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Tuskers at Thomson’s Falls

Published on April 1, 2017April 1, 2017 by Rupi MangatLeave a comment

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

DSC06811 (800x600) — Elephants deep in the gorge – need a zoom lens to capture them – copyright Rupi Mangat

“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.

Fence at Marmanet forest and the farms to keep elephants from straying out – copyright Rupi Mangat

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The dam in Mutito -copyright Rupi Mangat

Waterfalls and legends of Mutito Hills

Published on March 18, 2017April 1, 2017 by Rupi MangatLeave a comment

Published Saturday Nation magazine

The dam in the forest -copyright Rupi Mangat

18 March 2017

Kitui county’s little-known hill in its southern side is a show stopper

Drama in the skies above the cliffs where the eagle soared with a snake in its talons -copyright Rupi Mangat

Mutito Hills – exciting range so unexplored -copyright Rupi Mangat

This is drama fit for Nat Geo Wild. There’s a sheer copper-coloured cliff in front of us. We’re perched on a rocky outcrop by the side of a dam deep in the forested hills of Mutito. The dam that provides clean fresh water to the town of Mutito was built in the 1930s by British missionary and still functions.

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Bottlenose dolphin with young in Kisite-Mpunguti National Marine Park Copyright Rupi Mangat

Dhow to Kisite-Mpunguti Marine National Park

Published on March 5, 2017 by Rupi MangatLeave a comment

Published Saturday magazine Nation media 4 March 2017

Dhow by sand bar in Kisite-Mpunguti National Marine Park Copyright Rupi Mangat

In Kisite-Mpunguti National Marine Park Copyright Rupi Mangat

Bottlenose dolphin with young in Kisite-Mpunguti National Marine Park Copyright Rupi Mangat

It’s exciting jumping into a local dhow anchored at Shimoni pier. From where we are the Kenya-Tanzania border is 50 kilometers south at Lunga Lunga. The narrow Wasini Channel separates mainland Africa from the island of Wasini and we set sail for a morning of hopeful sightings of dolphins and snorkelling in the coral gardens of Kisite-Mpunguti.

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Traditonal dhow asail on Lamu seafront, Kenya coast. Picture courtesy Dipesh Pabari

Lamu plastic dhow sails to save oceans

Published on February 26, 2017 by Rupi MangatLeave a comment

Above: Traditional dhow asail on Lamu seafront. Courtesy Dipesh Pabari

Published in The East African, Nation media 25 February-3 March 2017

6-model-of-the-flipflop-covered-dhow-800x600 — A model og the Plastic dhow that will sail from Lamu in Kenya to Cape Town, South Africa – the first journey of its kind – Picture courtesy: Dipesh Pabari

A chance meeting of two high school friends puts in motion something the world has never seen – a life-size plastic dhow to sail Lamu to Cape Town with a message – stop dumping plastic in the ocean.

Lamu Beach clean up. In one day 5 tonnes of plastic debris was removed from the beach. Picture courtesy Dipesh Pabari

Children picking plastic bottles is from the port of Lamu. Picture courtesy Dipesh Pabari

“There’s enough plastic trash in the ocean to make a flotilla,” states Ben Morrison who had an awakening two years ago walking a 10-meter stretch across the beach to the ocean. It was covered in plastic trash. Sailing past were ancient wooden dhows with their lateen sails billowing in the wind that have frequented the east African coast since antiquity.

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Garden by the Indian Ocean - picture copyright Rupi Mangat

Tiwi twirl at Amare Resort

Published on February 25, 2017February 25, 2017 by Rupi MangatLeave a comment

Published Saturday Magazine, Nation media 25 February 2017

Above: Coconut trees in the lawns by the Indian Ocean – picture copyright Rupi Mangat

An osprey soars over the jagged tooth of the cliff, on the lookout for a fish from the ocean. I take off from my perch at the sunken bar facing the blue ocean to follow its course but the raptor has vanished into thin air.