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

[TonyQ]

Today starts with a clear sky.

African Green Pigeon enjoying the sun

Black-backed Jackal – morning stretch

 

We then come across a lion that is thinking of waking up.

The sun becomes clearer

And a rainbow after the rain of last night

He gets up and walks away – a little thin, and with a slight limp. We let him go

[TonyQ]

We then move to the top of a plateau where cattle are kept.

Cattle leave the Boma in the morning

 

Ol Pejeta has an interesting model of managing cattle and wildlife together. At night the cattle are herded into a mobile Boma. Unlike the traditional one, it is made from fencing rather than thorns. But it is still moved every couple of weeks. Apparently the cattle are safe from lions in these enclosures.

The conservancy is trying to persuade people to have fewer better cattle rather than just increase numbers.

 

 

Ankole Cattle

 

We drove along the side of a small airstrip, past some staff accommodation, seeing

 

Maribu Stork

White-bellied Go-away Bird

Edited March 5, 2016 by TonyQ

[TonyQ]

This Scrub Hare soon ran off – it was surprisingly quick

Augur Buzzard

Female Impala - beautiful animals I think

Spotted Thick-knee

Eland

[michael-ibk]

Wow, impressive horns on those Ankole!

Edited March 5, 2016 by michael-ibk

[TonyQ]

We went to an area with large numbers of Zebra. Although we have seen Zebra many times, we have never really watched them. Today was our chance.

 

 

A hybrid Grevy’s X Common Zebra

 

There are a small number of Grevy's Zebra in the consevancy. The males will mate with Common Zebra if there are no Grevy's around. The offspring are sterile. In the eastern part of Ol Pejeta there is a large fenced area which is supposed to be predator-free. It has been set up to breed Grevy's Zebra - they are classified as endangered with only abour 2,500 in the world. We will visit tomorrow.

[Kitsafari]

Great shot of the rainbow over the lone lion under the lone acacia tree

[TonyQ]

 

With Red-billed Oxpecker

 

I tried to illustrate a “dazzle of Zebra”

 

 

[TonyQ]

The large herd is made up of smaller family groups. Sometimes males would chase each other

 

 

Head to tail (tail keeps flies from head)

 

It was a real pleasure to be able to spend time watching the behaviour of these often ignored animals. As we headed back towards camp

 

Buffalo enjoying mud bath

 

[TonyQ]

Back for lunch.

 

Sonja tends to host the lunch (usually served outside) and Andy the evening meal. We like both of them – they are both very committed to ensuring you have a great stay. They are both also committed to staff training and staff development.

 

Sonja told us that Andrew had mentioned to her that we were very accurate time-keepers. When we agreed to meet at 6.00 we were there on the dot! Well we never want to miss anything.

 

From the lunch table

Buffalo cools off

White-faced Whistling Duck takes off

[TonyQ]

Today another guest would be joining us – a very nice English woman. A regular visitor, she was going to stay at Kicheche Laikipia for 15 days. So we would be sharing the vehicle and Andrew.

 

The drive began relatively quietly. It was cloudy and there was a cold wind. We saw a few birds, but as we were travelling on a track between bushes, Andrew said something moving on the right. Not sure what it was, fairly small. A caracal!

 

First we glimpsed it to the side as it moved through long grass and between bushes

A quick snap showed cameras were struggling. Both MrsQ and I independently decided to enjoy watching the animal move through the bushes (as the vehicle moved as well to follow it) rather than struggle with a camera and not see it. We were all very excited to see it. It was the first time we have seen a Caracal and Andrew said they are not seen here very frequently.

 

Just to show that not all photos work out…..

We then saw a Black-bellied bustard and

Crowned Plover

 

Andrew suggested we look in on the Jackal Den again to see what was happening. We were delighted to go again. Good timing.

 

An adult was returning to the den. One jackal begged for food

 

The pups came out and grabbed something to eat.

Most of them quickly went underground again (because of the cold wind).

But one was more persistent and so got a bit more!

 

As we headed home and it was getting dark we saw

 

We had planned to have a night drive later but it was starting to rain, so we decided not to try.

 

At the evening meal, the pudding was “Chef’s Surprise” but really it was MrsQ’s surprise!. The staff came out singing a Kenyan song, dancing and clapping their hands. One held a cake with candles. They all sang with genuine enthusiasm and enjoyment. (It was a belated birthday celebration – we had mentioned in passing to Sonja about MrsQ’s birthday and she had arranged this). A really nice touch.

 

[dlo]

I agree about the zebras, we've spent a bit of time with them on a couple of occasions and they have a lot of personality. We must have walked with them in Luangwa only 30 feet away for a good 10 minutes. Interesting ankole cattle as well, I've seen them in Uganda but didn't know anyone else bred them. Lots of good shots today.

