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

[elefromoz]

@@TonyQ, anything amongst the Wildflowers makes for a beautiful image, the Gerenuk and Oryx, even a big thumping Rhino in the blooms.

[pomkiwi]

@@TonyQ Enjoying this - lovely images. Enjoyed your insect shots - I agree that butterflies in particular are difficult to photograph as they seem to delight in constant but unpredictable movement.

[PT123]

@@TonyQ I agree with @@mapumbo

 

Great gerenuk shots. We had some pretty good sighting while in Meru but they seemed a bit more skittish than in other parks and I still haven't been able to get the

"bikini" shot. I'm also really like the Somali Ostrich picture in post 70.

[SafariChick]

@@TonyQ I'm only up to post 47 but beautiful photos, as always! Darn it, you are making me want to add Meru to my very long list of places to go! You succeeded wonderfully with the butterflies, in my opinion! And I love the shot of the little monkey either falling off or trying to climb on it's mother's back! Love the hour you got to spend with the eles, wonderful. And you saw all that while stuck in the car? The nursing gerenuk is the best! Hope I'm not overloading your notifications with "likes".

[Game Warden]

I would love to go back to Meru: your photos and reportage are making that longing stronger @@TonyQ...

[PT123]

I just don't understand why this park isn't overrun with visitors. It has a true "wild" feel, incredible elephant population, good general game viewing, the northern five, rhinos and good, quality camps (Elsa's, Leopard Rock and Off-Beat). I can see now why once you've visited you want to return.

Edited February 14, 2016 by PT123

[Tom Kellie]

I just don't understand why this park isn't overrun with visitors. It has a true "wild" feel, incredible elephant population, good general game viewing, the northern five, rhinos and good, quality camps (Elsa's, Leopard Rock and Off-Beat). I can see now why once you've visited you want to return.

 

~ @@PT123

 

After I visited Meru the first time, I endfed up visiting a total of three separate times within one year.

I find Meru to be that captivating, as @@TonyQ and @@Thursday's Child's superb trip report shows.

When I read @@SafariChick's comment earlier, I thought to myself that Meru might see a well-deserved increase in Safaritalk visitors.

Tom K.

[mapumbo]

 

I just don't understand why this park isn't overrun with visitors. It has a true "wild" feel, incredible elephant population, good general game viewing, the northern five, rhinos and good, quality camps (Elsa's, Leopard Rock and Off-Beat). I can see now why once you've visited you want to return.

 

~ @@PT123

 

After I visited Meru the first time, I endfed up visiting a total of three separate times within one year.

I find Meru to be that captivating, as @@TonyQ and @@Thursday's Child's superb trip report shows.

When I read @@SafariChick's comment earlier, I thought to myself that Meru might see a well-deserved increase in Safaritalk visitors.

Tom K.

 

@@Tom Kellie your visits and trip reports, along with others, were one of the deciding factors for us to chose to visit Meru this January. We were looking for places that had abundant game and were not overrun with visitors and Meru definitely fit the bill.

 

How many parks are left where you have a good chance to still see the big five in the wild, along with other interesting Northern species? This opportunity is present in Meru along with a park that has a truly "wild" feel to it.

 

Using Safaritalk as a trip planning resource gives one the opportunity to discover such places. We have been advising anyone who asks us about visiting Africa to visit this website to do research.

[Tom Kellie]

@@Tom Kellie your visits and trip reports, along with others, were one of the deciding factors for us to chose to visit Meru this January. We were looking for places that had abundant game and were not overrun with visitors and Meru definitely fit the bill.

 

How many parks are left where you have a good chance to still see the big five in the wild, along with other interesting Northern species? This opportunity is present in Meru along with a park that has a truly "wild" feel to it.

 

Using Safaritalk as a trip planning resource gives one the opportunity to discover such places. We have been advising anyone who asks us about visiting Africa to visit this website to do research.

 

~ @@mapumbo

 

Aren't you nice to tell me that?

Thank you so much for the exceptionally kind encouragement.

Meru National Park, along with Leopard Hills in Sabi Sands, South Africa, is one of the only two locations where I've photographed at least two separate animals of each of the ‘Big Five’, i.e. two rhinos, two leopards, two elephants, two buffalo and two lions.

On each of three separate safari visits to Meru I never once encountered any other vehicles apart from park staff or schoolbus loads of local children.

