Ajabu sana Kenya and Porini

[mvecht]

A few more shots from the afternoon.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The next morning we had high expectations and started out with Lions.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ol Kinyei is one of the smaller conservancies at app 18000 acres but currently only two camps are operational so plenty of space.

Porini is allowed to do drives in neighbouring Naboisho whereas Naibosho vehicles are not allowed in Ol Kinyei so the longer morning drives are often done in Naboisho.

 

[mvecht]

Naboisho has a strict 4 vehicle per sighting rule. We had been notified about a Cheetah sighting and had to wait one minut to get our turn. The Cheetah was sleeping in high grass so we continued without any photos. This was the only crowded sighting we had. Other sightings would have a max of one other vehicle.

Our guide asked us if we wanted to do a 20 minute drive to see a Leopard? Ridiculous question

Off we went with just some short stops on the way.

 

 

 

 

When we got to the spot which was at a drainage line below Leopard Hill Camp thi beautiful male Leopard was sleeping in the shade.

 

 

I asked if we could get across the drainage/dry riverbed and after searching for some minutes our guide Edward found a crossing point.

At that point the Leopard decided it was time to get going.

 

 

 

Almost to close for pictures

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

He disappeared in to the dense vegetation and he were not able to follow him.

[mvecht]

Lots of babies around

 

 

Banded Mongoose with young

 

 

We wnt back to check on the Chettah. Still no action.

 

 

European Roller

 

Topi

 

The Topi were unhappy with the Lions.

 

 

Hartebeest

 

Thomson Gazelle with young.

 

Hippopool

 

Village Weaver

 

 

Our only sighting of this type of Agama

 

 

All in all a very productive morning drive.

[mvecht]

The afternoon started with Giraffe lying down.

 

Malachite Kingfisher

 

Marabou Stork

 

Terrapin

and some lazy Lions

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Topi

 

Dwarf Mongoose.

 

 

 

 

Secretary birds

 

Another Lion

 

Just outside camp we had Waterbuck and Bushbuck

 

 

[Kitsafari]

all caught up now and so awesome to see a striped hyena cub! such a shame it didn't want to come out but it looked relaxed despite your presence

 

 

[michael-ibk]

A great safari so far with many excellent sightings - I´m jealous about the Stripey! You certainly deserved this after the pre-travel difficulties. I think Porini are really doing an excellent job, stayed at Rhino and Kinyei 1 1/2 years ago and really liked both.

[mvecht]

@Kitsafari, @michael-ibkthank you for the kind words

We started the morning in Ol Kinyei and had a lonely Hyena.

 

Then on to Naboisho where Hyenas, Jackals and Vultures were feeding on a Zebra.

 

 

 

 

The Jackals were surprisingly confident.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Unhappy Jackal.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This Hyena was either from another Clan or very low ranking. It was quickly chased away.

 

The young Hyena on the left  was probably high up in the hierachy. 

 

 

 

[wilddog]

fascinating sequence of shots of the hyenas, jackals and vutures tussling for the food.

[mvecht]

@wilddogVery interesting to see the hierachy within the clan of Hyenas and also seeing members of another clan unsuccesfully trying to get a share.

Next up a large pride of Lions.

 

Steppe Eagle

 

 

The pride had killed a Topi shortly before we arrived.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Another Eagle

 

Playing with the scraps

 

[mvecht]

A very noisy Guineafowl

 

The only Croc we saw on the trip.

 

Egyptian Goose

 

Blue-headed Agama

 

 

Two species of Mongoose

 

 

 

 

Waterbuck

 

Dassie close to camp.

[mvecht]

In the afternoon we started out with a nice Striped Kingfisher.

 

We were then alerted about a Leopard nearby. As we arrived she had moved but after a few minutes she was found resting in a tree. This was our busiest sighting in Ol Kinyei with three vehicles in total.

 

 

 

 

More Lions on the way back to camp.

 

Ol Kinyei sunset

 

[mvecht]

The next morning about ten minutes out of camp we had this guy waking up.

 

We had left camp a litlle late so the two other vehivles were long gone and we had this male Cheetah to ourselves.

 

 

It looked like he was in the mood for some breakfast so we decided to stay.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Jackals did not give him much of a chance barking as he went along.

 

 

Without notice he jumped up into the tree.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

He was now being followed by a Hyena so hardly any chance that he would hunt. We went for a bush breakfast nearby.

[mvecht]

One of the reasons we travelled in February was that we wanted to see babies but during the planning of the trip we discovered another good reason to visit Ol Kinyei in February. The Loita Migration!

This was new to me but as it turns out app 250,000 Wildebeest, Zebra and antelope travel from Loita, which is East of Ol Kinyei , to the area to look for better grazing, so that eventhough the majority of Wildebeest have travelled south on the main migration there is still plenty of animals to be seen.

