day 4 of our Expedition in Samburu Shaba National Reserve – Friday 29th July, 2016
Friday 29th July, 2016
Morning dawned brightly but not too hot with some cloud cover which for this ecosystem is positively cool . Our plan today was to do a game drive in the neighbouring Samburu National Reserve. After breakfast and a grand selfie we headed off marvelling at the glorious landscape, the brazen samburu bathing in the Ewaso Nyiro river, school children boarding a bus to visit the park and in no time at all we were in Samburu NR. Jackals were feeding on what remained of a predators kill and then lo and behold a lovely group of elephants. It transpires that this group is called The Royals one of who had a radio collar and her name is Annabelle and a heavily expectant Anastasia. The unique animals of this echo system came out to greet us this morning The Beisa Oryx, The Grevy Zebra , The Reticulated Giraffe , a Female Somali Ostrich, Kirks DikDik but what was most surprising was the number of Lions we encountered..one powerfully built hunting unsuccessfully some impala, a honeymooning couple with another male a short distance away hoping to usurp the current male, and three females by the river hoping to ambush prey coming to drink water but by far the elephants made my day a group of them who came down to the river to drink water and others who showed us their young .Finally it was necessary to make a pitstop at Samburu Lodge where i met an old friend Jacob who has been naturalist there for years!!! The morning literally flew by with all the excitement of these wonderful sightings and the amazing landscape and it was 2pm by the time were got back to the Lodge in Sarova Shaba! This evening the Chief Warden of the entire ecosystem came to talk to us about managing National Reserve and his hope for private management that will help them truly implement their management plan and curb the many threats that challenge the survival of these ecosystems.
These eminent Ghanaian Gentlemen are truly wonderful Ambassadors for their country , always courteous ..remember everyones name and overtime we leave a place all the staff are sad after the joy they have left behind.
Next stop Sweetwaters in Ol Pejeta
Bye for now