What further sets Meru National Park apart is the sheer loveliness of the landscape. It's an effortless place for high quality landscape photography.

As the Kenya Wildlife Service trains new recruits in Meru, it's efficiently run with updated informational material posted at the Murera Gate.

I'm so pleased that you liked Meru so much and hope that Safaritalk members and visitors will seriously consider including a stay at Meru in their future safari plans.

Tom K.

[Marks]

Great stuff over the last few pages. Like the bush shrike with its kill, as well as the shot of the ele through the windshield. Such shots are sometimes a nice contrast to the "cleaner" unobstructed photos (of which you have many fine examples), as they remind one more about what it's actually like to be in the vehicle on safari - if that makes sense.

[TonyQ]

@@SSF556

I am sure you will enjoy it. Stanley (our guide) said he really likes June in Meru

@@xelas

Thank you for your kind comments - especially taking time to look at this when on your own trip

@@Alexander33

Thank you - we really wanted to see a gerenuk so were delighted.

@@elefromoz

Thank you - it was our first time of seeing wildlife in such greenery and we loved it.

@@PT123

They were a bit skittish but it was good to see them. I agree that it is surprising Meru doesn't get more visitors.

@@SafariChick

"Likes" always add to the encouragement of continuing with a trip report! It was fun trying with the butterflies - there were a lot out of focus, or out of frame! Meru is a beautiful park that deserves more visitors.

@@Game Warden

Thank you - and your report helped us decide to go. We can see why it is a park that attracts repeat visitors.

@@Tom Kellie

Thank you for your kind comments. Your reports did make Meru attractive!

@@mapumbo

Good advice on using Safaritalk

@@Marks

Thank you for your kind comments

[TonyQ]

Again setting out as it is getting light. A small animal dashes onto the road, runs along for a short distance and then disappears into the undergrowth. A Honey Badger! (Very quick and light not strong enough for photo).

 

A few minutes later, another sighting of a Honey Badger. Again it runs (surprisingly quickly) into and along the road before disappearing into the bush. We do not know if it was the same animal, but we (and Stanley) were thrilled to see it.

 

As it started to get a little lighter

I was once advised by a video-maker that the best way to get good sunset pictures was to shoot them at sunrise.

 

White-bellied Go-away Bird

 

We then came across a large number of elephants. Some appeared to be meeting up

Then heading away from us – there were lots of them

 

Stanley said they appeared to be heading in a particular direction, that we could follow some tracks and get to a point where they would come towards us with the sun on them. While driving to intercept the elephants we did stop for

Kori Bustard

A couple of Verreaux’s Eagle-Owls

[TonyQ]

Then as predicted by Stanley, the herd of elephants headed towards us. We sat and watched as they passed and then crossed the track

 

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A1zcWftqPwQ&feature=youtu.be

Short Video (1min 13sec)

 

You may notice that one of the elephants crossing the track has tusks that are not pointed.

A group of elephants had been transported to Meru after causing problems at Ol Pejeta Conservancy. In a few places there, electric fences have been built – and a small number of elephants learned that tusks do not conduct electricity. Apparently the ends of the tusks of a couple of elephants were sawed off – but they still were able to destroy the fences. So these elephants, plus a couple of others were translocated. (Our guide and the managers of Kicheche Bush Camp were keen to hear how the elephants were doing).

 

We sat and watched the elephants fo quite some time - we always enjoy it.

 

As we continued

Steppe Eagle

Roadside flowers

[TonyQ]

We then watched a bird demonstrating some astonishing flying. We watched, got closer and spent some trying to get photos of a male displaying to a female. These are cropped.

 

 

It was a real treat watching it. It seemed such an effort carrying that tail. We did get a bit closer when it settled.

 

Pin-tailed Wydah

Apparently all of these wonderful feathers are just for the breeding season. For the rest of the year they are relatively dull looking birds. What an amazing investment. As we continued

Reticulated Giraffe (with a few hiding Oryx)

Meru has a number of rivers running through the park

Black-faced Sandgrouse

 

We then decided to stop for breakfast

Stanley setting out breakfast on a rock – a lovely place to stop

Stick Insect (I am not sure the strategy works very well on a rock!) MrsQ insisted I post this photo.

