Natural Track Safaris

Kenya holiday: Retreats of the tropical coast

noreply@blogger.com (Natural Track Safaris) — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 07:34:00 +0000

Kenya coast offers one of the most amazing beauties of apt tropical tranquil that leave lifelong memories to holiday makers. From the south coast to the north, there are infinite matchless varieties of surreal holiday experiences.
It is for this reason that African Adventure crew – your preferred, informative and authoritative travel informer have ‘pitched our tents’ along serene tropical coast. In the next few consecutive editions of our Nature series, we will sample the utmost of Kenyan coast. And today, we start with Watamu, its contrasting environs, uniqueness and attractions.
Watamu is an amazing paradise of sun and sand with an international reputation for its reef-protected beaches, offering safe sunbathing at both high and low tides all the year round. The natural feature most obvious to the visitor is of course the marine park.

The park was created in 1968 and is part of the far larger Malindi-Watamu marine reserve, which includes Mida creek. The marine park extends from Blue Lagoon in the North to Whale Island in the south and is mainly a lagoon habitat with depths in the central channel up to 6 meters (approx 20 feet), and some isolated holes by the turtle reef of up to 12 meters (approx 39 feet)

For competent swimmers, snorkeling can be done direct from the beach. However, beware of tidal currents, especially near the entrance to the Mida creek. In addition to snorkeling, there is an assortment of other water sports, ranging from surfing, deep sea fishing and scuba diving which is rated the best in East Africa.

The most spectacular areas for snorkeling are around the Coral Gardens and the adjacent Richard Burnet reef, where a vast array of tropical fish can be seen. Theses include the surgeon fish, snappers, parrot fish, angel fish, puffer fish, butterfly fish, trigger fish and many other awesome spectacles of variety and color.

Rays can also be seen swimming through the water in a graceful flying motion while, on occasion, you might see some young reef sharks in the shallows. No need to worry – they are harmless and are usually just lazing around.

Most of the hard coral species occurring in the Kenya coast have been identified with a healthy reef system. Most easily recognizable corals are the Porites Hump corals – which are slow-growing and may be up to 4 meters (13 feet) in diameter.

There is an ornithological paradise at Mida creek, a wide variety of tropical reef fish in the adjacent waters of Watamu and endemic flora and fauna in the Arabuko Sokoke Forest.

The unique Kipepeo project which is located near the entrance of the Gede ruins is worth a visit. The project is a small community based butterfly farm that exports pupae to Europe and the United States for use in live butterfly exhibits. With over a decade in operation, the project incorporates 150 butterfly farmers who mainly consist of local families that live adjacent to the Eastern border of the Arabuko Sokoke forest.

Here you will be able to see the delicate, gentle and inimitable rearing procedure and also sample a visitor centre illustrating interesting displays and information. There is also a large flight cage to wander through and see a selection of Arabuko Sokoke butterflies at a close range.

Another fascinating place worth a visit is Gede ruins. This historic site is known to be one of the ancient Arab towns which dotted the East African coastline. It dates back to the late 13th to early 14th century and was finally abandoned in the early 17th century.

At its helm of prosperity, Gede had a population of over 2500 people. The Gede ruins gained the status of Historic Monument in 1972 and much excavation and preservation work has been carried out over the years so that the larger areas of the town, especially within the inner walls are now revealed. Surviving ruins at Gede include the great mosque, the palace, residential houses and several pillar tombs. Between the inner and outer walls, there is a nature trail which is probably the best indication of the dry forest vegetation which existed on the raised coral reef before human habitation.

Two other sites have been found in the recent times at Dabasso Rock and Kalalu caves which are sacred shrines to the local Giriama people.

It therefore important to note that, although visitors are welcome to these sites, it is essential to go with a guide interpreter and to observe and respect local customs as these places are still used for certain ceremonies and are held in immense esteem.

Kenya holiday Safaris
Contributed By Francis Nyaga

MALINDI – THE TROPICAL PARADISE

noreply@blogger.com (Natural Track Safaris) — Sat, 26 Sep 2009 09:03:00 +0000

Malindi’s ancient history, authentic cultural and epic architectural, location puts it in a limelight of sundry interests. However, it is the diversity of holiday making choices that gives Malindi its definitive identity – the tropical paradise’. Following the sign posts, drive through the beautifully hedged, villas, resorts and mansion tangled finely amidst indigenous flora and the last left turn takes you straight to Malindi Marine Park.

Enveloped by a national reserve and a 100ft strip of coastal land starting from Vasco-da-Gama pillar, Malindi Marine Park is located 4km south of Malindi town extending to Mida creek, neighboring Gede ruins and Arabuko sokoke forest, then down to Watamu. It was the first marine protected area in Kenya established in 1968 and designated as a Biosphere reserve under the Man and Biosphere Reserve program of UNESCO in 1979.

Malindi Marine Park is endowed with a variety of unique resources such as fringing reefs, coral gardens in the lagoons, sea grass beds, mangroves, mudflats and a high diversity of fish and marine mammals including turtles and shorebirds. Among the species of fish found in the park include coral reef fish, sweetlips, surgeon fish, butterfly fish, damsel and parrotfish.

The untold phenomena of tidal islands that appear magically during the low tides are such an incredible scenario. Imagine walking almost a kilometer in the sea on soft white sand overlooking crystal blue fast flowing waters in the adjacent fringing reef. Then with a glass bottom boat, cross the reef and you are rewarded with a seemingly endless lagoon intercepted by white magical islands. And the experience repeats itself over and over as you sail inner to the coral garden and far stretch to Mayungu … and that is just a glimpse of Malindi Marine Park!

Whether you are snorkeling or scuba diving, you are sure to marvel at the under water beauty, or may just bump into other regular visitors to the Malindi marine park – this may include turtles feeding on the thallasia beds and dolphins feeding on shimmering schools of sardine. On the leeward side of north reef, there has a low coral cover with large schools of Barracuda and occasional reef sharks that are commonly encountered, as well as large rays that feed on the bottom.

Swimming in the warm ocean water, snorkeling, boat rides, diving, and dhow rides, sun bathing and educational tours are among the diverse activities at Malindi Marine Park. All this is without mentioning implausible picnics and barbeque on island, wind surfing (in the reserve), and occasional beach clean up and research.

There is no charge to use the beach for swimming, sunbathing or exploring the many tidal pools. However, a park fee is charged for visitors using boats to go snorkeling, scuba diving or observing the coral reefs.

Kenya Holiday safaris
Courtesy of : Francis Nyaga

Customer care – Malindi Marine Park

Wildlife safari holiday – ultimate jungle experience

noreply@blogger.com (Natural Track Safaris) — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 16:52:00 +0000

It is no doubt that Kenya has earned a notch in the world as a preferred destination for those seeking ultimate jungle experience, adventures in the wilderness and precise comfort in a wildlife thrilled parks and reserves. “Wildlife safari” was launched this year by the government of Kenya through ministry of tourism as the Kenya’s official destination brand.

Your favorite, reliable and authoritative safari blog ‘African adventure crew’ headed by Francis was again on the ground to see whether this was reflected in truth or it was just a fiction. From our extensive experiences from the holiday makers, we have in this season’s ‘Nature series’ heard stories on real time adventure and eye witness experiences from varied holiday makers in Kenya over the peak months of July and August.

Bob and Kristina - UK
We first met Bob and Kristina an elderly couple that had come to Kenya to mark their lovely 40th anniversary in marriage. The couple had left Samburu national reserve the day before, and had just completed an early morning game drive in L. Nakuru national park. All cheerful and elated with Joy, it was easy to overture and bond with them thanks to the great awe inspiring experiences that kept them smiling all through. To Kristina, seeing Kudus in the wild amidst unique wildlife of samburu was a sought-after memory. In Lake Nakuru, they were lucky to spot the endangered black rhino, while the white rhinos and the stunning panoramic of millions of flamingos roamed were just infront of them. Their itinerary was skillfully and precisely drawn to ensure they touched every heart of the best and unique wilds during their Kenya safari.

Seane story - Australia
The next day we met Sean and party from Australia. No doubt, this young couple must have had a hint of the best way to explore Kenya’s wildlife – camping safari! Their choice to do their Kenya camping safari in August was sheer brilliance as the weather is generally favorable. After breakfast, we proceed to hells gate national park. Sammy the cook had made a yummy packed lunch for the group. Hiking the hells gate was not just a lovely experience but also a great adventure and exercise.

Our choice to set our survey base around the two rift valley lakes – Nakuru and Naivasha was a pre-arranged due to the central location and popularity. Lake Nakuru is Kenya’s premium national park offering a diverse ecosystem and great wildlife spotting within a close range. Lake Naivasha on the other hand hosts the most deluxe vacation resorts and campsites with diverse wildlife and great boating excursions. It is at these two lakes where you can meet tourists with unique and varied itineraries and therefore a chance to obtain views from mixed experiences and different destinations.

Martin Black’s family
We met Martin Black, his mama 79 and three children on the forth day of our program. By then, the group had seen more than they had expected. The two girls were drawing pictures of various wildlife that they had seen, while the young boy was busy playing games and listening to music. Even though this particular group had lived in many places of the world, they openly confessed that Kenya is a ‘paradise’ thanks to scores of wildlife, beautiful sceneries and white-sanded coastal beaches not forggeting the friendly and charming people.

Melywn family - UK
On the fifth day of our analysis, I met the lovely and exciting vacationers of the season – the Melywn’s family from UK. Their driver/guide, Charles made an incredible introduction causing a quick confidence and bond between the two parties. Immediately after briefing, we engaged in a conversation unconscious that we were running behind time. On the way to Naivasha we had great talks as the group shared their experiences and also asked questions on various issues concerning Kenya. The group did a trek in Hells gate national park as well as taking photos of the magnificent Hells gate Gorge, Fischer,s and Central towers and the splendid view of Lake Naivasha from Olkaria hill. The group saw myriad wildlife and inimitable sceneries through out their safari.

Yifat family - Israel
Shalom!! thats how it started. Our last group in this series was Yifat family from Israel. Having visited ‘north of equator’ wildlife parks, they had a great comparison with the lower equator parks. It is amazing how nature is discrete with unsearchable uniqueness. Unlike other African destinations, Kenya wildlife observe the hemispherical rules in that some species are only found on the northern part of equator while others are purely restricted to the southern. Yifat family then proceded to hike the Menengai crater. The crater lies at 2272 meters above sea level and was formed as result of combined rift valley and volcanic activities. The ashy smell from molten lava can be felt up to date while the whole floor is covered by black volcanic rocks and shrubs. On clear days, one can see most rift valley lakes such as Bogoria, Baringo, Elmentaita and the near by Lake Nakuru.

Courtesy of Francis Nyagah
Adventure crew

Tsavo Cheetah Project

noreply@blogger.com (Natural Track Safaris) — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 16:12:00 +0000

The Tsavo National Parks, in south eastern Kenya, are probably most renowned for the notorious, mane-less, man-eating lions of the late nineteenth century… or even the numerous ‘red elephants’ covered in red dust from the sands which blanket the grounds of the vast, bio-diversity rich Tsavo ecosystem.

But if you come to Tsavo, she will soon show you, if you are here long enough: solid black spots glimmering in between the grass blades of the savanna, a glimpse of large copper eyes peering through a Commophora bush, or a distinctive footprint of a cat with claw marks – that of the elusive cheetah (or duma, in the Swahili language). Currently, approximately 200 cheetahs (1/4 of Kenya’s total cheetah population) are suspected to occupy the Tsavo ecosystem which covers an area of 40,000 square kilometers. But if we are to preserve this large, potentially viable population we must first obtain reliable information on numbers, distribution, conservation status and threats.

The Tsavo Cheetah Project was initiated in August 2008, after three years of preliminary work. The primary aims of this initial 4 year study are to: 1) Determine cheetah numbers and population threats in the vast and unfenced Tsavo National Parks, adjoining communities, ranches and sanctuaries. 2) Alleviate conflict issues between people and cheetahs with education and awareness. 3) Test and further develop cheetah monitoring and census techniques. Continue here..