We got to late for the actual birth. The mother was very protective for her baby.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A curious Buffalo

[mvecht]

The Cheetah had gotten rid of the Hyena and now started looking for food.

He tried taking down a Wildebeest calf but missed. After a short rest he started walking towards our camp and we would have been able to see him from our tent.

 

 

He started looking for some Impala in an area with good cover but too many Vervet Monkeys and birds around alarming so no luck. He went to rest and we left him.

 

 

 

Some huge Eland with "noisy knees"

 

 

Young Wildebeest taking a quick swim

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

More babies

 

 

 

 

 

[Atravelynn]

The leopard appears near Leopard Hill Camp, of course it does!  That guy exuded an aura of power.  Great work on the animated lions as they interacted and the even more animated hyenas and jackals.  Lots of action at that kill site. Looking forward to more.

[PT123]

@mvechtthis is great, keep it coming! We were in olare motorogi in early February and enjoyed experiencing the Loita migration. It’s a scaled down version of the great migration with ample wildebeest, zebra and the largest herd of eland I’ve seen. All with very minimal vehicle traffic and accompanying misbehaviour (we’ve jokingly deemed it “the civilised man’s migration”).

Edited April 12, 2023 by PT123
Typo!

[wilddog]

Stunning images.

 

In my opinion visiting the conservancies at this time of year with the Loita migration underway is great.

[mvecht]

In camp we were entertained by the ever present Vervet Monkeys.

 

 

 

 

 

In the afternoon we went looking for the Leopard but first some Lions.

 

 

Sleepy.

 

 

but always interested in food!

 

 

Too far away!

The Leopard had stashed a kill in a tree. Just before getting there we had a lovely sunset.

 

 

No Leopard in the tree. Another vehicle stayed longer and did see her.

My wife did not take part in the drive but had action in the camp. She heard some noise and thought it was an Elephant taking down one of the trees in camp but the tree had died from old age and some strong winds. No harm to any tents or people!

[mvecht]

The next morning we did a short drive as we were flying out later in the morning.

First up a Male Lion who quickly disappeared into some riverine bushes.

 

More Lions. I believe that we saw app 100 individual Lions on the trip.

 

 

 

One was quite sleepy but would not let go of his share.

 

 

 

A nice Augur Buzzard

 

 

A young antelope

 

Vultures everywhere. In Ol Pejeta we did not see a single Vulture and very few raptors.

The vultures were doing well as they were feeding on the afterbirths of all the Wildebeest.

 

 

Edited April 15, 2023 by mvecht
typo

[mvecht]

Porini iCheetah s a very nice camp. I would have loved to see it a few weeks later after the heavy rains filled up the river.

 

 

Meals were served in a tent. Very nice decoration but personally I would have loved to have some more "fresh air" when eating.

 

 

 

 

Time to head for the airstrip for our flight to Nairobi and then on to Malindi.

A nice Kingfisher

 

We had hoped to see a birth and it looked like it was going to happen!

 

 

The proces was slower than normal.

 

A group of Warthogs spooked the Wildsbeest and they ran of and we had to continue towards the airstrip.

We had just missed another birth but the Jackals were happy.

 

 

 

We did not get to see any kills on the trip. We did however see something we had never seen before. A Hyena chasing a baby Wildebeest on the open plains. The chase took place over a long distance but the Wildebeest managed to get away.

We really enjoyed our stay at Porini Cheetah. Guide Edward and tracker Jackson did an excellent job. Apart from their wildlife skills Edward was the most capable driver I have had in Africa. He was extremely good at anticipating which "pot holes" were harmless and which ones he should slow down. With the long drives every day it really made a difference!.

I am sure we will use Porini camps sometime in the future.

Edited April 15, 2023 by mvecht
typo

[Atravelynn]

Edward and Jackson!  They were our driver and tracker too.  Great guys.  The jackal with the newborn wildebeest is fascinating.  You were there at a very exciting time of year.  Southern Serengeti and Ndutu are hotspots in February but your excellent report puts the Mara and the conservancies on the map at this time of year as well.  Even the cheetahs are out and about.  Thanks for sharing this!

[mvecht]

@AtravelynnEdward and Jackson did a great job. One example was the final morning. three vehicles from Chettah camp headed directly to the tree where the Leopard had been seen eating the night before.

The Leopard had left and the two other vehicles immediately started moving away. Edward/Jackson said that we should follow the dissstant Jackals, that even I could hear barking. There was no doubt that the Jackals were barking due to a predator being present so much likely the Leopard. Unfortunately it was climbing a steep hill with lots of trees and bushes, so we were not able to follow. The hill is a known hiding place for the Leopard.