Agama Lizard

Skink

Edited February 16, 2016 by TonyQ

[Tom Kellie]

~ @@TonyQ

 

Well, I don't know how you do it, but you consistently make the photos I'd make if I had your innate skill!

Gorgeous images of lovely Meru, shot after shot. You're stirring memories of that loveliest of Kenya's national parks.

Thank you for the smooth commentary, invariably including the very detail which I'd want to know.

Your grand elephants are simply magnificent!

Oh...and no less than TWO honey badger sightings ?!?!?!

@@Thursday's Child and you were blessed, as we all hoped you would be.

It's a joy to vicariously share the adventure with you through this outstanding trip report.

Tom K.

[michael-ibk]

Love the photo of the Pin-Tailed Whydah, and the elephant pic Tom singled out. Really lucky to see two Honey Badgers (ore one twice!). Were you told how the Elephants were translocated, and how they reacted after they were set free in Meru?

[dlo]

Gonna be a bit redundant here but the Ele photo Tom posted is great! My hopes for Meru in November are now ridiculously high thanks to all its proponents on this thread, really hope we get some rain and green it up just a bit for me.

[Alexander33]

@@TonyQ

 

Just lovely photographs all around. I'm jealous of the TWO Verreaux's Eagle Owls, and the Pin-tailed Wydah, and....!

[pault]

Oh you really are having a productive time in Meru. Really good sightings of everything too. What a great way to start. Another fan? Meru's a slightly mucky Eden in its green phase isn't it?

[mapumbo]

I have to echo the other replies on the elephant photos. The light is really nice on them. There are some real wall hangers there. Could some of them be @@Thursday's Child productions? I noticed she was taking as many photos as you??? We have really enjoyed your report so far and the fantastic photos.

[Terry]

I am enjoying your trip report with all the beautiful wild flowers, butterflies, birds, oh yes, and the animals also. I like the owls with their pink eyelids - great makeup job there.

 

I think the tusks on some of the elephants you photographed are longer than anything I have ever seen in South Africa. The pictures of the elephants greeting each other are very special, as are your pictures of the herds just doing their thing with the wonderful scenic backgrounds of palm trees or a mountain.

 

Yes, @@Thursday's Child, you were right to have the Walking Stick added to the trip report. It's not something we see often, therefore important.

 

Thanks so much for sharing all this beauty with us.

 

Terry

[TonyQ]

@@Tom Kellie

Thank yu for your kind comments- I was pleased with both of those!

@@michael-ibk

Thankyou. We were not told how the elephants were translocated (and were to stupid to ask!). The feeling appears to be that they have settled well. They have joined with other elephants and they have not wandered off from the park.

@@dlo

I hope you have a great time there

@@pault

I love that phrase " a slightly mucky Eden" - I think it fits very well

@@mapumbo

Thank you

@@Terry

Thank you. We love watching elephants

[TonyQ]

Dik Dik (perhaps not the best timing of a photo)

 

As we crossed the river, Stanley commented that the plane that flew over was very early. He contacted the camp and then said that a flight with two Offbeat Meru guests on was early and so as we were close to the airstrip, we would pick them up.

 

So we picked up a very nice couple from the US, and continued with the game drive

 

 

 

[TonyQ]

We enjoyed a good length of time with a group of elephants, watching their interaction

Buffalo keep an eye on us despite the visitor

 

As we crossed a river, Stanley’s excellent eyes spotted

Nile Monitor Lizard

Ground Squirrel

Eastern Pale Chanting Goshawk - perched above a stream, waiting for small birds to come and drink

 

Eurasian Roller

Von Der Decken’s Hornbill

So we headed back to camp after a great morning

Edited February 18, 2016 by TonyQ

[TonyQ]

We had a good lunch where we found out that our two fellow guests were Safaritalkers @mapumbo and Mama Ndege who were very interesting and good fun. It was a real pleasure to meet them.

 

Much of the time when we could have been resting was spent watching baboons in front of our tent – but that was what we were on safari for!

 

For the afternoon drive, we were on our own with Stanley – our fellow guests were with Dominic.

? (I am having trouble identifying this so all help welcome!)

Small Bee-eater a beautiful little creature

Long-tailed Fiscal

Northern White-crowned Shrike

 

We then spent a very pleasant time watching a group of Reticulated giraffe walk around us and check us out

Rare two-headed giraffe