Camping in Kenya

noreply@blogger.com (Natural Track Safaris) — Sun, 22 Mar 2009 15:49:00 +0000

Its beyond any doubt that africa makes one of the most wonderful and adventurous camping vacation for any one who enjoy outdoor adventures. Camping in Kenya offers you utmost flexibility. Since you have all the basics that you need in your adventure camping vehicle, time is at your control.. This makes it all so easy and relaxing knowing that you can spend as much time or less depending on where you want to visit.

The superb tropical climate with hot breezy days and cool tranquil nights gives you an interpretable sensation. The sceneries thrilled with undisturbed reserves and the great natural attractions such as lakes, Mountains ranges, snow peaks, wildlife, forests and culturated expanses will leave you dreadly inspired. An interaction with the local people in their ethnicity is a great prove that africa's diversity is unique.

Among the many places worth visit in africa, you will find Kenya tour to be more deserving. Imagine camping in the heart of wildlife thrilled savanahs surrounded by beautiful sceneries and clear open skies at night. In some places, you can opt to spend your night under open skies and enjoy the quietness of the cool breezes.

But this depends on how you plan it. The most important thing for any successful camping is advance planning. You need to plan on where to go, when, how long and the number of people you will be sharing the experience with. With these in mind, then it will be easier for you to do your budget and also know what is essential and what is not. Altenatively have a local agent do the arrangements for you.

Then its time to pack your camping gear. If you are booking your camping tour through a Kenya tour operator, then you will be exempted the task of carrying a complete gear since most Kenya tour firms will do this for you. But if this is not the case, then you will need to itemize your gear and all the essentials that you would use while camping. Depending on when and where you like to camp and what you like to do, the list will be ever changing. A tip is to think flexibility. The ease with which you can set/move camp and off course the weight of your stuff, including foods.

You've finally arrived at your camping destination and you're scoping out the area to see which spot looks best for setting up your campsite. While choosing the campsite, please consider pitching your tent on slightly high level ground to keep you safe incase of rains. You will also need to consider fundermental issues such as water source, adequate cooking area, cleaning area (don’t kill vegation with hot soapy water), garbage area and finally, consider a camping area with some shade.

After setting up the campsite it's time to go do what you came here to do, "go play!" Whatever your preoccupation is, enjoy! Do such refreshing things as; seeing the campsite set up, smelling the country air, short walks, go bird watching, take a bike ride, stroll around, eat well, enjoy a drink and if possible get a feel with the local communities. This is a refreshing change from all of the confines of the city.

Then in the evening enjoy the orange African fire while the sounds of wilderness fill the night: Night birds, the laughter of hyenas, the buzz of a mosquito or the occasional roar of lions proclaiming their territory.

Camping, whether with pals or family can be lots of fun. But you need to pay attention to a couple of things for example baboons and vervet monkeys. Baboons can be a menace and some times destructive. So as to cope with baboons and monkeys, always make sure; you close your tent, never leave you campsite unattended and constantly keep all the foodstuffs away from their, because that is what they seek. This way, you will be able to keep them off the temptation.

It's time to leave the camp? A little effort is all that you need to expend in order to ensure that the next camper arriving at the campsite after you will enjoy it just as much. The most basic principle rule for camping is: Leave No Trace. It's all about respect for nature. If campers would just leave their campsites the better than the way they found them (assuming it was clean to begin with), then we will all be doing our share in making sure that other generations will have their share of fun in the wilds of Africa.

Adventure Travel Crew
Kenya camping safaris
Natural Track Safaris

Kenya tour, shores of lake Turkana

noreply@blogger.com (Natural Track Safaris) — Sat, 28 Feb 2009 05:58:00 +0000

By Wachira Kigotho
East African Standard

The shores of Lake Turkana have offered another glimpse to early phases of human evolution.
Archaeologists have discovered a set of 1.5 million-year-old footprints at Ileret, an archaeological site at the northern shores of the lake. The footprints confirm the early man walked upright.
The discovery is reported in the current edition of Science, the journal that publishes significant original scientific research and policy issues.
The researchers from the National Museums of Kenya, Bournemouth University, George Washington University, Rutgers University and University of Cape Town say the findings add to the interpretation of the later pre-history of Africa.

According to Prof Matthew Bennet, the findings show that more than 1.5 million years ago, early man had evolved a modern human foot function and a style of bipedal locomotion that we would recognise today.
The new footprints are the second oldest in the world after the 3.7 million year-old prints in Laetoli in Tanzania. Prof Brian Richmond of George, a leading archaeologist from George Washington University, said discovery of early man’s footprints are incredibly rare event.

But for the first time, the researchers used a three dimensional method to analyse the ancient footprints and to compare them with those of modern humans.
The international team led by Prof Jack Harris of Rutgers University and Prof David Braun of University of Cape Town excavated two distinct sedimentary layers in a single outcrop at Ileret and revealed footprints that were preserved in fine-grained mud.
Footprint like human’s..
The surfaces have been dated precisely through inter-bedded volcanic ash layers to 1.51 to 1.53 million years old. Thereafter, the scientists created three-dimensional digital elevation models of the prints, which are accurate to a fraction of a millimetre.

According to Braun, the footprints were probably formed by Homo erectus, a species of hominids believed to have lived in the area during that period.
However, the major evidence is that the fossil footprints have a big toe that is in line with the other toes, a robust heel and anklebones, a pronounced longitudinal arch and short toes which are characteristics of a modern human foot.

"Through advanced scientific analysis, we were able to determine that the shapes of these prints are more like those formed by modern humans compared to the prints from Laetoli," said Bennet. Archaeologists believe the Tanzanian footprints were formed by Australopithecus afarensis, an older hominid species that lived in Eastern Africa between three to five million years ago.
But based on the size and the stride pattern of these newly discovered footprints, the team determined that the individuals responsible would have been about six feet in height.

Site at risk..
"The size and stature estimates derived from the Ileret prints compare well with those of our distant ancestor, Homo erectus, and are too large to have been formed by other hominid species that might have lived in this part of Africa," says Richmond.
According to the study, "Early Hominin Foot Morphology Based on 1.5-Million-Year-Old Footprints from Ileret, Kenya" the discovery supports archaeological hypothesis that Homo erectus had a larger home range that enhanced dietary quality and shift in cultural and biological adaptations in comparison to earlier hominids.

Unfortunately, the area in which the footprints are located is eroding, placing the valuable site at great risk. However, the process of laser scanning of the footprints is being used to preserve the discovery for posterity and further study.
"The digital scans are easily replicable and can be transformed into real-life casts available for museum display around the world or even in classrooms," says Ms Emma Mbua of the National Museums of Kenya.
The footprints are some of the recent discoveries made jointly by the National Museums of Kenya and international archaeological teams.

By Wachira Kigotho
East African Standard

Climbing Mount Kenya

noreply@blogger.com (Natural Track Safaris) — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 08:33:00 +0000

On the tropical land widely known as the craddle of mankind, sixteen kilometers south of equator lie a magficent land mark. It raises 5199 metres above see level making it the second highest mountain in Africa and the highest in Kenya. The highest peaks are Batian and Nelion – only mountaneers with technical skills can reach it. Point Lenana is the third highest peak and can be reached by trekkers – and is usually the goal for most people wishing to turf this great mountain locally known as Kirinyaga.

Mount Kenya, a mountain cocktailed with numerous intrinsic worth of significance and an attractive proposal for a Kenya tour. Its native appeal have carried its lure to every generation whether past, present or those that their fate of existence is eagerly awaiting. There are superb views over the surrounding country from point Lenana. The summit is often cloacked in mist from late morning until late afternoon.
Of ultmost importance is the cultural heritage and belief of the 'Agikiyu' also known as Kikuyu who trace their roots from this magnicent dome. The Kikuyu folktale of origin is as interesting as trekking Mt. Kenya itself.

They say "During ancient creation days, a dense cloud stood over the land as Ngai (the divider of the universe) descended to earth and made his dwelling upon the snow-capped peaks of Mount Kenya. Then He (Ngai) beckoned Gikuyu to the consecrated mountain and gave him the land around Kirinyaga (Mt. Kenya) as an inheritance and treasure for Him and his descendants. Then Gikuyu went to an orchard of sacred fig trees. While resting, Gikuyu found a beautiful woman who He gave her the name Mumbi and took her for his wife. They were then hallowed with nine charmingly glance daughters who later grew into very beautiful women. The daughters kept on besseeching saying their parents saying "Oohh that we would have husbands and build our own homes so that the names of our parents would last forever"

For many moons, Gikuyu and Mumbi searched their hearts in their quest to satisfy their daugthers' desires. At last in despair, Gikuyu fell upon his knees. Raising his face to Kirinyaga he called upon his creator, to bless his daughters with husbands and Ngai heard Him and commanded Gikuyu to make a sacrifice under the orchard of the fig tree. Heeding the commandment, Gikuyu sacrificed a lamb and a sheep fowl and lit a fire with nine burning sticks and said " we have come to beseech thee for rain that satsfies our children. Say now that the rain may fall" Suddenly out of the fire came nine young men whose backs were firm and strong like the trunk of the sacred Mugumo (fig) tree and when Gikuyu saw them, he gave thanks and welcomed them to the homesated.

Unanble to resist the beauty of Gikuyu and Mumbi's daughters, they asked for their hand in marriage. Gikuyu blessed the marriages and each daughter built herself a hut and started their families thus the name of Gikuyu and Mumbi prospered. Each daugthers generation came together to form a clan thus the nine Kikuyu clans. From the tribute of Gikuyu and Mumbi and in the honor of Ngai, the Kikuyu's build their houses with doors facing Mountains Kenya. It is also not uncommon to see Kikuyu burrying their dead relatives with head facing Kirinyaga.

Tales of Kikuyu's enterpreneurship are not uncommon in the modern world, their hardwork, determination and industrious innovative investments are inspiring. This is without the fact that the Kikuyu's form the largest ethnic group in Kenya with the widest political and economical representation in Kenya. While on Kenya safari, you will not miss tales of this industrious ethnic group")

Of further startling trait is how Mount Kenya was named. Dr. Edward Krapt was the first white man to see the snow peaks on the equator and by spotting the glaciers of Mt. Kenya from a great distance he was motivated to find out more about the epidode. Curious of such an historic and fulfilling phenomena he asked a Kamba elder of the name of the mountain. Unable to pronounce Kirinyaga, the Kamba elder said Kiinyaa and Krapt translated it as Kenya thus the name upto date.

Mount Kenya is also surrounded by a national park called by the same name. The park, which was inscribed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site in 1997 and is a Biosphere Reserve, covers 715 km2, and includes the Peaks consisting of all the ground above 3200m with two small salients extending lower down to 2450m along the Sirimon and Naro Moru tracks. Surrounding the park is approximately 2095 km2.

The park has incredible attractions such as; Pristine wilderness, lakes, tarns, glaciers and peaks of great beauty, geological variety, forest, mineral springs, rare and endangered species of animals, High altitude adapted plains game, Unique montane and alpine vegetation with 11 species of endemic plants.

The vegetation varies with altitude and rainfall, and there is a rich alpine and sub-alpine flora making the mountain beautiful and live almost to the peaks. Part of the mountain’s fascination is the variation in flora, including Giant Groundsel and Lobelia, and fauna as the altitude changes. The lower slopes are covered with dry upland forest, the true montaine (mountain) forest begins at 2,000m is mainly cedar and podo. At 2,500m begins a dense belt of bamboo forest which merges into the upperforest of smaller trees, interspersed with glades. In this area the trees are festooned with high altitude lichen.
These forest belts are host to many different animals and plants with at least 11 unique species. Game to view includes: Black and White Colobus and Sykes Monkeys, bushbuck, Rock and rock Hyrax, Greater galago, white tailed, buffalo, elephant and lower down Olive Baboon, waterbuck, Black Rhino, black fronted duikers, leopard, giant forest hog, genet cat, bush pig and hyena. More elusive is the bongo, a rare type of forest antelope. A number of other rarer species can be found here: Suni Antelope, Mt. Kenya Mole Rat, skinks (lizard), Montane Viper and a variety of owls. Occasional sightings have been recorded of albino zebra.

