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

[Tom Kellie]

Acacia thorns are needle-like,

Sensitive trunks must be careful,

Not to be impaled on a spike,

Caution and control are helpful.

 

 

 

This Can't Be Easy

 

[Tom Kellie]

What does ‘river life’ really mean?
Riparian ecology?
Or something subtle and unseen?
Wind, plants, water, geology?

 

 

 

Riparian Life Cycles

 

 

 

Buffalo Springs Riverbank with Distant Giraffe

 

[Tom Kellie]

As dusk intensifies, a bird,

Standing alone on a dead tree,

We look, it looks, yet not a word,

This glory we don't hear but see.

 

 

 

Ardea melanocephala

 

[Tom Kellie]

Sunset colors are rainbow's end,

Dribs and drabs of hue displayed high,

Where all nature enjoys the blend,

The spectrum's wonder in the sky.

 

 

 

Day's End

 

[Tom Kellie]

We're lodge-bound on the winding track,

When Anthony stops and points out,

A female gerenuk's long back,

Standing up tall to browse, no doubt.

 

 

 

Standing Gerenuk

 

[Tom Kellie]

Lodge checkout time, what a nice stay.

To assemble guests if needed,

The alarm bell not rung today,

If it rang it would be heeded.

 

 

 

Lodge  Alarm Bell

 

[Tom Kellie]

The warthogs on their morning walk,

Covered with dust, Samburu red.

If warthogs were able to talk,

Would we understand what they said?

 

 

 

Morning Constitutional

 

 

 

Nothing Urgent

 

 

 

Dusty Samburu Warthog

 

[Tom Kellie]

Sometimes it is best not to know,

What dwells in large holes in the ground.

Who knows what creatures lurk below,

Where unpleasant shocks may be found?

 

 

 

What Dwells Down There?

 

[Tom Kellie]

Not this time for Buffalo Springs,

Across the river we see it,

Touched by the light which morning brings,

A dirt track curves away a bit.

 

 

 

Buffalo Springs National Reserve

 

[Tom Kellie]

The Helmet-shrikes in Samburu,

Are a regular morning sight.

What exactly do small shrikes do,

When coming day replaces night?

 

 

 

Eurocephalus rueppelli

 

 

 

Morning Sun Shadows

 

 

 

Head-on Helmet-shrike

 

 

 

Individual Wing Feathers

 

[Tom Kellie]

A Marabou's life may only,

Have an occasional highlight.

Their existence could seem lonely,

Huddled alone through each dark night.

 

 

 

Marabou Solitude

 

 

 

Where Elephants Often Cross

 

[Tom Kellie]

Reeds blooming in a patch of green,

The river's shallow flow moves past,

No draught for the African Queen,

Low depth for a fisherman's cast.

 

 

 

Trees and a Shallow River

 

 

 

River Access Path

 

 

 

Blooming Reeds

 

 

 

Empty in the Morning

 

 

 

Egyptian Geese in the Far Distance

 

[Tom Kellie]

Mycteria ibis again,

Standing where it can look around.

The tall stork takes to the air when,

Flying's more safe than on the ground.

 

 

 

Yellow-billed Stork at the Ewaso Nyiro

 

[Tom Kellie]

Weaver nests abandoned and dry,

Are clustered in Samburu's trees.

Where once Weavers would perch and fly,

There is now only wind and bees.

 

 

 

Weaver Nests for Rent

 

[Tom Kellie]

Samburu and Oryx it seems,

Are linked by their ecology.

Yet also in visitors’ dreams,

Featured in my psychology.

 

 

 

Horn Length Differential

 

 

 

Unidirectional

 

 

 

As If Trimmed

 

 

 

Oryx, Weaver Nests, Ol Doinyo Koitogorr

 

Edited February 26, 2019 by Tom Kellie

[Tom Kellie]

One more Gerenuk for the road,

A male near the large Oryx herd,

With Samburu for his abode,

Browsing without saying a word.

 

 

 

Farewell Gerenuk

 

[Tom Kellie]

Stragglers wade across, their pace slow,

Babies close to mamas, so small,

The elephants are on the go,

They move with not much noise at all.

 

 

 

After Having Crossed the Ewaso Nyiro

 

 

 

Elephant River Crossing

 

 

 

Tall Doum Palm

 

 

 

Stragglers

 

[Tom Kellie]

Here's a species I've missed before,

Somehow it's never been observed.

Will future sightings be in store?

Greater attention is deserved.

 

 

 

Lophotis gindiana

 

 

 

Buff-crested Bustard

 

[Tom Kellie]

Here it comes, the Elephant Train!

They walk trunks to tails, single file,

Such a steady pace they maintain.

Watching them I can't help but smile.

 

 

 

Elephants On the March

 

 

 

Matriarchs

 

 

 

Mutual Support

 

 

 

Single File

 

 

 

Samburu Elephant Train

 

 

 

Elephant Train With Oryx

 

[Tom Kellie]

Arid and empty it may be,

Yet Samburu doesn't lack game.

As elephants walk, one may see,

Animals which seem almost tame.

 

 

 

Gerenuk and Elephants

 

 

 

Oryx and Friend

 

 

 

Elephant with Oryx

 

[Tom Kellie]

Ostrich trekkers in formation,

Gaudy plumage for all to see,

Bound for another location,

They're living not captive but free.

 

 

 

Ostrich Ladies

 

 

 

Trekkers

 

 

 

Distinctive Somali Ostriches

 

 

 

 

[Tom Kellie]

An Off-roader formidable,
Completely blocking the dirt track,
Obviously comfortable,
Causing delay, it has the knack.

 

 

 

Blocking the Track

 

 

 

Battle Dress

 

 

 

Off-Roader

 

[Tom Kellie]

Grevy's Zebra ends our visit,

A small herd standing near the gate.

They look toward us like “What is it?”,

One last photo?....don't hesitate.

 

 

 

Final Samburu Sighting

 

[Tom Kellie]

It's welcome and farewell time now,

As we stop to check out and leave,

This fine reserve may take take a bow,

Our sincere compliments receive.

 

 

 

Welcome to Samburu

 

 

 

Visitor Guidelines

 

[Tom Kellie]

Portraits at the gate to conclude,

Samburu was quite productive,

A warm, dry, peaceful interlude,

Wildlife remarkably active.

 

 

 

@Anthony Gitau at Samburu

 

 

 

Standing Outside Samburu Gate