Amongst local wild residents
Above: Grounds of Voyager Ziwani on the edge of Tsavo West
Copyright Rupi Mangat
Published Saturday magazine, Nation newspaper 27 January 2018
It’s the last days of 2017 in December. Centuries-old gigantic baobab trees are cloaked in thick green leaves. At most times, the tree stands with bare branches in the arid plains that see rain so rarely.
Part 2 of 2
Published Saturday magazine Nation media 20 January 2018
Above: The peak of IYale – second highest of Taita Hills
Copyright Rupi Mangat
Older than the age of dinosaurs these hills continue to fascinate nature lovers
With a few more days in the hills with a mission to spot Taita apalis, our next stop is to Ngangao the largest forest block, Vuria the highest peak, followed by Msindunyi a tiny forest block where Dr Luca Borghesio and research assistant Lawrence Wagura – both associates of the National Museum of Kenya – discovered an undocumented population of Taita apalis in 2012. In total, the indigenous forests measure less than five square kilometres.
Part 1 of 2
An ancient massif of endemic plants and animals
Published: Saturday magazine, Nation newspaper 13 January 2018
Above: Taita apalis – criticaly endangered – fewer than 200 survive today in fragmented forests of the Taita Hills in an area of five square kilometers (copyright Luca Borghesio)
The mist swirls and whirls, white and dense, hiding and revealing the valleys and peaks of the hills. We’re on a climb to reach the top of the ancient bare rock that tops the forest of Yale in the Taita Hills.
Part 2 of 2
Published Saturday magazine, Nation newspaper 30 December 2017
Above: Desert warthog
Copyright De Jong & Butynski
Learning more about lesser-known wildlife
There’s more than the Desert Warthog that we’re learning about in Lolldaiga and why it’s important to know all that makes for Kenya’s biodiversity.
“To be able to protect biodiversity,” states Yvonne de Jong of Lolldaiga Hills Research Programme “you need to know which taxa are where.” Continue reading “Landscapes of Lolldaiga”
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.
Moonlion Safaris 