Author: Rupi Mangat

2013 Ecotourism Journalist of the Year (Ecotourism Society of Kenya) | Editor, Komba Magazine (Wildlife Clubs of Kenya) | Contributor, The East African and Saturday Magazine (Nation)
Bright's gazellle Copyright: De Jong & Butynski

Landscapes of Lolldaiga

Published on by Rupi Mangat1 Comment

Above: Bright’s gazellle
Copyright: De Jong & Butynski 

Lolldaiga Hills Landscape Copyright Rupi Mangat
Lolldaiga Hills Landscape Copyright Rupi Mangat

Part 1 of 2

Pubished Saturday magazine, Nation newspaper 23 December 2017

An enticing kladeiscope of rugged hills, valleys, plateaus and plains

Mount Kenya from Lolldaiga Hills Copyright Rupi Mangat
Mount Kenya from Lolldaiga Hills Copyright Rupi Mangat

Standing on one of the many hills of Lolldaiga in east Laikipia, the view is unbelievable. In the 360-degree of my eye as l swivel around slowly on the windswept pinnacle, there’s the peaks of Mount Kenya to the south, followed by Mukogodo Forest and the iconic loaf-shaped Ololokwe in arid Samburu pointing north, and looking west over the ancient pre-Cambrian bare-faced hills of Lolldaiga, I catch glimpses of the Aberdares. Continue reading “Landscapes of Lolldaiga” →

Elephant at entrance of Lake Arusha Naional Park Copyright Rupi Mangat

Arusha and the Momella Lakes

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Published Nation newspaper 16 December 2017

Above: Elephant at entrance of Lake Arusha Naional Park
Copyright Rupi MangatArusha’s a fascinating city on the foothills of Mt Meru –Africa’s fifth highest mountain at (14,968 ft). A dormant volcano it’s a stunning backdrop to the city and a great mountain to explore.

Lake Duluti Serena by the cusp of its crater lake
Lake Duluti Serena by the cusp of its crater lake Copyright Rupi Mangat

Continue reading “Arusha and the Momella Lakes” →

A raptor on arrival at Olorgesailie against the mountain Copyright Rup Mangat

The World at Olorgesailie

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Millions of years ago, our ancestors left their calling cards to unravel a world that once was

Published: Saturday magazine, Nation newspaper 9 December 2017

In the depths of the Great Rift Valley Maasai herders leading their cattle to greener pastures Copyright Rup Mangat
In the depths of the Great Rift Valley Maasai herders leading their cattle to greener pastures Copyright Rup Mangat

We’re in the depths of the Great Rift Valley driving to Olorgesailie prehistoric site 70 kilometers south of Nairobi, the city. The landscape changes from the green of Ngong Hills to the dry scrub of the valley’s floor edged by its walls and mountains where our ancestors lived millions of years ago.

Continue reading “The World at Olorgesailie” →

A meeting of the elders - the chimps of Gombe National Park - from the Kasakela group Copyright Rupi Mangat

Rendezvous with the Chimpanzees of Gombe

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Above: A meeting of the elders – the chimps of Gombe National Park – from the Kasakela group  Copyright Rupi Mangat

Click to watch the chimps of Gombe National Park

Published in Saturday magazine Nation newspaper 2 December 2017

Sunrise over Kigoma – copyright Rupi Mangat
local fishing boat belonging to Congolese fishers at Kigoma – in French – Notre Tresor – our treasure. copyright Rupi Mangat
local fishing boat being repaired at Kigoma – . copyright Rupi Mangat

The night air is fading as we make our way to the secluded bay on Lake Tanganyika at Kigoma to climb into the motorboat to Gombe National Park. It’s the only way to get there. Continue reading “Rendezvous with the Chimpanzees of Gombe” →

Exploring the Mountain from Naro Moru

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Above: Art in nature …on the nature trail at Mount Kenya Eco-Resource Centre – copyright Rupi Mangat

Published Saturday Magazine, Nationewspaper 25 November 2017

Naro Moru with Mount Kenya completely invisible - copyright Rupi Mangat
Naro Moru with Mount Kenya completely invisible – copyright Rupi Mangat

An impenetrable white mist blankets everything outside my window at day break and clears slowly to reveal the own street tiny town of Naro Moru that’s epically famous as the base for scaling the massif hidden in the clouds – Mount Kenya. For the entire three days of hanging around God’s mountain as the Kikuyu call, the country’s tallest mountain stays hidden in the clouds.

Continue reading “Exploring the Mountain from Naro Moru” →