Birds are not abundant in the forest. But you can find Crowned hawk eagle and the Jackson's francolin. Rarely can you find the Abyssinian long-eared owl. Birds seen from the lodge include; Green ibis, African black duck, Ayres' hawk eagle, Rufous-breasted and great sparrow hawks, Scaly francolin, Silvery-cheeked hornbill, Hartlaubs turaco, red headed parrot, bronze-naped pigeon, Mackinder's eagle owl, Rupells robin chat.
There are two species of giant Lobelias; the narrow, featherly-leafed lobelia telekii and the broad-leafed lobelia keniensis which are a favorite of sunbirds for their half hidden blossoms or the thin shelled snails that make their home there. Plants also include crocus-like flower; Romuela keniensis, two terrestrial orchids - a Disa and a Habenaria, and an orange flowered gladiolus,Gladiolus Watsonioides. The high altitude heath at the top (3,000 – 3,5000m) is generally open, dotted with shrubs: African Sage, protea and helichrysum. The peak (above 3,500m) is moorland, with little game other than high altitude zebra and eland, common in the northern moorland.
Join us for trekking Mount Kenya, and enjoy this beauty on earth!

Adventure Travel Crew
African Safari desk
Natural Track Safaris

Wilds' of Africa - the remote of a Kenya tour

noreply@blogger.com (Natural Track Safaris) — Sat, 24 Jan 2009 07:59:00 +0000

Many people have described Africa, and others have had dreams that eventually would gladly lift the face of this great continent. Words such as Mysterious, Origin of man, the black continent, wild africa … have been used by scholars and personalities to describe Africa. However, there is nothing that describes Africa better than its diversity and authenticity. … Africa is inexhaustible!

From the northern wondrous pyramids of Egypt to the South African Cape Town, and from the historical monuments of east African coasts of Lamu and Mombasa to the ancient docks of the slave trade triangle in West African coast. All this in simple term translate; "Africa is diverse".

Some of the most amazing characteristics of Africa are the wildlife thrilled savannahs, picturesque sceneries, Mountains, Beautiful Eastern beaches, Lovely people with incredibly diverse culture not to mention the good equatorial climate ideal for relaxing and adventures where summers and winters have no meaning.

The end of 2008 found the African safari desk crew in the interiors the country that many say 'best describes Africa' - Northern Kenya is a vast wild wilderness in its own complex. If you have been to Kenya before and you would like to set a foot back but off the beaten tracks, then northern Kenya would be an ideal place for you. The area is characterized by vast desert with temperatures rising to a height of 40 degrees Celsius and above. You will need to be ready for such high temperatures and off course be a 'tomboy' and young at heart to beat the cold nights.

Northern Kenya is home to one of the most famous but least visited national parks on a Kenya tour list. One of this Kenya's remote national parks is Marsabit. It lies about 560 km from Nairobi, and its best described as 'Kenya's most quiet and remote national park'. It has the scenic and serene Lake Paradise on top of Mt. Marsabit, elephants, Greater Kudu, mountain lions, buffalos and other wildlife. The extensive forest supports animals that would not normally be found in arid northern Kenya. There are elephants, rhinos, lions, leopards, cheetahs, buffaloes, wart hogs, Grevy's Zebra, reticulated giraffes, hyenas and antelopes to mention but a few.

Abundant rare birds are also found within Marsabit National Park. Many water birds hang out at Lake Paradise and a variety of raptors can be seen on the shaggy cliffs and in the treetops. Marsabit National Park was home to Ahmed, an elephant that I earlier told you was given 24-hour protection by a presidential order. Ahmed boasted some of the biggest tusks ever recorded and died at age 55.

Another one of this amazing parks which our crew had a chance visiting is the Sibiloi National Park. It was gazetted in 1973. Sibiloi boasts an international significance as the 'cradle of mankind'. The park teems with fossils, zebras, gazelles and impala. It is near Lake Turkana with its world famous population of crocodiles. The park covers 1570 Km2 of wilderness with scenic landscapes on the shores of Lake Turkana. Sibiloi was partially established through the initiative of the National Museums of Kenya to protect unique prehistoric and archeological sites, some of which are linked to the origin of man. The fossils include a crocodile Euthecodon brumpti, giant tortoise Petusios broadleyi, elephant Elephas recki and the petrified forest. The terrains consist of lake shore, dry semi desert bush and near desert country. The park is waterless apart from the alkaline waters of the lake.

Of the three great parks in this secluded part of Kenya is Malka Mari National Park which was gazetted in 1989 because of its high wildlife concentration. It is located along the Daua River on the Kenya-Ethiopia border in the extreme north east of Kenya on the Mandera plateau. It has a hot and dry climate. The area is largely semi arid bush land and scrubby grassland with riparian woodland and palms along the Daua River. The area is also considered a site for plant endemism. Its main attractions are; Malka Mari fort, hills and valleys. Unfortunately, it has not been developed

The areas in northern Kenya are accessible by air and road although at some points riding on camel form the other only alternative from walking giving you no other better option. The entire escapade is fun for the adventurous hearted and gives inimitable experiences far off the beaten tracks.

Adventure Travel Crew
African Safari desk
Natural Track Safaris

Uganda - A must visit Top 10 attractions

noreply@blogger.com (Natural Track Safaris) — Sun, 30 Nov 2008 09:05:00 +0000

Uganda - A must visit Top 10 attractions

It is almost a month now since our Nature series team launched its wide strides to Uganda. The first write-up on gorilla tracking has been a great welcome to a diverse community in the travel and tourism world. This time round, we have been chasing after a fortune of identifying Uganda's top ten attractions and we found an incredible list of our fortune here!!

1. Kidepo Valley National Park

The Kidepo Valley National Park is one of Uganda's most spectacular parks. It is 1,442 square kilometres and harbor scenery unsurpassed in any other park in East Africa. Tucked into the corner of Uganda's border with Sudan and Kenya, the park offers breathtaking Savannah landscapes, which end in rugged horizon. The vegetation can most excellent be described as open tree Savannah which varies much in structure and composition. Mountain forest dominates some of the high places, while areas along the Lorupei River support dense Acacia geradi forest. The flora and fauna of the park are more typical of Kenya than the rest of Uganda. The landscape throughout the park is studded with small hills, rocky outcrops and inselbergs from which one can obtain stunning views in all directions. The Kidepo Valley National Park was established in the 1960s. Kidepo Valley National Park is a 1436 km² national park in Karamoja region in northwest Uganda. Kidepo is rugged savannah, dominated by the 2750 m Mount Morungole and transected by the Rivers Kidepo and Narus. Perennial water makes River Kidepo an oasis in the semi-desert which hosts over 86 mammal species including lion, cheetah, leopard, bat-eared fox, giraffe - as well as almost 500 bird species.

2. Sipi falls

Sipi Falls is supposedly one of Uganda's most beautiful sights. It is one of the major tourist attractions in Uganda and is about 15 km from Kapchorwa. Sipi Falls is a series of three waterfalls and lie near Kapchorwa, north of Mbale. The waterfalls lie on the edge of Mount Elgon National Park, near Mount Elgon on the Kenyan border.

3. Mt Elgon National Park, Uganda

Mt. Elgon National park is located near Mbale in the Eastern part of Uganda. The park covers 1,145 sq km. It is named after Mt Elgon (4,321m), an extinct Volcanic Mountain that lies on Uganda’s border with Kenya. In the prehistoric times this mountain stood taller than Mt. Kilimanjaro, the highest mountain in East Africa. Though the Mountain is shared by Uganda and Kenya its highest point Wagagai peak (4321m) lies in Uganda. The mountain has got three other major peaks which are Kiongo (4303m), Mubiyi (4210m) and Jackson’s summit (4165m). Mt. Elgon is known locally as Mt. Masaba. Masaba is the name of the founding ancestor of the Bagisu who is said to have emerged from a cave on the slopes several centuries ago. The Park can be accessed by road. The journey takes around 3-4 hours from Kampala along a good tarmac road. Hiking is the major tourism activity. Climbing Mt. Elgon is not so much challenging and therefore can attract both medium climbers and the experienced climbers. From here, you can visit the exquisite Sipi Falls for scenic viewing, Nature walks from Budadiri trailhead. Community visits and participation in Imbalu dances.

4. Tombs of Buganda Kings at Kasubi

The Tombs of Buganda Kings at Kasubi are regarded as the major spiritual centre for the Buganda people, the largest Ugandan ethnic group. They constitute a site embracing almost 30 ha of hillside within Kampala district. Most of the site is agricultural, farmed by traditional methods. At its core on the hilltop is the former palace of the Kabakas of Buganda, built in 1882 and converted into the royal burial ground in 1884. Four royal tombs now lie within the Muzibu Azaala Mpanga, the main building, which is circular and surmounted by a dome. It is a major example of an architectural success in organic materials, principally wood, thatch, reed, wattle and daub. The site's main undertone lies, however, in its indefinable values of belief, spirituality, continuity and identity. Guides at Kasubi lead visitors around the area and into the building, explaining the history of the Baganda and the cultural traditions associated with the tombs.

5. Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

It is known for its exceptional biodiversity, with more than 160 species of trees and over 100 species of ferns. The park is part of the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, and is situated along the Democratic Republic of Congo border next to the Virunga National Park and on the edge of the western Rift Valley. It comprises 331 square kilometres of jungle forests and contains both montane and lowland forest and is accessible only on foot. Many species of birds and butterflies can also be found there, as well as many endangered species, including the mountain gorilla. Bwindi is also an incredible preserve home to some of Africa's most endangered animals. It is a haven for gorilla tracking.

6. Rwenzori Mountains National Park

The Rwenzori Mountains National Park covers nearly 100,000 ha in western Uganda and comprises the main part of the Rwenzori mountain chain, which includes Africa's third highest peak (Mount Margherita: 5,109 m). The region's glaciers, waterfalls and lakes make it one of Africa's most beautiful alpine areas. The park has many natural habitats of endangered species and a rich and unusual flora comprising, among other species, the giant heather.

7. Mpanga National Reserve

This is a government nature reserve 453 hectares in size. Gazette around 50 years ago, the 45km2 Mpanga forest reserve near the small town of Mpigi, lies 37kms west of Kampala on the road to Masaka. It is a compact forest offering a cathedral like atmosphere in which to enjoy fabulous bird watching. The main forest center in 500 m from the main high way and marked by a decorative sign. Visitors are welcome to picnic or camp at the forest center and follow any of the well marked trails to the south of the river. The reserve protects an extensive patch of medium -altitude rainforest, characteristic of the vegetation that once extended over much of the northern lake Victoria Hinterland, but has largely been cleared over the past century due to human activity. Wide footpaths (initially made by researchers) crisscross the forest where Celtis mildbraedii and Bosquieia phoberos form the dominant tree species. The forest is now is now open to public.

8. Mabira Forest reserve

Mabira forest lies along the main highway running from Jinja to Kampala. Its actual location is 54 km from kampala and 20 km from Jinja. The forest centre is on the edge of Najjembe village approximately 500m north of the main road. If you are coming from Kampala, it is signposted to your left before you reach the roadside market at Najjembe. The Mabira forest project was established with help from the European Union. There are 10 forest trails catering for people of all time schedules and abilities with options of both guided and unguided trails. If you are not rushing to the west of Uganda or needing to get to Kampala in a hurry, then consider Mabira Forest – a pleasant backwater and stop over.