[xelas]

@@TonyQ

 

So many great photos!! However the lion under the rainbow speaks to me.

[mapumbo]

We then move to the top of a plateau where cattle are kept.

Ol Pejeta 5-9.jpg

Cattle leave the Boma in the morning

 

Ol Pejeta has an interesting model of managing cattle and wildlife together. At night the cattle are herded into a mobile Boma. Unlike the traditional one, it is made from fencing rather than thorns. But it is still moved every couple of weeks. Apparently the cattle are safe from lions in these enclosures.

The conservancy is trying to persuade people to have fewer better cattle rather than just increase numbers.

 

Ol Pejeta 5-10.jpg

Ol Pejeta 5-12.jpg

 

Ol Pejeta 5-11.jpg

Ankole Cattle

 

We drove along the side of a small airstrip, past some staff accommodation, seeing

 

Ol Pejeta 5-13.jpg

Maribu Stork

Ol Pejeta 5-14.jpg

White-bellied Go-away Bird

Holy Moly!! I've never seen cattle with horns like that. They should give predators a second thought.

 

I have been suitably dazzeled by the zebra photos. Some really large groups of zebra.

 

We have always said Tanzania is our favorite country to safari but after our trip, yours, bettel's, and offshorebirders in early 2016, there are many places in Kenya that need to be visited.

Edited March 5, 2016 by mapumbo

[Terry]

Wonderful pictures of the zebras, and the jackals, and the old "dagga boy" enjoying his mud hole. I like the impalas also. Sometimes the guides are just too confident that we have seen a thousand of them and they don't need to stop for us to photograph them.

 

The White-faced Whistling Duck is a great picture. Actually I am enjoying them all.

[madaboutcheetah]

@@TonyQ - stunning images in this report - Thank You!!! too many to single out - but, especially loved that green pigeon (not easy to photograph)

[SafariChick]

I too loved the lion with the tree and rainbow - beautiful. And how exciting about the caracal! There is just enough photographic evidence so you know it was real, but good you just decided to enjoy the sighting after that!

[pomkiwi]

@@TonyQ Lovely report. Particularly enjoyed the zebra sequence (and will join everyone else in liking the pups as well!)

[Alexander33]

Add me to the list of admirers of your lion and rainbow shot. How exciting to find caracal. I've yet to see one. Your photo led me to imagine myself jumping out of the jeep with a pair of clippers and cutting that grass like some madman!

[TonyQ]

@@dlo

@@xelas

Thank you

@@mapumbo

I thought you might like those cattle!

@@Terry

Thank you We still like to see impala - especially with warm light on them

@@madaboutcheetah

Thank you

@@SafariChick

Thank you - We were delighted just to see the Caracal

@@pomkiwi

Thank you. We found the Zebra very interesting.

@@Alexander33

Thank you. Clippers would be a handy safari extra!

[TonyQ]

As we headed out (normal 6.00), the morning was very misty. We shared the drive with the nice English woman who arrived yesterday.

 

Our only African Fish Eagle of the trip

Grey Crowned Crane in the mist

Black Stork

Hartebeest with mist - it was very atmospheric

White Rhino with baby

[TonyQ]

Andrew received a call that some lions (nine of them) had made a kill –so we headed towards it. As we arrived, two jackals ran off. There was a hyena with what was left of the kill

Not quite as cute as earleir hyena pictures?

But still pretty handsome

I’m keeping this bit.

Edited March 8, 2016 by TonyQ

[TonyQ]

We then found an impressive male lion

 

And we followed him a bit. Actually,again, Andrew was able to anticipate where the lion was going and place us so that he was walking towards us. It was a big advantage being able to off-road.

 

Andrew thought it was possible he would lead us to the rest of the lions,

 

but eventually the bush became too thick and it was impossible to follow. We scouted around for a bit but didn’t find the rest of the group.

 

So we stopped for a delicious bush breakfast

[TonyQ]

As we carried on we found a family of Elephants

And we particularly enjoyed watching the little baby

All sizes together

[TonyQ]

As we continued, we saw more plains game (which we still love seeing!), including

Eland

Thomson’s Gazelle

Common Zebra with a beautiful Foal (about 2 months old)

and a Kori Bustard

Edited March 8, 2016 by TonyQ

[TonyQ]

Black-Headed Heron

 

As we drove along, we then came across a male Black Rhino inthe middle distance.Andrew said we would drive ahead, position ourselves in bushes and it would probably walk towards us without noticing us.

Which is just what it did!

 

After a bit more driving we found a male Grevy’s Zebra sitting with a waterbuck

 

A beautiful animal – but no females around here.

As we headed back to camp we saw a beautiful group of female impalas with some youngsters