Safari
July 23, 2016

the last day of the Axelrod Expedition

Patricia Awori
Back in the Green City in the Sun which was busy with  Friday traffic and UNCTAD…..on to the lovely Nairobi Serena . What could have been a very sad day was made memorable and special by a very special guest for lunch ! Later a very delayed guest turned up and Ann was able to see her “husband” and then sadly it was time to say Kwaheri ya kuonana
Read More
Safari
July 21, 2016

The penultimate day of the Axelrod Expedition Thursday 21st July, 2016

Patricia Awori
I woke up this morning to the sound of palm leaves being torn down and so i went to open my curtains and lo and behold a small herd of elephants were just outside my room! In the distance the lions were roaring, it must have been a successful night for them. This morning we had breakfast on the shores of the Mara River with the hippos and crocodiles and amazing birdlife including vultures who had arrived to see about eating the dead gnu’s that were floating in the River. Banded mongoose came over to see what was happening and provided a lot of entertainment.
After a hearty breakfast we headed out to see what we could find and came upon a hunting party of lions who tried unsuccessfully to grab a wildebeest who was trying to get some water to drink…after that scare the wildebeest and zebras took off leaving hungry lions who decided the sun was too hot and lay under bushes to sleep. Down the road walking towards us came a “honeymooning” couple of lions behind them wildebeest watched anxiously . Finally they headed off to the shade and we went to lunch!!
This evening we went down to the river to see what was happening and were very fortunate to see a couple of attempted and full crossings which was soon exciting ….sadly crocs grabbed one of the young ones making Emily very sad. A first in a long time was seeing Topi crossing the river..who would have known they were such excellent jumpers. With the main body of the groups having crossed and the sun having set we headed back to the Lodge well satisfied with our wildlife experience today and feeling exhausted as though we too had been running these thousands of miles of migration
Read More
Safari
July 20, 2016

Axelrod Expedition Wednesday 20th July Maasai Mara

Patricia Awori
This morning we leapt out of bed very early, had an early breakfast and then headed out into the Mara Triangle to see what we could see. My goodness what a morning we had. First young hyaena drinking water and then a pride of lions sunning themselves  sleeping peacefully . Hundreds of thousands of wildebeest and gnu’s were widespread over the plains giraffe were browsing , elephants were grazing and lo and behold a leopard in a tree. It was quite a sight to see the leopard when the elephants approached and one of them began scratching herself on the tree apparently oblivious to the leopard on top of the tree…finally the elephants ambled away and the leopard settled down to some sleep on her comfortable branch.As we drove away we encountered a famed elephant bull Kagle who was sporting a radio collar that STE had put on helping the Mara Elephant Project to monitor him. By now it was really hot and the elephants were happily into or heading into the swamp for some cooling off and feeding.
Onward we went in search of the elusive black rhino and lo and behold we were blessed to see not one but two black rhino. Looking at them was humbling to realise the opportunity and determination to do whatever possible to ensure that they don’t become extinct!!
After lunch and a siesta we headed out in the late afternoon and were fortunate to see more lions….2 cheetah who had killed and were eating a wildebeest until they were dispossessed by hyaena ..as vultures waited their turn!!! On our way home we encountered a dying wildebeest and young Emily insisted on stopping and she spoke reassuring words to this poor wildebeest ..an extraordinary thing to see from one so young!
What an extraordinary full day it was and am soo thankful to have experienced it!!
Read More
Safari
July 19, 2016

19th July in Maasai Mara on Axelrod Expedition

Patricia Awori
Waking up in one Park and going to bed in another Park is remarkable. Discovered where the sun has been hiding!!!The magnificent majesty that is the Maasai Mara can properly be appreciated from the vantage point of Mara Serena that sits atop a hill offering extraordinary vistas and is within proximity
Our day involved two flights aboard Caravans that ensured speedy passage from Amboseli via Nairobi to Maasai Mara. Bright sunshine , the Great Migration and Elephants welcomed us to the Mara and after lunch and a siesta we headed to the river where we found crodiles feasting on a zebra and others looking too full to move!! What an auspicious beginning
Read More
Safari
July 18, 2016