9. Lake Victoria, Uganda

While the communities living around the lake have many stories to tell in addition to the lake being a source of living for them, no need to add to what Wikipedia says;

"Lake Victoria or Victoria Nyanza (also known as Ukerewe and Nalubaale) is one of the Great Lakes of Africa. Lake victoria is 3rd biggest lake in the world covering 68,800 square kilometres (26,560 mi²) in size – making it the continent's largest lake, the largest tropical lake in the world, and the second largest fresh water lake in the world in terms of surface area (third largest if one considers Lake Michigan-Huron as a single lake). Being relatively shallow for its size, with a maximum depth of 84 m (276 ft) and a mean depth of 40 m (131 ft), Lake Victoria ranks as the seventh largest freshwater lake by volume, containing 2,750 cubic kilometres (2.2 million acre-feet) of water. It is the source of the longest branch of the Nile River, the White Nile, and has a water catchment area of 184,000 square kilometres (71,040 mi²). It is a biological hotspot with great biodiversity. The lake lies within an elevated plateau in the western part of Africa's Great Rift Valley and is subject to territorial administration by Tanzania, Uganda and Kenya. The lake has a shoreline of 3,440 km (2138 miles), and has more than 3,000 islands, many of which are inhabited. These include the Ssese Islands in Uganda, a large group of islands in the northwest of the Lake that are becoming a popular destination for tourists"

10. The people of Uganda the cultural diversity

The Uganda culture is made up of a dissimilar array of cultural groups. It includes a number of religious groups like Christians, Sikhs and Hindus. People speak in 40 languages out of which Luganda is the most common. Swahili is also used while English is the official language. Literature of Uganda is very rich as well. Many of the regions like Buganda, Bunyoro and Toro had kingdoms of their own. Lake Kyoga forms the northern periphery for the Bantu-speaking peoples, who dominate much of east, central and southern Africa. In Uganda they include the Baganda and several other tribes. In the north live the Lango and the Acholi, who speak Nilotic languages. Iteso and Karamojong who speak a Nilotic language, occupy the east parts of Uganda and few Pygmies live isolated in the rainforests of western Uganda. Each of the tribe is very respectful to their tradition and the culture of Uganda can be best described as a melting pot of diverse cultural practices. The Uganda people are quite hospitable.

Adventure Travel Crew

African Safari Desk

Natural Track Safaris

Gorilla tracking, a lifetime experience

noreply@blogger.com (Natural Track Safaris) — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 13:37:00 +0000

In our nature series this season, our African safari desk has stretched its adventurous strides to Uganda and in the next few episodes; we are going to light our campfire around informative details, news, and facts about this wonderful East African country widely known as – the home of the rare mountain gorillas.

Uganda’s major attraction is the endangered mountain gorilla, the most profoundly built of living primates and among the most peaceable too. Staring into the pondering brown eyes of these calm giants, who share 95% of their genes with humans, is as awe-inspiring as it is exhilarating; no less so, when one realizes that fewer than 700 known individuals survive today. The groups are divided between Bwindi National Park and the Virunga Mountains south west of Congo border.

Within Uganda, there are five habituated Gorilla troops available for viewing – four in Bwindi and one in Mgahinga National Park. The groups have been given local titles which have very interesting meanings. Eight people are permitted per group per day and a total of twenty four people are taken in Bwindi, while eight people are allowed for Mgahinga.

Uganda is also home to man’s closest relative, the chimpanzee, a delightful ape whose evocative pant-hoot call is a definitive sound of the African rainforest. Chimpanzee communities have been habituated for tourism at Kibale Forest, Budongo Forest and Queen Elizabeth National Park’s Kyambura Gorge. There is also a community of orphaned chimps, most of which were confiscated from poachers, and can be visited on Ngamba Island, which lies on Lake Victoria 45 minutes by motorboat from Entebbe.

Of more exhalation is the exceptionally well representation of monkeys in Uganda. Kibale Forest boasts the greatest primate variety and density in East Africa, with five or six species likely to be observed over the course of one afternoon walk. Elsewhere, Mgahinga National Park hosts habituated troops of the rare golden monkey, while Murchison Falls is one of the few East African strongholds for the spindly, plains-dwelling Patas monkey. The fossilized 20-million-year-old bones of Morotopithecus, the earliest-known ancestor of modern apes and humans, were unearthed in the 1960s near Moroto in Eastern Uganda, and are now housed in the National Museum in Kampala.

Tracking Gorillas is one of immensely fascinating and sometimes very emotional experience for many taking safaris in Africa, whilst for others it often fulfils a lifetime ambition. The most famous areas for gorilla tracking are in the Bwindi Impenetrable forest. The best way for a perfect tracking is guided nature walks between Buhoma in the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest and the town of Kisoro via Nkuringo and vice versa.

This experience offers a low cost insiders perspective into village life in rural Uganda highlighting some of the wonders of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest all at your own pace. Gorilla tracking is a very captivating activity; it involves walking in the wilderness in search of these great apes. It can be a challenging activity, therefore ensure physical fitness.

It is paramount to know that the Uganda wildlife authority requires you to have a tracking permit; Booking for all gorilla permits in Bwindi and Mgahinga is done at UWA Headquarters in Kampala. Advance permits are available as early as two years.

Another great encounter is the Chimpanzee tracking. The way they feed, climb trees, respond to humans and the care they show for their young ones, is just phenomenal. Kibale national park, Queen Elizabeth and Murchison falls national park are a haven of Chimpz. I know the fact that Chimpz are 'cousins to humans' is not a new tale to you. For the more adventurers, you can be part of the habituation team that goes in the morning to study the behavior of this primate in order to make them get used to human beings.

Adventure Travel Crew
African safari Desk
Natural Track Safaris

Kenya safari, beyond expectations

noreply@blogger.com (Natural Track Safaris) — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 09:48:00 +0000

Courtesy of Anne Nicholson and Richard James

Kenya is a country that many refer to as 'the real Africa'. The cradle of mankind, the home of diverse ethnicity, contrasts and awesome history, all have also been used to refer to Kenya. No matter your interest, pursuance and motivation, Kenya will have uncountable offers which will turn your expectations to nothing less than a lifetime experience.

One of our last Kenya safari visitors from Liverpool was very impressed when he saw the Crying stones of Maragoli near the famous Kakamega forest – the only remnant of equatorial rain forests in Kenya. On reaching the airport to take his flight back home, the visitor who for the sake of his fame in Europe I will not disclose said "Kenya is a whole world in one country…." He waved and left … the last words I had were, "I will come back with my business partner soon… see you then"

For many decades now, many people from every scope of life worldwide have gained massive interest in Kenya. Key personalities have made their name to appear in the Guinness book of record, won Nobel prizes while others have featured in global headlines by setting foot to explore this 'paradise'.

Last week Richard James and Anne Nicholson were in their first time safari in Kenya. Amazingly, what they thought of Africa before then was totally different from the kind of Africa they saw in Kenya. From delicious international cuisines to attractions, beautiful sceneries, wildlife, amazingly hospitable people, beautiful cities and towns e.t.c, all depicted untold African safari experience. Anne and James had a chance to have lunch at the famous carnivore restaurant – a world re-known joint for all selection of game meat and uncountable international and African delicacies. I might not tell the experience better than Anne and James, but I know even to them, words cannot explain this life time experience.

It would not be a sheer tribute if I say "Whoever goes to Kenya has a legacy and an inimitable myriad story to tell" but at least I have Anne and Richard as witnesses among many many others. Many have experienced these African safari dreams, while others only hear

On another arena....
Kenya now boast of world class national parks, well improved infrastructures and hospitable communities, following massive developments that are in place in line with Kenya's vision 2030. If you have been to Kenya recently, you will bare me witness that the roads have greatly improved, Nairobi – the capital has even become better and electricity is reaching even the very rural places. The only issue however is most of the new roads don’t have road signs (ha ha ha!), hope they will be in place soon the roads are complete with carpeting.

News flash......

A funnier thing is that, Kenya is now home to the oldest pupil in the world, the man by name Kimani Maruge. Maruge has entered the Guinness book of records after joining elementary (primary) school class one at the age of 78 years. He comes from Eldoret a few miles from Cherangani hills and Iten where most of the Kenya's world best athletes come from and where most go for high attitude training.

Jambo! na Kwaheri!

Adventure Travel Crew

African safari desk

Natural Track Safaris

African Elephants … the amazing encounters

noreply@blogger.com (Natural Track Safaris) — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 06:03:00 +0000

(A tale from African safari experiences)

Elephants are the most interesting animals in the world in addition to them being the largest animal living on dry land today. Having grown up in Africa, I have had enormous scenarios and amazing encounters with African elephants, but my desire for more and more encounters is voracious. Today I will tell you untold stories and incredible encounters with elephants in Africa and off course some implausible facts. Join me…..

In one African experience, we were sited around a campfire in one of my safaris in Kenya that worked out so well. The night was characterized by clear skies, lions roar and hyenas human like laughter. The night jars whistled and bats flapped their wings as they hovered in the air. The story of Ahmed - the Kenya's most famous Elephant was being aired by our guide as everyone nodded in awe. We all wished it didn't end, but our joy was we would visit Marsabit national reserve in a few days time.

The day we rose up in Marsabit national reserve was awesome. The reserve is characterized by forested mountains which rise like an oasis in what otherwise would be a desert boondocks. Although the reserve is home to some of the largest elephants in Kenya, it is only Ahmed who enjoyed twenty four hour surveillance from presidential order. Ahmed was preserved and now stands a national monument, displayed at the Nairobi national museums in Kenya. He died at the age of fifty five.

One of the other spectacles in Marsabit national reserve is the crater lakes. Despite being surrounded by a vast abscond wilderness; the beauty of these lakes is far ahead moving imagination. The reserve has three crater lakes which provide habitat to a variety of birdlife. One of the three – called lake paradise is the most scenic and famous from the early films and writings of Martin Johnson and Vivien de Wattville.

Of even amusing stature is the Tsavo national park. This magnificent wildlife thrilled paradise lies on the southern east Kenya, just a few hours drive to the famous, sun-baked white-sanded beaches of the Kenyan coast. Tsavo was crowned home to man eaters' mane less lion in early 1900 to 1920. The lions killed countless Asians, Africans and Europeans who by then worked on the construction of Kenya Uganda railway.

Tsavo is also known to have been theatre of the greatest elephant slaughter in Kenya, all in the name of poaching for ivory. As a result, the elephants developed a wretched tendency towards human being. When they saw vehicles or hear the sounds of running engines, they would run away and hide in he think bushes. That was in the 60s and 70s. However, this has now stopped and the new generation is more calm and human friendly. If you get to Tsavo you will be amazed to see 'brown' elephants. This is as a result of brown mad bathes they take from the pools of water in park.

As I conclude let me share with you what I consider to be the most amazing facts about the elephants, an animal that ranks high on any visitors African safari itinerary; Elephants stomp when they walk and sleep standing up while baby elephants sometimes lie down to sleep. Elephants bathe. Sometimes they spray dirt on themselves or bathe in mud to get the parasites off. Elephants weigh about 10,000 pounds. It would take 250 students to add up to 10,000 pounds. They cool off by fanning their ears. This cools the blood in their ears and that blood goes to the rest of their body and cools off the elephant.

Only grown up ladies and their babies live in the herds, the bull elephants leave the herd when they are 12 years old. They fight with their tusks and they eat grass and bark of trees. The longest recorded fight between two elephants was recorded at 10 hours and 56 minutes.

During the wet season they eat things low to the ground while during the dry season they use their trunk to gather food from trees and bushes. They suck up water into their trunks and shoot it into their mouths. Elephants need lots of room to roam and eat. They can reach 24mph for short distances.

The elephant heart weights about 22kg and circulates about 450 liters of blood. Inner "cleaning" is performed by a 77kg liver. To drink its 11 litres of water at a time, the elephant uses its trunk which weighs about 113kgs while its 12kg tongue helps in swallowing.

The approximately 250kg food eaten every day passes through 18m of intestines which is eventually processed into about 100kg of elephant dung per day. Elephants only digest about 40% of what they eat, and therefore, they need to spend two-thirds of every day eating. They 'release' 2000 litres per day.

