are excellet!

[Alexander33]

Meru looks beautiful. I must confess that I often have a hard time getting excited about antelope species, but the gerenuk is an exception. I would be thrilled to see them, and it looks like they certainly put on a show for you. Continuing to enjoy this report thoroughly.