Meru, Samburu, Lake Nakuru, Kenya — October, 2014

[Tom Kellie]

Joy Adamson's books mention here,

Isiolo being a place,

Where culture and history appear,

In the glance of a passing face.

Half-Moon Above Gitoro Interdenominational Church

Along the Highway

Driving Towards the Dry North

View to the East When Heading to Isiolo

Chapel of the Leaning Cross

House of Prayer

Large Euphorbia and a Plowed Field

Heavenly Hosts

Isiolo Boys High School

Agro-Vet in Isiolo

Isiolo Afternoon

Upper Eastern Region

Welder at Work

Lady in Red

Marsabit Moyale Wajir Mandera

Fruit and Furniture Vendors

Zebra Building

[Tom Kellie]

St. Antiochus gave his name,

To remote Camp Garba Mission.

Here lessons and food are the same,

Showing love and care in action.

Camp Garba Catholic Mission St. Antioco

Camp Garba Entrance

Camp Garba Pupils

Blue School Uniforms

Running Barefoot

The Intrepid Scholars of Camp Garba

[Tom Kellie]

Is there a stairway to the stars,

In communities so remote?

They lack schools, clinics, or net bars,

One is blessed if they own a goat.

Stone Piled for Construction

Rural Isiolo

Epefra Peaceman Village Shop

Small Settlement in Northern Isiolo

Cut Branches Serve as a Fence

A Single Window

Where Paths Intersect

Community Shade Tree

Residence with Stone Walls

Trees and Structures

Playing Kickball

Bagged Charcoal for Sale

[Tom Kellie]

Bagged charcoal standing by the road,

Locally produced to earn cash,

For malnutrition is a goad,

To seek the solid without flash.

Sunlit Community with a Dark Cloud Backdrop

Individuality Expressed Through Architecture

Blue, White and Grey

Three Bags of Charcoal

Isolation in Isiolo

[Tom Kellie]

A half dozen Dromedaries,

Walking alongside the highway,

Their tracks blowing sand soon buries.

No matter what, they work each day.

Camels in Isiolo

A Half Dozen Dromedaries

[Tom Kellie]

Lazy blue sky with idle clouds,

Tranquility written above.

This is a region without crowds,

Which is exactly what I love.

Central Kenya Landscape

Small Grove

Refuge from Searing Heat

School of Combat Engineering

Approaching Archers Post

[Tom Kellie]

From Archers Post paved highway ends,

We bounce along, both unconcerned,

The van jolts when the dirt road bends,

This is Samburu, as I've learned.

Archers Post Mosque and a Bar

Maish View Hardware

Samburu Turn-off in Archers Post

Evangelist's Tent

Goats on Red Soil

Deep Purple Building Highlights

Samburu Road Landmark

Lorubae Community Curio Shop

Construction Near the Samburu Gate

[Tom Kellie]

[Tom Kellie]

In a bush Upupa epops,

Plumage bright in black, white and buff,

It glances around then it stops,

For a brief visit is enough.

Upupa epops

Beside the Entrance Parking Lot

[Tom Kellie]

A small pair of eyes by his dad,

Looking up with a child's frankness.

To return here I feel so glad,

Samburu's special happiness.

View from Samburu Entrance

Somebody's Watching

Samburu National Reserve Map

[Tom Kellie]

Xerus rutilus, tiny scamp,

Unseen denizen of cool shade.

Active by day, even in camp,

Elegant without pearls or jade.

Xerus rutilus

 

Edited March 11, 2017 by Tom Kellie

[Tom Kellie]

It's an immediate game drive,

Elephants just inside the gate.

In this region they seem to thrive,

With appetites they somehow sate.

Right Inside Samburu's Entrance

Samburu Elephant in Partial Shade

Samburu's Reddish Soil Tint on an Elephant

[Tom Kellie]

Their immense linearity,

Obscures elephants’ delicate,

Approach to feeding courtesy,

Relentlessly stuffing their gut.

Hyrax Cousin

Neither Restless Nor Giddy

Tail as Whisk

Foliage Connoisseur

An Assortment of Immensities

Versatile Dermis

Vertical Lines

Caught Flatfooted

Undaunted by Branches

Plant's Perspective

An Elephant Visit

Foundation

[Tom Kellie]

Mother's closeness, warm milk and shade,

That's an elephant baby's day.

Of simple pleasures is joy made,

Such as long naps, cool drinks and play.

Available in All Sizes, Shapes and Colors

Toddler in Shade

Under Mother

[optig]

@@Tom Kellie I love your photo of the African Hoopoe is excellent because it shows it's superb camouflage.

[Tom Kellie]

Entering Samburu again,

Familiar landscape brings delight.

We notice the heat now and then,

Doum palms and zebra — what a sight!

Samburu Vista

Grevy's Zebra, Doum Palms, Acacia

Black-capped Social-Weaver in an Acacia

[Tom Kellie]

The vigor of the Grant's gazelle,

Is a welcome indicator,

That animals are doing well,

After a fairly dry summer.

Grant's Gazelle

Effective Cryptic Coloration

Prominent Eyelashes

Nanger granti in Samburu

[Tom Kellie]

Gerenuk live in Samburu,

Their lithe profiles seen everywhere,

With such elegant coats of ecru,

Oft vanishing into thin air.

Male Gerenuk in Low Brush

Smooth Pelage

Lean Body Mass

Male Gerenuk Profile

Craning the Cranium

Forward-curving Gerenuk Horns

Subtly Shaded Coat Color

[offshorebirder]

Thanks for this ongoing highly detailed trip report Tom. I am looking forward to learning about Samburu Sopa lodge to see how it compares to Samburu Simba for my next visit to Samburu + Buffalo Springs

[Tom Kellie]

Privilege granted in this way,

A male gerenuk standing near.

Surely the highlight of this day,

His eating without signs of fear.

From a Far Galaxy

A Profile Like No Other

.

Refined Muzzle

Seeing Eye-to-Eye With a Gerenuk

The Confidence of Serenity

Nibbling Gerenuk

Samburu Cool Guy

One of Natural Selection's Whimsies

Male Gerenuk in Samburu National Reserve

[Tom Kellie]

Even an oryx needs a friend,

Thus a gazelle stays fairly close.

On each other's wits they depend,

Solitude's best in a small dose.

Grazing Oryx Near a White-headed Buffalo-Weaver

Gazelle, Buffalo-Weaver and Oryx

Oryx in Sunlight, Gazelle in Shade

Feeding Oryx, Wary Gazelle

White Rocks on an Upper Slope

Solitary Oryx on a Steep Slope

[Tom Kellie]

Watching late afternoon sunlight,

On mud-covered elephant hide,

Is this game drive's special delight,

Causing contentment deep inside.

Half in Shadow

Dried Mud on Tusks

Samburu's Resident Elephants

Samburu Elephant

Acacias in the Background

[JohnR]

@@Tom Kellie Wonderful pictures of gerenuk. I saw my first gerenuk in Samburu but my pictures are not in the same league.

[offshorebirder]

Wow @@Tom Kellie - that Gerenuk really granted you some close views! What a treat. You did well on the photos too, turning the branches into an asset rather than a burden.

[Tom Kellie]

Returning to where I had been,

Brought fresh joy to a sun-parched soul,

For I was sure that deep within,

Samburu's beauty made me whole.

 

 

 

Afternoon Grazing

 

 

For Eons

 

 

Shelf Life

 

 

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