A skin of an elephants can weighs 450-750 kg, while the tail as heavy as 11kgs. It is estimated that an area of fifty square kilometers is filled with particular elephant "call" in infrasound. This might increase to about three hundred square kilometers at dusk due to lower temperatures. An elephant's gestation (conception to birth) is 23 months.

An elephant’s eyes are very small in relation to its head. The eye contains very few photoreceptors and they cannot see very well further than a few hundred feet. However, this never hinders their speed, for instance a herd ambles at about 4 miles per hour and can charge at more than 25 miles per hour. It's important to note that Elephants cannot run or jump however; they walk very fast and climb. Elephants can swim considerable distances. In deep water they hold their trunks above the water like periscopes.

An elephant’s trunk is the most versatile of all mammalian creations being used as a nose, arm, hand and multipurpose tool. It is powerful enough to kill a lion with a single swipe, yet the finger-like lobes at the end are proficient enough to pluck a feather from the ground. The trunk is boneless, and is composed of an estimated 40 000 muscles. The tusks are elongated upper incisor teeth, which grow continuously throughout the elephant’s life. They are not always an exact match, as this depends on which side they favor much like left and right-handed humans.

An elephant’s ears are covered with lots of veins, which form distinct and unique patterns adept enough to identify individuals - much like human fingerprints. Elephant's ears are packed with blood vessels, and when flapped, they quickly lower the animal’s body temperature. This swiftly circulating blood is cooled by about 15 degrees Fahrenheit while in the elephant’s ear.

In Africa, the elephants are called Jumbos and in Kenya, you can't afford to miss the tale of 'Ahmed', the celebrity of all elephant to have ever lived on earth. Visit Kenya today and learn how Ahmed became a national monument.

Adventure Travel Crew
African Safari desk
Natural Track Safaris

Camping safari .... a perfect choice

noreply@blogger.com (Natural Track Safaris) — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 09:13:00 +0000

(As told by Lior and Kristine)

Africa and Kenya in particular has earned a remarkable share in the world of safaris. Safari is a Swahili word meaning travel and Kenya boasts the pioneer-ship of safaris in the world.

Safaris are packaged in diverse ways in Africa, but it is in Kenya where African safaris trace their roots of origin. Although safaris have gone through a massive revolution, the authenticity of safaris in Kenya has remained unscathed for decades. One of the incredible revolutions that Kenya safaris have experienced is the camping safari.

Lior and Kristine had a lifetime experience camping in Kenya. The couple had a whole eight days exploring the magnificent beauty of Kenya. Setting foot in Kenya, they proceed to the famous Maasai Mara. The breathtaking plains spotted with ever green shrubs and scattered acacia, swarm the greatest global spectacle – the wildebeest migration. Mara gained its esteem from the Big cat dairy featured at BBC and lots of other innumerable documentaries and photographic events, but it is the migration that saw Mara rise to one of the seventh wonder of the world.

From Mara, they proceed to Lake Nakuru national park where the picturesque flamingo birds turn the skies pink. Known as a the bird watchers paradise, the park has turned out to be a tale of success in conserving two endangered ungulates – the Black and white rhinos and the Rothschild giraffes. Kristine and Lior had fun! fun!! fun!!! photographing and viewing wildlife, birds and sceneries at close proximity.

Conversely, their paramount incident was the trekking day. We got to Menengai crater in time and all set; we started trekking up the crater. As we went up we could see the horizons interspersed with hills and trees. The sky was clear and the morning sun kept the moist dew glowing.

After a successful hike to the top of the crater, we proceed to Hells gate national park. Here, the trek takes place in a gorge. The gorge is perceived to resemble the 'tunnels of hell' due their seemingly endless facades. To reach the central tower photo site, we had to pass two rock barriers. The first one is slippery and around 2.5 meters high and the other one is around 12 feet. After a great courage, Kristine climbed and we all managed to reach the photo site. It was incredibly rewarding for Lior and Kristine especially the photos bearing the central tower backdrop.

Although I didn’t accompany Lior and Kristine to Samburu national reserve, I heard acknowledgment of their immense experience there. Samburu is a reserve comparable to none in Kenya. It is in Samburu where you will find the grevy's zebra, reticulated giraffe and the gerenuk gazelle. Lior and Kristine camped near the famous Ewaso nyiro river rich with Hippos and African crocodiles.

Lior and Kristine are now in Uganda, but they still hold to it that their camping safari in Kenya was indeed a perfect choice. Thanks to Elizabeth of Natural Track Safaris who did all within her reach to ensure Lior and Kristine camping in Kenya was a success. Kudos! Peter, the driver guide …that was a job well done.

Natural Track Safaris has received testimonials world over for arranging unique and precise African safaris tailor made to suit all safari needs. Nonetheless camping safari through natural track has proved itself way above any other in Kenya.

Next time, you can be the one reading about your safari in our articles just like Lior and Kristine.

Kwaheri ya kuonana!

Adventure Travel Crew
African Safari desk
Natural Track Safaris

Snow in Rift Valley... is it another Wonder in Kenya?

noreply@blogger.com (Natural Track Safaris) — Sat, 06 Sep 2008 07:31:00 +0000

The Tuesday evening of 2^nd September 2008 will be carried down in the history of Kenya meteorology. The Great Rift Valley formed the jumbo theatre of what residents of Gakingi village will keep to remember for decades. What started as a usual evening downpour, suddenly turned out to be a real climatic reversal……

Hailstones, snowballs, ice crystals, snow, sleet, solid rain…… name them, were the terms used to describe this dramatic event which brought almost all Kenya into a situate tranquil. And, on Wed 3^rd all was in the headlines ‘snow in Nyahururu!’ the region has now become a unique attraction for short-timed tours in Kenya for the residents.

Kenya has for long time been habituated to a tropical weather conditions therefore, the Nyahururu ‘snow fall’ on Tuesday evening would easily be mistaken to a start of ‘Kenya Alps’. The snow covered an area of almost 200 hectares with a depth of 10 inches.

Excited residents of Gakingi had their pleasurable affair as they played with the snow that struck their village after an evening downpour. Whatever title used to refer to this event was of miniature significance to them - all what they know is that it was ‘Mbarafu’ (snow) and Kenya sasa ni kama ulaya (Kenya is like abroad) like to say "Kenya has not been locked out by mother nature"

Nyahururu is located in the eastern warp of the Great Rift Valley. It is in Nyahururu where the great ancient British explorer Sir. Thomson with his German counterpart Sir. Fischer’s discovered the Nyahururu water fall in early 90s. The water fall was later named after Thomson 'Thomson's fall' and it forms a pleasant stop over for many safaris in Kenya. Fischer’s on the other hand was rewarded in Naivasha where a tall rocky outcrop in Hells gate national park was named after him.

Although many theories have come up from a diversity of sources explaining what could be the most possible cause of this ‘snow fall’, effects of global warming should be given a priority. What happened in Nyahururu on Tuesday should not be taken lightly. The event shows how evident the effects of global warming have become significantly unpredictable and perilous. The whole world should take the Nyahururu event as a case study of how unpredictable the magnitudes of global warming effects are.

Adventure Travel Crew

African safari Desk

Natural Track Safaris

Best moments: Czech meets Kenya at Elsamere

noreply@blogger.com (Natural Track Safaris) — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 07:56:00 +0000

It's amazing how history carries its lure beyond human indulgence. It works like magic, thriving all the emotions, perceptions and feelings beyond imagination. It also fosters culture and brings strong bonds even among the most diverse ethnicities. It is this history that made Tomas Mareth and party from Czech Republic feel part and parcel of Kenya. History made it easy for them to feel 'at home away from home'. In Kenya they got the history magic …...

Tomas Mareth and party were in their long anticipated African safari. The safari was to take eleven days on tour in Kenya and then reach its best moments in the white sand sun-baked beaches of the Kenyan coast.

The first activity was climbing Mount Kenya. This saw them ascend the premier peak of the equator also famous as – the only snow capped point on the equator - that is according to early explorer Dr. Ludwig Krapf. Sirimon route was the best for them and on the fourth day, they enjoyed the fantastic view of sunrise at Lenana.

The journey to the peak requires an adventurers' heart. From the gate you pass through the rain forest where some trees are unimaginably huge from where you traverse the mangrove forest before reaching 'Old Moses' camp. The second day is even more tasking and involving. 'Think of hiking a distance of 22 kilometers having to pass through rough terrains, boggy soil, and crossing rivers and 'swamps'. All this happen at an attitude above 3000 meters above sea level. It might sound tiresome and involving, but amazingly, the whole journey turns out to be very interesting and rewarding

Unlike 'Cocacola' (Marangu) route in Kilimanjaro where one walks on gradually outlined paths, Sirimon route takes you through great valleys and rocky outcrops. Among the valleys is Makinda, the longest valley in Mt. Kenya which finds its source slightly below the three peaks (Batian, Nelion and Lenana)

When Mareth learnt about Joy Adamson history and how close they were from the jungles in which the famous born free documentary was filmed he was very impressed. He consulted with the group and enquired whether it was possible to have them pass by Joy and George Adamson's museum. "Yes! It's possible". I said.

When the day came to start their African safari, all the arrangements were in order and now it was confirmed by Peter the driver guide that they would pass through Elsa-mere where the Museum is located.

All this time, I had not known why Mareth and the party were so much interested in visiting any trace of Joy Adamson until I learnt it later at the airport …..

Joy Adamson was born in Troppau, Silesia, Austria-Hungary (now Opava Czech Republic – the home country of Tomas and party). She was born Friederike Victoria Gessner as the second of the three daughters (Traute, her and Dorle) of Victor and Traute Gessner who later divorced while she was still a young girl.

Joy married three times in a span of ten years after her first love affair left her heartbroken. She got the name 'Joy' as a nickname from botanist Peter Bally who she got married to as the second husband after World War II making it her first marriage in Africa.

Joy met her third husband George Adamson while on a Kenya safari and they made a home in Kenya. It is while with George that she (Joy) did what turned to be a global legacy.

Tomas told me that in 'Opava', there still stand a house where Joy spent her childhood with her grandma' who she called 'Oma'.

At Elsa mere, Tomas and Party came live with what two decades ago formed a normal lifestyle of Joy Adamson in Africa.

Adventure Travel Crew

Natural Track Safaris

African safaris

African Safari: The safaris of the season

noreply@blogger.com (Natural Track Safaris) — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 13:11:00 +0000

The peak season of tourism in Kenya has this time been dramatic like no other in the recent past. Many visitors from many countries feared the worst as a result of post election violence that seized Kenya early this year. However, this is a gone case and Kenya is safe, peaceful and a great destination. Altogether, the new Kenya offers more than ever. If you are among those who cancelled their trips to Kenya or changed to a different destination, pole Sana! You missed big time.

Peter and James, (our guides) have just completed two of the most unique and dramatic African safari of the season. They came back and narrated their experiences to African Safari desk of Natural Track Safaris. This is what they had to say;-

"It has been long since I handled a camping safari, but this one had its uniqueness" says James. "Ilikuwa mzuri sana, tulifurahi" adds James in Swahili.

James started his narration by giving me a hand written testimonial from the clients. At first, I thought it was a note from Mara Simba Lodge (Where the guests spent their nights in Masai Mara) but it wasn't. The opening remarks of the recommendation gave a picture of a happy writer who wrote in great hurry. I quote;

"Dear James, Winnie and all the members of Natural Track Safaris, We are YAIR, GALIT, OFRI, YONATHAN and TAMIR – Family from ISRAEL want to thank you a lot for the special, great safari trip in Kenya. James our guide was excellent and did for us everything with love ad kindness. Thank you for the food, Lodges, tents, help and wonderful world in Kenya. We hope many groups from all over the world will choose like us to take a good time in Kenya with you. we have been in many places in the world, YAIR is a tourist guide for many years and we know that you, all of you – James, Winnie, Sami and others are very special, professional persons and leaders……………" (See this full original scanned copy of this on the testimonials section of our website http://www.natural-track.com)

Personally, I met this family on their 4th day – the day they were doing a trek in Menengai crater and Hells gate in Naivasha. Both treks were fantastic.

