Category: 2019

Visiting an Orma Village in Tana Delta

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Above: Orma at a wedding ceremony

Published: 23 November 2019

It’s twilight, that magical moment when the sun has travelled the sky to end the day. In that golden moment we’re on the banks of the Tana before it branches out into the famed delta by the same name.

The Tana River where the critically endagnered Tana River Red colobus monkeys arefound near Garsen. Copyright Rupi Mangat (800x600)
The Tana River where the critically endangered Tana River Red colobus monkeys are found near Garsen. Copyright Rupi Mangat

The river is calm. The dugout canoe is tied to a pole on the opposite bank for no one will cross during the night. Tall borassus palms straddle the banks like monoliths, their strong trunks silver in the evening light and the fan-shaped leaves slightly rustling with the breeze.

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From Kalota to Kipini on Tana Delta

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Above: From the arch of the mosque near Fumo Liyogo’s grave near Kipini on the tip of Tana Delta – Rupi Mangat

Published: Saturday Nation magazine 16 November 2019

It’s a quiet brook at Kalota on the tip of the delta that is Kenya’s largest, the Tana. It’s here we hop on to the boat belonging to the Ozi Community Conservation Area that is supported by Nature Kenya, the country oldest natural history society started in 1909 by like-minded naturalist.

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Lake Elmenteita Wildlife Sanctuary Under Power Struggle

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Above: Pylon being erected near Lake Elmenteita. Copyright Rupi Mangat

Published: Daily Nation 6 November 2019

In the name of ‘development’

It’s mid-morning by the salt-crusted shores of Lake Elmenteita. A flock of Great White Pelicans lift off the islands on the lake in animated ribbons, circling higher and higher on the hot air thermals to fly off to Lake Naivasha or Lake Nakuru. They will spend the day on the lakes on either side of Elmenteita and return at dusk to settle on the islands for the night.

Great white pelicans herding fish for breakfast. Copyright Rupi Mangat
Great white pelicans herding fish for breakfast. Copyright Rupi Mangat

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On High Water in Nakuru

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Above: Grey crowned cranes in Lake Nakuru National Park. Copyright Rupi Mangat

Published: The East African Nation media 19 to 25 October 2019

The salt ribbon around the lake has disappeared, swallowed by the rising water. It’s a phenomenon that researchers studying the lake since the first recorded data, attribute to a 50 year cycle that happened in 1901 and 1963. Continue reading “On High Water in Nakuru” →

On the plains of the Athi-Kapiti in search of the Cheetah

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Above: Cheetah on the plains. Copyright Mary Wykstra founder of Action for Cheetahs

Published: 19 October 2019

It’s exciting at Lisa Ranch on the plains of the Athi-Kapiti with the iconic Lukenya stretched in the far horizon. The 6,000 acre ranch is both for livestock and wildlife and we’re here in search of the cheetah.

Thirty kilometres south-east of the ranch is Nairobi National Park and the busy Kitengela town.

In the bigger picture, Lisa Ranch is part of the Machakos ranches that are nestled between the Konza Technocity to the west and the Mombasa highway in the east with the Nairobi-Mombasa railway cutting through. This vast terrain measuring 300 square kilometres or 85,000 acres is one of the last wildlife areas that until a century ago hosted the Mount Kilimanjaro – Mount Kenya migration of wildebeest, elephants and other big game.

Wildebeest on Lisa Ranch.Copyright Rupi Mangat (800x600)
Wildebeest on Lisa Ranch.Copyright Rupi Mangat

Continue reading “On the plains of the Athi-Kapiti in search of the Cheetah” →