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

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”

Lion Count: A Weekend in Nairobi National Park to Log Lions

Above: Grey crowned cranes in Nairobi National Park February 2019. Copyright Rupi Mangat

Published: 2 March 2019

The Nairobi sky was red-hot before sunrise as we made it to the gates of Nairobi National Park…and l got to say this again with pride – Nairobi’s first national park established in 1946 and the only park in a city that is home to free-ranging wild animals like the big cats – lions, leopards and of recent, a cheetah spotted after decades. It’s 117 square kilometres.

Hippos in Nairobi National Park February 2019. Copyright Rupi Mangat (800x450)
Hippos in Nairobi National Park February 2019. Copyright Rupi Mangat

Continue reading “Lion Count: A Weekend in Nairobi National Park to Log Lions”