According to James, this group was the luckiest in the jungles, for instance, in Samburu; they saw gerenuk gazelle (the browsing antelope) few meters from the park entrance. The camp was fantastic and the food that Sammy (the safari cook) made was comparable to none.

The morning game drive was climaxed by a unique episode – two lionesses were closing the Ewaso Nyiro River. Of even great interest was how these two lionesses were able to swim through the mighty waters of Ewaso nyiro. This family had also a chance to visit the local people to have an authentic African taste – the traditional Samburu community gives a real experience of unspoiled African culture and tradition, a heritage that has been passed to many generations. It is the Samburu's who have very close similarities with the famous Maasai community in Kenya.

Lake Nakuru national park was the next destination. To get here, they drove through the recently constructed all weather roads through Nanyuki (where the rail builders said enough is enough) and passing through beautiful sceneries and landscapes on the slopes of the Africa's second highest mountain – Mt. Kenya. I have no words to explain the joy that this family had while at Thomson's falls – a re-known attraction along this route named after ancient explorer.

Now they are in Lake Nakuru. It is here that, this lucky family saw one of the most endangered games in the world – The black rhino. In fact, they saw two of them. Unbelievable! James also told me that they saw the white rhinos, Rothschild giraffes, buffaloes, common zebras not forgetting the great spectacular view of millions of flamingos, great white pelicans and the marabou stocks at the mouth of Njoro River. .

"Basically, the whole safari was fun. I might not be able to tell the most fulfilling encounters that this family had, but I can remember baboon cliff, Menengai, hells gate and Mara were more than interesting for them" says James.

On the last day – the family was scheduled to fly back to Israel but lol! – there occurred an incidence that made them to reschedule. They lost there bag that had all their five passports and money. For many tour operators, this could have been a nightmare as they would shun off emergencies but thanks to Natural Track – it knows no surprises. Peter, Winnie and the entire company mobilized all the resources that seemed necessary and of help to the emergency and within two days; the passports were found, new air tickets got and the family flew back to Israel safely.

Whatever happened to them on the last day cannot be compared to the memory these family carried back to Israel. Thanks to all.

Peter and his group on the other hand, had a different story, characterized by confidence, risks, determinations and great virtues. I will tell you about; Lynda and Roger

After missing her flight from Heathrow, Lynda had to take a different flight to connect with Roger in Nairobi. On reaching Nairobi at around 9 am, she queued the long line to get her luggage, lol! It was not there. Still more, there was some mis-information about the exact time that Lynda was to arrive at the airport. I mean the representative who was to pick Lynda from the airport for briefing and transfer to the hotel came way too early only to be told that Lynda was to arrive at noon, that flight got delayed. So she went back to prepare a come back at noon.
By the time Lynda got to the airport at 9 am, it was three hours from the time the representative was told that she (Lynda) would arrive. The great confidence to Lynda, I suppose was to know that Roger was already in Nairobi for he had arrived a day before. Good enough, she could remember the name of the hotel. So, she took a taxi which drove her to the hotel where Winnie (the representative) joined them later.

The big dilemma came on the first day of the safari – Lynda was to choose between, safari and the luggage. Thanks to Winnie who promised to do the later for Lynda. And by the time Lynda reached Nairobi from Amboseli, her luggage was just a call away. Winnie was very helpful to Lynda and more so to Roger, whose safari could not be a success without Lynda.

Now Lynda has her luggage and joy fills them all. Peter (the guide) shared the merry as they drove to Samburu; he said the journey to Samburu from Nairobi seemed 'fupi' (shorter) than other times. I suppose he learnt the joy magic.

Getting the luggage was Lynda's great joy and marked a new beginning of many things including the safari itself. I met Lynda and roger at Menengai where we did a trekking and proceeded to Hells gate for a caving and rock climbing challenge. It was worth a challenge going in and out of 'Hell'

From Naivasha, they proceeded to the picturesque Mara and then to the white sun baked beaches of Mombasa. If they will share with me the experiences they had in Whitesands, which am sure were great, then I will seek their permission to share it with you – but for now ………

Adios amigo!!

Adventure Travel Crew
Natural Track Safaris
African Safari Desk

Kenya safari: the fate of Rhinos

noreply@blogger.com (Natural Track Safaris) — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 08:41:00 +0000

In the beginning of this nature series of African safari and what to expect on a safari, I promised to give all the information you need for an African safari. I hope the last two advances have been of great help to you.

Now let's get to this season ……. suppose I ask you a question, "How close have you ever got to a rhino?

In Africa today, the fight for growth of the rhino population is an everyday activity since it was declared an endangered species. Kenya has put up big efforts financially to see to it that rhinos and their habitats have been safe guarded.

It is for this reason that I had to participate in one of the greatest ungulate translocation which took place in Kenya. Kenya Wildlife Service, a body with the mandate of protecting all Kenyan wildlife heritages was spearheading the event. All efforts were geared towards refurbishing of Meru national park and I was glad to be of help in the action.

Due to the intensive tasks involved in translocation, much skills and labor was needed with specific skills required for animal handling.

Rhinos are wonderful animals to look at and even more thrilling when you have an opportunity to get close enough to smell them.

The translocation gave me a great opportunity to observe a rhino at the closest point, touch its hairs on the wrinkled skin, lean on the horn, and see the difference in the mouth shapes and so much more.

Closer look ……
Rhino belongs to the family Rhinoceroteridae with five species placed in four genera. Three of these species are found in south-central Asia and the other two live in Africa south of the Sahara. It is in this region you'll find Kenya, where rhinos inhabit savannahs, shrubby regions and occasionally the dense forests.
Rhino's problem has been its beauty, the horn which is made of keratin (a substance found in human hair and nails). Powdered Rhino horn has been used extensively in traditional medicine in Asia and to make ornamental dagger handles by the Yemen men. The demand is so great that traders are prepared to pay poachers vast sums to kill rhinos for their horns. Because of these, Rhinos have faced wholesale slaughter which led to their unimaginable decline and sweep off in Meru national park in 70's.
To stop these abuse, governments and bodies such as Save the Rhino teamed up together to halt the abusive. Thanks to them, the overall decline of the rhino has been halted, and populations in Africa are beginning to stabilize.
Interesting…….
Now that I hold a 'legacy' of moving rhinos, allow me to quickly share something interesting about African rhino species.
As mentioned earlier, we have two rhino species in Africa namely the black and white rhinos. These two African species live in more open areas than do the Asian species. Their habitat has to generally have access to water, as they usually drink everyday. The white rhinos have a preference of feeding low to the open grounds whereas the black rhino usually browse on leaves and have a tendency to stay hidden. They have been noted to be more active in the evening, through the night and in early morning, spending their days resting in heavy cover.

In general……
The history of the rhino can be traced back to 45 million years ago. The Baluchitherium, an ancestor of the Indian rhino, was the largest land mammal that ever lived. It was 18 feet high and 36 feet long and lived over 20 million years ago.
Rhinos sleep in both standing and laying positions and love to wallow in muddy pools and sandy riverbeds. They penetrate dense thickets by shear force, often leaving behind a trail that other animal's later use. Rhinos run with a cumbersome motion, reaching top speed at a canter. They can, however, attain speeds of up to 45 km per hour for short distances. Basically the black rhino is more solitary and territorial except for the mother-child unit.
Rhinos usually have 1-2 horns. Their horns are dermal growths originally composed of compressed keratin. Both hind and forefeet have 3 digits with a small hoof. They are known to have poor eye sight but strong hearing and smell. The tough and wrinkled skin has very few scattered hairs and the tail ends with stiff bristles.

Breeding……
Female rhinos give birth every 2 years to a single calf, which is active soon after birth and the calf remains with the mother until the next offspring is born. Gestation period is 420-570 days while sexual maturity is reached at 7-10 years for bulls and 4-6 years for cows.They have a life span of up to 50 years.

Groups of adult cows or bachelor bulls are sometimes formed, however, and during the mating season pairs of rhinos may stay together for up to 4 months. Rhinos mark their territories with urine and by dropping their dung in well-defined piles that can reach up to 1 m in height. They often furrow the areas around these piles with their horns and make the piles even more conspicuous.

The black rhino has a wide vocal range and can possibly communicate like an elephant,
through frequencies below the range of human hearing. Breathing is an important part of communication. Unlike the white rhino-calf, the black rhino calf normally runs behind its mother.
Current standing & population
There were an estimated 20,000 black rhino in Kenya in the 1970s. By 1982 the population was reduced to fewer than 400. Since then, their number has increased and now stands at over 450. The number in fenced areas has risen at an average rate of four percent each year when the conditions are good. Since 1984 the Kenyan government has pursued an active program devoted to the recovery of Kenya’s black rhino, with efforts centering on the development of specially protected or fenced sanctuaries on government and private land, such as Lewa.

Rhino populations under custodianship both on private land (Solio Ranch) and in some
State-run areas (such as Nairobi and Nakuru National Park) have provided set up for new populations (including reintroducing animals into an electrified-fence sanctuary inside the KWS-run Tsavo West and Meru National Parks). The private sector thus plays an important part in the conservation of rhino in Kenya and currently supplies many of the animals being used to restock state parks.

Kenya is currently the stronghold of the Eastern African subspecies Diceros bicornis michaeli, a home to about 88 % of the population in 1995. Like South Africa and Namibia, Kenya is doing translocation to set up new populations while aiming to ensure that donor populations
remain productive. The public plight of the black rhino has attracted support from many different areas.

Today, scientists are formulating a method of «fingerprinting» rhino horn based on the nutrient content of each specific rhino conservation area. This will enable them to pinpoint the area a rhino came from, its family group, and even its preferred diet. It is also an important step toward eradicating poaching, as scientists will be able to determine where a rhino was when it was killed.

Today we stop here …… until next issue

Adios amigo

Adventure travel crew
African safaris
Natural Track

African Safari: The world's tallest mammal

noreply@blogger.com (Natural Track Safaris) — Sat, 02 Aug 2008 07:13:00 +0000

If you have been following this series on the African wildlife Experience and what to expect in your African safari then here is some more great stuff for you. Our nature series this season was features on an informative yet interesting coverage on the Leopard, but a Cranston, a photographer whose love for nature is unending, had a wonderful time in Lake Nakuru and Amboseli national parks heightened us differently.

Right now as I speak, I am in Kenya, a country that is perceived as; a wonderland of treasures, the cradle of mankind and the land of contrasts. The greatest wonder of the world is now on as I had told you earlier in the migration update and many visitors from all over the world are streaming to Maasai Mara to have the first-hand glimpse. Am talking about, the wildebeest migration.

I know you might be wondering why I have to say all this stuff instead of going directly to my point. Well! If I were a psychiatrist, I would have told you "……… this is important as well" of which it is. But my main point here is to prepare you on what to expect when in a safari.
If your expectation of seeing the big five or monster lizard or even some specific species of birds are met, there is always more to see and to learn. Kenya as I said offers a diversity of attractions. That’s what this series is about, so that you can know what Kenya and its diversity has to offer.

This time we will talk about what's interesting about the world's tallest living mammal encoutered alot on African safaris.
The giraffe is the world’s tallest terrestrial animal. It's one of the most amazing animals especially because of the long neck that makes it sometimes cumbersome and prone to a couple of problems that we shall see as we proceed.

These African ruminant mammals, Giraffa Camelopardalis, live in open savannahs south of the Sahara and have only one family member, the Okapi. The reticulated giraffes are handsomely patterned in golden browns, with a coarsely netted (reticulated) pattern mainly quadrangular in shape. Males and females have stiff manes along their necks and both sexes have horn-like structures called ossicones on top of their heads between their ears. These ossicones are present at birth in the form of small knobs of cartilage covered with skin and hair which becomes bony nodules with age, and fuse to the skull with time.