Monday 18th July on our last day in Amboseli

Patricia Awori
Today the morning dawned cool and clear and after breakfast Kilimanjaro had shed her heavy blanket and was beaming down at us as we made our way to Cynthia Moss’ camp …enroute the sun came out and so did the elephants  EB’s Echo’s family with plenty of babies . It was a morning that was spent in and amongst elephants ..so special . A day of celebration…..Ann & Cynthia’s advance birthday and Greg & Casey’s 18th wedding anniversary! A joyous day filled with elephants , laughter, song and reconnections! As the sun was going down we met KWS vets who were going to check on gazelles who are falling sick and dying. Such commitment that they were ready for the all night task to take blood samples and aerial flights during the day to save our precious wildlife!!
Read More
Safari
July 15, 2016

Day 1 of Axelrod (15-07-2016)

Patricia Awori
After breakfast we went round the corner to the Giraffe Centre which was inundated by school children who had come to learn about wildlife…delightful to see them and their joy and excitement. Rothschild Giraffe were out and about despite the chilly weather and much was learned about them and the success at bringing them back from the brink of extinction. Off we went to visit the extraordinary women of Kazuri Beads who still make extraordinary things Onwards to lunch at KB Coffee Gardens and then we waddled off Sheldrick Orphanage with a pit stop at Galleria enroute. Hear trenching to see how many orphans there are but grateful that they have a second chance at life . Now onwards to the hotel for dinner and some sleep before departing to Amboseli
Read More
Safari
March 2, 2016

Tsavo West – Tsavo East – Birthdays and Highways and Elephants and Nyumba Kumi (26-02-2016)

Patricia Awori

Champagne breakfast to celebrate Faye’s birthday heralded our day with singing staff to deliver the birthday cake and Kilimanjaro was looking magnificent this early morning and then off to Mzima Springs for morning filming and then it was time to say goodbye to TSAVO West and time to head to TSAVO East…a VERY hot day where everyone worked hard despite the heat and now we are back at our Lodge ..as I am typing this I am sitting on balcony enjoying elephants at the Waterhole and I am reminiscing on when I was stationed here for Survivor. Tommorow morning we will be up early for some interviews and then we will be off to Amboseli ..what a day!

Read More
Safari
March 2, 2016

Saturday – Tsavo East – Taveta – Rombo – Oloitoktok – Amboseli (27-02-2016)

Patricia Awori

Today was another extraordinary day! Early rising off at 6:15 in the wanted to get some filming done before we had to head to Amboseli for an important meeting. Instead of using the truck filled Mombasa Road we went down to Taveta which was incredibly scenic and gave us the opportunity to see the Wundanyi Mountains, the new road being built, TSAVO West with a different face and Kilimanjaro towering over it..just before reaching Taveta we turned Westwards through Taita Ranches and on to Rombo ever climbing until we reached Oloitoktok which as always is lush and green, Here we said goodbye to Tim who was returning to Nairobi from here and headed on to Amboseli for important donor meeting. Lovely couple from Texas who have fallen in love with East Africa and keep coming and are eager to help! After lunch and great discussions we headed to SERENA our home away from home for the next two days

 

Read More
Safari
March 2, 2016

Sunday-Amboseli (28-02-2016)

Patricia Awori

What an amazing Sunday it was ..special in many ways most of all because of the elephants and that’s what it is all abut and why we are doing what we do!!
To be in the company of two extraordinary women, Jacinta who is now acting MD of Kenya Tourism Board and Zainab who is the Senior Warden Amboseli NP. Jacinta has brought all the editors of all the media houses to Amboseli and she asked me this afternoon to give them a briefing about the “wild” and despite my knocking knees and chattering teeth and general fear and trembling I managed to get on with it and they seemed to be pleased and then I went out to spend time doing what I most enjoy ..time with elephants and they didn’t disappoint …even Tim came to say hello and that was very special

Read More
1 … 3 4 5 6