Soysambu’s Lionesses
Publsihed Saturday Magazine, Nation newspaper 24 June 2017
Above picture: Valentine in Soysambu Conservancy 2017 copyright Kat Combes
“Three lionesses turned up one day from Nakuru National Park,” tells Kat Combes of Soysambu Conservancy that straddles Lake Elmenteita. It was in July 2014.
The trio were three years old looking for their own space. Two sisters settled in but the third returned to the park separated by a wire fence.
Part 3 of 3
Published 3 June 2017 Saturday magazine Nation media
It’s a dream world.
We sail past a forest of the tallest mangrove trees that l’ve ever seen. Sparkling white sand bars appear in the low tide. It’s an endless blue planet from where we are when suddenly a dolphin slips in and out – too far to tell what species it is.
Towards midday Captain Lalli stops to refuel the tank and produces delicious, juicy mangoes – an impromptu picnic on the ocean.
Sailing on, he points to Faza, then Ndau – once powerful and independent sultanates on the island of Pate. We pass a Kenya Navy patrol dinghy and then get off at Mtangawanda, a tiny ‘port’ so named because it has black sand on its shores.
In search of a palanquin
Published Saturday magazine, Nation newspaper 29 April 2017
Lounging in the circular living room of Grogan’s Castle with stunning views of Kilmanjaro’s two peaks Mawenzi and Kibo on the western side, the Pare mountain in Tanzania on the southern side and the plains of Tsavo on the eastern side, l chance upon an issue of Old Africa with a really interesting story of Lake Chala –which leads us to this little visited jewel lake in the caldera of Kilimanjaro straddling Kenya and Tanzania.
It’s a story of an epic expedition in 1891 by a woman – May French Sheldon – an American explorer and writer. Way ahead of her time, she left London unaccompanied by a male escort carrying gold rings to present to African chiefs and people who would help her in her explorations.
Critically Endangered vultures threatened by wind farm
Published The East African, Nation media 22-28 April 2017
Ruppell’s vulture landing – copyright Munir Virani
Since 2015 four of the eight species of vultures in Kenya have been listed as Critically Endangered by the International Union of Conservation of Nature (IUCN). This means they are one step short of becoming extinct.
Published Saturday magazine, Nation newspaper 1st April 2017
Above: The gorge with Ewaso Nyiro river flowing from the wetland at Nyahururu via Thomson’s Falls to Lorian swamp in the arid lands – copyright Rupi Mangat
Thomson’s Falls in Nyahururu reveals more in its ravine flowing in the depths of South Marmanet Forest
“The elephants have been spotted,” announces Walter Muriithi of Panari Resort Nyahururu sandwiched between the rocky gorge of Thomson’s Falls and South Marmanet Forest. We rush out to drive the few kilometres around the forest bordered by local farms and stop at the electric fence. It’s a deterrent to keep the elephants from raiding the farms.
Moonlion Safaris 