Giraffes are widely spread in Africa and Kenya in particular. As Cranston witnessed, it's easy to spot the three species of giraffes in this part of the world.
It amazes to know that giraffes despite being the tallest mammal have seven vertebrae in their neck, the same with man and most other mammals. Only that the vertebrae are much bigger. The tail measures up to one yard with a terminal tuft of stiff, black hair.
They have long tongues that measure 18-21 inches long. The inner part of the tongue is pink in color, and then changes to a purplish-black color for the last 6 inches that are commonly visible. ……… I wish you see them browse on the acacias.

A quick look at the adaptations of the Giraffe
Giraffes have long legs and neck, long, tough, prehensile tongue, and leathery mouth for food gathering. Their coloration is protective. They are tall with good eyesight for watchfulness. Giraffes have high blood pressure (240/160) for pumping blood to the brain. Herds are small and loosely constructed of 5-15 individuals, consisting of one bull with females and young. Other bulls are solitary or in pairs.

Another interesting thing about the giraffe is that they usually sleep standing up for only 1-12 minutes. Going for a month without water is also possible as an adaptation to long drought periods in their native areas.
Giraffe is browsing ruminant that eats regularly throughout the day, they prefer young leaves and shoots at tops of acacia trees which sometimes ends up shaping the regularly visited trees. They prefer to drink regularly, but can go without water for several days and can run up to 35 mph. Predators are leopards (prey on young), lions, and man. Giraffes kick with their hooves and slam with their heads.

Off springs.....
Giraffes are non-seasonal breeders, usually producing one calf after a gestation period of 14-15 months. Newborn giraffe calves begin their lives by falling up to about 6 feet to the ground, and weight 87-107 lbs. They become sexually mature between 3 and 4 years of age and have a life span of about 25 years and up to 30 in captivity. Full body size is not reached until five years of age.

It is interesting to note that...
The carotid artery that carries blood from the heart to the head is thick, muscular and elastic, ballooning when the giraffe stoops to absorb increase in pressure. When the giraffe raises its head, a series of check valves in the inch-wide jugular vein prevents a sudden back flow from the head, emptying the brain. They are most vulnerable to predators when drinking or lying down. They may see red-orange, yellow-green, purple, green and blue as colors. Their scientific name means "camel-leopard-like one who walks swiftly." Their spot patterns are as individual as fingerprints. They are among the very few mammals that cannot swim at all.
Head/shoulder length is approximately 13' for the male. Shoulder height is 8-12', overall height 15-19' and Weight is 1,100-2,800 lbs.

Giraffe’s have a variety of sounds but they are rarely heard. They may grunt of snort when alarmed, females may whistle to call their young, and calves can bleat
There are more to learn and see in the giraffe especially the walking style but, I won't tell you now until you make arrangements to see them. Almost every large park and reserve in Kenya has at least one species. But for you, I would recommend you take a safari to Samburu and see the most beautiful of the three and then proceed to Lake Nakuru and see the largest of the three yet the most endangered. From there you can voyage to Amboseli or Mara and take pleasure in the look of the Kenyan named Maasai giraffe. An extension to the coastal beaches of Kenya is fare as well…….

Next time we look on the leopard, probably the most beautiful cat ………… Join me then!!

Adventure Travel Crew
African Safari Desk
Natural Track

African Safari: The pioneers of Migration

noreply@blogger.com (Natural Track Safaris) — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 06:54:00 +0000

Adventure travel crew
Natural Track Safaris

There are three species of Zebra occurring in Africa today. An African safari in East Africa reveals two of them . Burchels zebra, (also known as Common or Plains Zebra) is the most widespread in East Africa occurring mainly on the lower part of Equator. The other one is Grevy's Zebra (named for Jules Grevy, a president of France in the 1880s who received one from Abyssinia as a gift). It is the most common in the northern Kenya on the upper side of Equator. The third species, Equus zebra, is the mountain zebra, found in southern and southwestern Africa. The Burchell's (plains) have for along time flagged off one of the new seven wonder of the world in Maasi Mara, Kenya 'The Wildebeest migration'

As one of the great survivors, Zebras have excellent eyesight, a keen sense of smell and are capable of running 40 mph. Every zebra has its own pattern of stripes (which makes it easier for researchers). Zebra belong to the family Equidae, hoofed animals characterized by one toe. This includes all horses and horse-like animals of the world. This single hoof is probably an adaptation for fast motion on hard ground.

The stripes help them confuse predators by making it hard for them to single out any one of them while in motion. They also interfere with the depth perception of predators. Although there is no color variation between the sexes, plains zebras do vary in color and pattern across their range. Moving from the north to the south of this specie's range, there is a tendency for the stripes on the hindquarters to become less well defined. They have long jaws, so that when they are grazing, their eyes are still high enough to watch for predators. With eyes located on the side of their head, zebras have a much wider field of vision. They require constant water supplies and they need to drink every day.

Habitat...
Zebras inhabit open, grassy plains or well-grassed woodlands. They can also be found on mountain slopes up to 14,500 feet (4,420 m). Existing wild species include the Asian wild horse, Asian and African wild asses, and zebras (found only in Africa). Species of zebra include the Grevy’s zebra the mountain zebra , the extinct quagga zebra and the plains (Damara or Burchell) zebra named after naturalist W. J. Burchell.
Zebras are extremely social animals that share their range with a wide variety of other grazers and browsers, particularly wildebeest, kongoni, gazelles, Oryx and other antelopes. They live throughout eastern and southern Africa. Their home ranges vary in size from 12-240 square miles (31-622 sq. km).
Plains zebra rely almost totally on a variety of grasses, along with some additional browse like leaves and twigs.

Reproduction.....
In the nature females reach reproduction maturity in 2-4 years. Males are able to compete for mares after they reach about 4 years of age. When gathering females for breeding, rival stallions compete fiercely by kicking and biting. Once a male establishes a harem, ownership of that harem is rarely disputed, unless he is unfit. The gestation period of a zebra is about 12 months. Since a mare may come into estrus within days of giving birth, she can conceive almost yearly.
The female gives birth to usually one foal, as twins are rare. At birth, a foal weighs about 70 pounds (32 kg), can stand almost immediately and run within a day. Although a foal may graze within a week of birth, they continue to suckle for up to 16 months. The average juvenile mortality is about 50%, mostly due to predation by lions and spotted hyena.

Life Cycle..
Plains zebra are social animals. Although they may live alone, they usually form bachelor groups and small families of 5-20 animals, consisting of a dominant male, mares and offspring. These zebras can either be sedentary or migratory; their lifestyle is dependent on the availability of food. Where food is mostly plentiful year-round, such as the Ngorongoro Crater in Tanzania, they lead a sedentary life. In seasonally dry areas like the Serengeti of Tanzania, small families of plains zebra gather to form large herds that migrate in search of food. Staying together as a family group within large herds, they migrate up to 500 miles (805 km) per year during their circular trek to and from the Serengeti Plains. Of interest, it is the responsibility of an adult male (often the oldest), to guide the family as they move from area to area and ensure that they never wander too far from water.Plains zebra are noisy and restless animals, probably because of predators. They have a distinctive call, which may be described as a frequently repeated barking whinny. Their whinny is more similar to a donkey whinny than a horse whinny. At night, families gather together while one family member remains awake to look out for predators
Special note on Grevy's Zebra.

The social organization of the Grevy‘s zebra is very different to that of the Burchell‘s. Grevy‘s follow a territorial system which is adapted to arid environments where resources are patchily distributed. Breeding males stake out territories of between 7-12 square kilometers, containing water and grazing resources which they will defend for up to seven years. As non-lactating females range widely in search of those resources, the male is able to mate with these females as they pass through his territory.

The population of Grevy's zebra has declined a lot and in some area including Ethiopia and Somalia they cannot be found. This is through poaching for their skin and meat till 1977 and overgrazing. Another issue is that only 0.5% of their range is protected. Of the world population (less than 2,300) over 20 % are found on Lewa, Kenya. This is because Lewa is a protected range and there is no competition from grazing.

African safari desk
Natural Track Safaris

They are here!!!!!!!

noreply@blogger.com (Natural Track Safaris) — Sat, 26 Jul 2008 14:19:00 +0000

Just recently, the phenomenon wildebeest migration was recognized as the Seventh wonder of the world. This natural event takes place on July – October in Maasai Mara which lies 270 kilometers south east of Nairobi. The animals move from northern Serengeti plains in Tanzania across Mara and Telek Rivers in Maasai Mara.

If you have not been following this series or if this is your first time you are hearing about the wildebeest migration, here is an eye witness occurrences on this year's migration which has just started.

The light showers that swept across the central Mara over the last week have drawn more herds from the northern Serengeti. The Mara River, about 3 kilometers north of the south-Mara bridge, has been the main arena over the past few days. Heavy crossings have taken place as thousands of the Serengeti herds crossed west on the Mara Triangle. The river is still low, making the crossing a bit easy for the animals. Once in the Mara, these herds have taken a traditional route splitting into two, with one group heading west and crossing over the Mara River while the other, north into Meta and towards Burrungat plains.

Our guests had a week full of excitement on game drives due the close proximity of the herds. and we are assured of even better things as the migration progresses! It's amazing to know that although this phenomenon is widely known as the wildebeest migration, it is the burchell's zebra who pioneer the pilgrim and they are usually the first ones to cross Mara river.

I tend to believe, the main characteristic witnessed in Mara – that of the largest mass movements of ungulates is not the sole stuff that was considered to rate this event as a global wonder, but the drama itself. Listen! As these ungulates move in millions, thousands and hundreds, your interest should be focused on the predators rather than the 'Ngunus' since they will definitely appear in your shots whether still or in video slots. Look out for the drama of: - the crocodiles in Mara and Telek rivers, the lions, leopards, and my favorite cat the cheetah, as they follow and hunt the herbivores. If you are not able to spot the carnivores, just look out for the scavengers both the hyenas and vultures and you will no miss one or two carnivores enjoying a kill as the vultures wait impatiently.

The Northern (Loita) and the southern (Serengeti) herds have now merged on the south Mara triangle. The converging point is a recently burnt area where new nutritious shoots are beginning to sprout after the recent light showers. An interesting occurrence we have witnessed in the last two years, some of the Loita herds are starting to cross back at Paradise crossing point onto the eastern side of the river - where they had crossed the just previous week! The remaining animals from these herds have over the past week been streaming in small numbers towards Paradise Plains, with some crossing westwards onto Mara conservancy.
About the predators, Lion sightings were remarkably high over the past week. There are not many lion cubs at the moment, but some females are expected to give birth over the next couple of months. Olkiombo Pride has settled east of Mara Explorer about 1.5kms along the main road from the airstrip. The Ridge Pride is still very active, with many attempted hunts being witnessed during the day in the past week as they respond to the pounding hooves of the migrating herbivores. The concentration of the herds is however still lower in their territory.
Encounters with cheetahs have now become more frequent than in the previous weeks. Leopards are also starting to get active and their sightings have improved remarkably. As the migration may have taken the name of Maasai Mara wildebeest migration, it will be of no importance to tell you about Mara alone without mentioning the Serengeti.
The movement from Serengeti to Mara is also very interesting although it might not be as dramatic as the Mara triangle episode. This is how it goes – When the rain stops on May/June, they start to migrate from south of Serengeti to the central and west of Serengeti plains stretching as far as Grumeti game reserve and lake Victoria. From July they move northwest of Serengeti in Bolonga and Ikorongo game reserve and finally plunge into to Mara.
The first thing you should do when you see the first wildebeest in Mara, I guess is to clap for them. Just imagine the long journey they have to take every year sometimes passing through dry areas and going for days without water. This means only those which can do without water for a long period and can adapt to the poor forage reach Mara. You can also imagine the challenge of crossing Grumeti, Telek and Mara rivers. Clap anyway!
Around November, most of the pastures in Mara are exhausted and the animals start the cycle again to now greener pastures in south of Serengeti, Ngororongoro and Maswa game reserves. The best place to be if you missed the Mara and Telek drama is Lobo or Loliondo area in October and November. Likely, at this time, wildebeest and Zebras have made their way to south Serengeti, giving birth in a very short space of time making places such as Ndutu woodland and the surrounding plains a massive spotlight for predators.
You might be wondering – are the plains left empty during the migration? The answer is No. The migration does not mean that the plains are completely empty. There are many animals which do not follow the migration pattern and have become residents both in Mara and Serengeti. These include predators such as lions, leopard and cheetahs while herbivores include some wildebeest, Zebras, Gazelles, Impalas, Topi to mention but a few.
Although the migration has become a core attraction in Mara, it is still a lifetime experience to do and African safari and visit Mara anytime of the year. There is a lot of good stuff………
See you there!

