kenya – Page 16 – Moonlion Safaris

Castle Forest Lodge

Published on July 1, 2017January 1, 2024 by Rupi MangatLeave a comment

Kerugoya

A walk on Mount Kenya – mystical, magical

Published Saturday Magazine, Nation newspaper 1 July 2017

Above Castle Forest Lodge built in 1910 – the original house Copyright Rupi Mangat

The tarmac road comes to an abrupt end at the gate of Kenya Forest Service – Castle Forest Lodge. The contrast between the flat green carpet of tea fields and the miasma of natural forest on Mount Kenya’s eastern slopes is sudden.

Castle Forest Lodge – the original house Copyright Rupi Mangat

Gate to Castle Forest Lodge Copyright Rupi Mangat

Road signs Copyright Rupi Mangat

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Lion Tales

Published on June 25, 2017January 1, 2024 by Rupi Mangat1 Comment

Soysambu’s Lionesses

Publsihed Saturday Magazine, Nation newspaper 24 June 2017

Above picture: Valentine in Soysambu Conservancy 2017 copyright Kat Combes

Both Flir and Valentine May 23 2017 when they came out of the dens 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.

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Grey Crowned Crane on its nest Copyright: International Crane Foundation / Endangered Wildlife Trust Partnership

Cranes of Ol Bolossat

Published on June 17, 2017 by Rupi MangatLeave a comment

Published Saturday magazine, Nation media 17 June 2017

Above: Grey Crowned Crane on its nest
Copyright: International Crane Foundation / Endangered Wildlife Trust Partnership

The only big lake in central Kenya is one of the last strong hold of the gorgeous Grey Crowned Crane

Flock of Grey crowned cranes by Lake Ol Bolossat in the shadows of the Aberdaresin central Kenya Copyright Rupi Mangat — Flock of Grey crowned cranes by Lake Ol Bolossat in the shadows of the Aberdares in central Kenya Copyright Rupi Mangat

It’s busy, busy, busy with 500 Grey Crowned Cranes in front of us pecking for grains on the recently harvested wheat field by the shores of Lake Ol Bolossat stretched in the shadows of the Aberdares.

Grey Crowned Cranes pair for life Courtesy: International Crane Foundation / Endangered Wildlife Trust Partnership

“The Grey Crowned cranes are here all the time,” tells George Ndung’u, founder of the Nyahururu Bird Club, Olbolossat Biodiversity Conservation Group and of recent, the Crane Conservation Volunteers.

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Southrern white rhino female and her calf at Lewa Conservancy with Mount Kenya as a backdrop Copyright Rupi Mangat

Lewa Life

Published on June 13, 2017January 1, 2024 by Rupi MangatLeave a comment

In Kenya’s Northern rangelands it’s home to amazing wildlife

Published Saturday magazine, Nation newspaper 10 June 2017

Above: Southrern white rhino female and her calf at Lewa Conservancy with Mount Kenya as a backdrop – Copyright Rupi Mangat

From the high peaks of Mount Kenya to the plains at Lewa -copyright Rupi Mangat

From the high slopes of Mount Kenya, the northern rangelands fill the horizon with massif peaks and plains. Driving over the under pass on the main road before turning in to Lewa and Isiolo, elephants walk through it safely migrating between the low arid plains of the north and the high slopes of Mount Kenya.

Ngiri House at Lewa -copyright Rupi Mangat

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On the Isles of Lamu – Pate Island

Published on June 10, 2017January 1, 2024 by Rupi MangatLeave a comment

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.

Captain Lalli, of Kenya Wildlife Service Maya Mangat and Kiki Aarts of Subira House Lamu - picnic at sea sailing to Pate island Copyright Maya Mangat — Captain Lalli, of Kenya Wildlife Service Maya Mangat and Kiki Aarts of Subira House Lamu – picnic at sea sailing to Pate island Copyright Maya Mangat

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.