This gallery shows highlights from a remarkable trip in Kenya with Ben's Ecological Safaris. It was a safari like no others, with some standard destinations included in most Kenyan tours, but much of the trip taking place in the remote and little-visited semi-desert of the northeastern part of the country.
Like most safaris in Kenya, we began the trip with a morning visit to Nairobi National Park, followed by an afternoon visit to an "anti-gravity" hill outside of Machakos (very fun even though experts assert that the "anti-gravity" aspect, where water appears to flow uphill, is an optical illusion). In the next couple of days, we visited some dear friends north of Narok in SW Kenya. These friends were the family of someone I met way back in 1976 on a student program - Parapoi - and with whom I've kept in touch off and on in the years since. So great to see him and his family again, and to see how they are living more of a "modern" life nowadays.
From Parapoi's, we went to the famous Maasai Mara National Park, where we saw thousands on wildebeest, migrating on their way to the Serengeti in Tanzania, along with masses of other big game species. And then to Lamu/Manda Islands on the coast, where we enjoyed a tropical vacation in a paradise-like resort, and a full day trip on a large dhow (traditional sailing craft), that brought with it a very special story (see Coastal link for more).
After Manda and Lamu, my wife returned home, and I continued with Ben Mugambi, of Ben's Ecological Safaris, on an adventuresome birding trip through northeastern Kenya and some of the highland and mountain areas of central Kenya. Destinations in this part of the trip included Arabuko Sokoke Forest near Watamu, then up the Tana River to the Ishaqbini Hirola Community Conservancy and surrounding areas. We camped along the Tana River in beautiful riparian forest, with two endangered primates leaping around above us in the canopy (Tana River Colobus, and Tana Crested Mangabey). In the Hirola Conservancy, we had great looks at several of those critically endangered, and curious looking Hartebeests. This was really a great highlight of the trip!
From the Tana River campsite, we went up to Garissa, which was a fascinating place. In the semi-desert near the town, we searched mightily for the range=restricted Collared Lark, sadly without success. Although we dipped on the lark, we saw many other great dry-country birds such as Golden-breasted Starling (my favorite Starling!), Hunter's Sunbird, Bare-eyed Thrush, and many more. From Garissa, we crossed to Meru National Park, under-visited but quite spectacular for both birds and wildlife. Unfortunately, because it was so dry, we didn't see quite as much as we probably expected, but a beautiful place nonetheless.
And finally, from Meru, we went to the spectacular Lewa Conservancy - full of big game, especially rhinos! - followed by the Aberdare Mountains, and finishing in a little reserve near Lake Naivasha.
All in all a wonderful trip that was also unique! The gallery below shows highlights. See also the following links for more photos on the individual areas we visited: (NOTE - THE LINKS BELOW ARE UNDER DEVELOPMENT BUT COMING SOON)
- Nairobi National Park and "anti-gravity" hill
- A visit with Maasai friends
- Maasai Mara
- Watamu
- Tana River
- Garissa area
- Meru National Park
- Lewa Conservancy
- Aberdare Mountains
- Lake Naivasha area
- Lamu and Manda Islands
Like most safaris in Kenya, we began the trip with a morning visit to Nairobi National Park, followed by an afternoon visit to an "anti-gravity" hill outside of Machakos (very fun even though experts assert that the "anti-gravity" aspect, where water appears to flow uphill, is an optical illusion). In the next couple of days, we visited some dear friends north of Narok in SW Kenya. These friends were the family of someone I met way back in 1976 on a student program - Parapoi - and with whom I've kept in touch off and on in the years since. So great to see him and his family again, and to see how they are living more of a "modern" life nowadays.
From Parapoi's, we went to the famous Maasai Mara National Park, where we saw thousands on wildebeest, migrating on their way to the Serengeti in Tanzania, along with masses of other big game species. And then to Lamu/Manda Islands on the coast, where we enjoyed a tropical vacation in a paradise-like resort, and a full day trip on a large dhow (traditional sailing craft), that brought with it a very special story (see Coastal link for more).
After Manda and Lamu, my wife returned home, and I continued with Ben Mugambi, of Ben's Ecological Safaris, on an adventuresome birding trip through northeastern Kenya and some of the highland and mountain areas of central Kenya. Destinations in this part of the trip included Arabuko Sokoke Forest near Watamu, then up the Tana River to the Ishaqbini Hirola Community Conservancy and surrounding areas. We camped along the Tana River in beautiful riparian forest, with two endangered primates leaping around above us in the canopy (Tana River Colobus, and Tana Crested Mangabey). In the Hirola Conservancy, we had great looks at several of those critically endangered, and curious looking Hartebeests. This was really a great highlight of the trip!
From the Tana River campsite, we went up to Garissa, which was a fascinating place. In the semi-desert near the town, we searched mightily for the range=restricted Collared Lark, sadly without success. Although we dipped on the lark, we saw many other great dry-country birds such as Golden-breasted Starling (my favorite Starling!), Hunter's Sunbird, Bare-eyed Thrush, and many more. From Garissa, we crossed to Meru National Park, under-visited but quite spectacular for both birds and wildlife. Unfortunately, because it was so dry, we didn't see quite as much as we probably expected, but a beautiful place nonetheless.
And finally, from Meru, we went to the spectacular Lewa Conservancy - full of big game, especially rhinos! - followed by the Aberdare Mountains, and finishing in a little reserve near Lake Naivasha.
All in all a wonderful trip that was also unique! The gallery below shows highlights. See also the following links for more photos on the individual areas we visited: (NOTE - THE LINKS BELOW ARE UNDER DEVELOPMENT BUT COMING SOON)
- Nairobi National Park and "anti-gravity" hill
- A visit with Maasai friends
- Maasai Mara
- Watamu
- Tana River
- Garissa area
- Meru National Park
- Lewa Conservancy
- Aberdare Mountains
- Lake Naivasha area
- Lamu and Manda Islands