African Fund for Endangered Wildlife (AFEW)

noreply@blogger.com (Natural Track Safaris) — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 07:02:00 +0000

June 2008, Africa Fund for Endangered Wildlife (AFEW), held its price giving day for the National Annual Environmental Essay and Art Competition. The event took place at their Kenya headquarters widely known as the Giraffe Centre. The event also commemorated AFEW's 25 years in conservation

Natural Track Safaris was in the forefront in making this event a success. The company has continued its bonafide determination in environmental conservation, sponsored the events by contributing to the awards for the winners.

The function was lead by the Director of Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS), Mr. Julius Kipng'etich. He urged the young generation in Kenya and all over the world to embrace the spirit of conservation.
He urged the sponsors to continue supporting conservation initiatives since "……nature has a way of paying back"

Natural Track Safaris are proud to support AFEW Giraffe centre and other organizations in their efforts to conservation.

Thanks to all our travelers, for helping us to stretch our arm strongly to conservation while you enjoy safaris through unbeaten and natural tracks of Kenya and East Africa.

Adventure travel crew
Natural Track Safaris

African safari: The African Elephant

noreply@blogger.com (Natural Track Safaris) — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 18:09:00 +0000

The elephant is one of the most interesting and beautiful creatures on earth. It is the largest animal on land with some bulls growing up to about thirteen feet tall. They can weigh up to seven tones for the bulls- about the weight of a truck.
Elephants are unique in that they smell, eat, and wash themselves using their long flexible trunks. In addition they have elongated teeth made of ivory that aid them in getting food. They do use them also to lift heavy objects including pushing down trees. These teeth are called tusks.
The most obvious characteristic of elephants, besides their massive size, is their trunk. Cont...

A safari to Tanzania

noreply@blogger.com (Natural Track Safaris) — Tue, 19 Feb 2008 13:17:00 +0000

What do you Know of the ugly, spotted hyena?

In the traditional African society, the Hyena has been branded 'the coward one'.
This has been due to the way of feeding of the hyena. Known as a scavenger, the hyena is actually a great hunter and scavenging only makes 5%- 10% of their meals.
They rarely leave any evidence especially because they devour everything. For example they can make a kill in the night and the only sign will be light blood stains.

In the recent years the complexity of the hyenas has been revealed. Lots of time has been dedicated to studying them. This article is about hyenas and their survival tactics in the savannahs of Tanzania. They range throughout sub-Saharan Africa in savannah, arid areas, and open woodlands. So far they aren't present at the coast.

There exist three species of hyenas in Africa. Two species are found in Kenya.
The most common being the spotted hyena, crocuta crocuta.
They live in groups called clans and the clan is under the leadership of the oldest female, the alpha female. Interestingly, the females are dominant over the males and are heavier than them. The females genitalia are very masculinized which contributes to their being aggressive. Such sex dimorphism is not common with other wildlife. This is due to the presence of higher level of testosterone in the female's body than that of the males.

When on an African safari, a distinguishing feature you will see with the hyenas is the 'haunch-back' and short hind legs. They hold their head low when they walk. Usually the head has a rounded skull and long ears. They have extremely strong jaws and a complex acidic digestion system. This is one of the factors that give them a step ahead for survival. They are capable of ingesting bones, horns, hooves and the tough animal skins.
Only the hair is not digested and this usually comes out in the form of bolus or locally referred to 'hyena hair ball'. All this bone matter that they eat is what makes the hyena feces chalk-white.

They hunt in packs in a way that could be termed as ruthless as they do not have a killing bite. They lack in hunting technique and most cases they run down their victim to exhaustion. Usually they attack their prey and tear chunks before their victim dies.
It is interesting to know that lions steal lots of their kills. It is true that hyenas do the final cleaning by chewing the bones and the skins left by others. In some cases the hyenas have succeeded to steal from the lions but in most of occurrences the reverse is more common.

The reproduction and life cycle is not seasonal. The females do not however mate with their members of the clan. They can take any other wandering male for mating and discard him. Four months is the gestation period and usually give birth to up to four cubs. These are usually black in color with some others having small taint of black. A weird thing that happens with the cubs is competition over who nurses first.
This in most cases result in fighting for dominance. The looser usually starves to death and this is only with the female cubs. Hyenas, unlike other wildlife take very long to wean their cubs. It may take between 14-18 months. The female can lactate up to 12 months with milk that is very high in protein percentage.( 14%). The cubs start following the mother to the point of kill when they reach 1 year.
They do not bring back food to the den. They eat to their fill on the spot.
The female cubs stay in the clan of their birth but males are kicked out when they reach around 2 years. Apart from playing with the cubs the male has no role in upbringing of the cubs.

One clan can have between 20-100 members, all on the matriarchal system. All the members are related. Each clan digs its own den which comprises of deep and long tunnels to accommodate the clan. They mark their territory through anal sac secretions. This is a paste that they use to define their boundary and is deposited at the edge of their territory. That is their home-territory that they protect and intruders are not welcome. They have a greeting system of sniffing each others genitalia and also as a way of identification or recognition within members of the same clan.

To the untrained eye, it is difficult to differentiate between males and females. This is because of the physical resemblance of the female's genitalia to that of the male. But in any case they are female organs. The females are not hermaphrodite as some have claimed at first sight.

Hyenas have 'toilets' whereby all the members go to deposit their dung. This adds to the boundary markings of their territory.
They communicate in a number of ways: When about to attack the tail is held high, when it is held forward over the back, it is a sign of excitement. And when frightened they hold the tail tucked between the legs. When there is presence of food, this is the time you hear the famous 'hyena laughter' especially in the night. This laughter
is a call to other clan members and can be heard up to 3 kilometers away.

It is important to note that though hyenas portray cowardly behavior, they can be extremely dangerous. They should be left alone, least intimidated and their respect awarded to them.

Peter Philip, Natural Track Safaris, http://www.natural-track.com

New spitting Cobra species discovered in Kenya

noreply@blogger.com (Natural Track Safaris) — Sat, 08 Dec 2007 10:57:00 +0000

NAIROBI - A new species of giant spitting cobra, measuring nearly nine feet and possessing enough venom to kill at least 15 people, has been discovered in Kenya, a conservation group said on Friday.
Wildlife Director said the cobras were the world's largest and had been identified as unique. The species has been named Naja Ashei after James Ashe, who founded Bio-Ken snake farm on Kenya's tropical coast where the gigantic serpents are found.
"A new species of giant spitting cobra is exciting and reinforces the obvious -- that there have to be many other unreported species but hundreds are being lost as their habitats disappear under the continued mismanagement of our planet," said the group's chairman, Kenyan environmentalist Richard Leakey.
Ashe, now deceased, was the first to catch a larger-than-normal spitting cobra in the 1960s and suggest it belonged to a different species.
Bio-Ken director Royjan Taylor said the recognition of the new species was an opportunity to raise awareness about snake conservation as well as find remedies for the powerful bite.
"Naja Ashei is responsible for a very serious snake bite," he told Reuters by telephone from the farm. "People don't care about saving snakes. They talk of saving dolphins or cats, but never snakes!"
The conservationists' excitement has drawn scientific endorsement from a British-based biologist.
Research published by Wolfgang Wuster, of the University of Wales, said a field visit confirmed the Naja Ashei is a new species. "The new species is diagnosable from all other African spitting cobras by the possession of a unique DNA," he wrote in a review in July.

Safari in Kenya: Animal facts

noreply@blogger.com (Natural Track Safaris) — Tue, 04 Dec 2007 06:37:00 +0000

The silent Killer

The silent killer, the night stalker, the versatile hunter... and many other names have been used to describe this cat. Smallest of the four great cats (lion, Jaguar, Tiger) and at close range almost looks like a Jaguar. In the savannahs of Kenya, this cat has been confused with the cheetah by first time visitors. At a second glance you miss the tear marks of the cheetah.

The leopard has been associated with darkness and many myths exist in the traditional African society. This has been due to fact that the leopard makes about 90 % of their kills silently during the night. The kill is then dragged and hoisted on to a tree for later feeding. These minutes before raising the kill up the tree are extremely crucial for it is the time that most kills are lost to hyenas and lions attracted by the smell of blood. They have quite a varied diet ranging from animals double their size to smaller antelopes, birds and crawling beetles. Their diet also depends on what is available in their range.
Usually this will include wildebeest calves, zebra fawns, gazelles, impalas, rodents among others. They are known to hunt domestic animals including calves, sheep and goats in areas where they inhabit close to human settlements.

The physical build up of the leopard is amazingly strong. It is said that their muscles are 7 times stronger than man's muscle, pound for pound. This explains their capability to lift carcasses more than twice their body up the trees. It an advantage that the leopard enjoys in that after the kill is up the tree it is safe from its enemies, usually the lions and hyenas. In a couple of times the lions have tried to get up the tree and get the kill. Unfortunately, lions in Kenya are not good tree climbers, unlike their partners in Lake Manyara, Tanzania. What's more, the kill can be eaten for the next few days depending on the size.
Spotting such caches during safaris is almost a guarantee that you can view the leopard at least one more time.

Their claws are retractable and extremely sharp. The scratching of the backs of trees cleans the outer keratin shell keeping them sharp all the time. This is how they are able to catch their prey before the killer bite. Usually the scratches inflicted this way are very deep and lethal.

This master of deception has body markings that aid in staying hidden. The pattern of their body coat is in rosettes and each leopard has its own specific print that matches no other. The coat varies in color from light tawny to brown-yellowish. The black spots help them to stay hidden under thickets.

They can run up to 40 miles an hour for short distances. The leopard is a good swimmer and in addition to that can leap 20 feet high. The horizontal jump can be up to 10 feet. Despite this prowess, they primarily depend on outwitting the prey, hence the title 'master of deception'.

They can easily adapt to most environments as long as there is food availability. In Kenya and Tanzania, due to availability of huge thickets, their preference is in the bushes. These provide all the food supply and keep them hidden. In many occasions their presence is noticed through carcasses on tree tops but the leopard is nowhere to be seen. Their tail is often what gives them away. When they rest on the trees their bodies are usually camouflaged but the dangling tail sells them off. In the nights they are usually heard and recognized through their 'sawing-like' sound.

In addition to their being silent killers, they are generally solitary cats. The only relationships noticed are the short-lived mating period and a female with her cubs. They produce between 2-4 cubs after a gestation period of between 80-100 days. Most of the times, it is only 1-2 cubs that survive. Lions and hyenas kill many of their cubs and because of that the mother has to move them quite often to avoid attracting too much attention.
After 22-24 months the cubs leave their mother and start their solitary life.

In most parts of Kenya, early morning hours are best time for looking out for them and late afternoon hours. These are the hours when the temperatures are low as they are more active like most of the big cats.

There exists an-ever ending fight between the olive baboons in some parts of Kenya. The baboons are heard screaming during the nights and it has been proofed beyond doubt that one of the reasons is the presence of the leopard. The leopards in Kenya do attack the baboons and in turn the baboons attack them. In any case the baboons out number the leopard by far and relies on group protection. But the leopards have had their successes with having a baboon for a meal.

Coming up next from the African safari desk: facts about the Croccodile. See you then.

Adventure safaris in Kenya