Dining with the red elephants in Tsavo West

A pair of bull elephants takes refuge in the water hole in Tsavo West. The colours are vivid – red elephants in the red-earth water, the thick green scrub on red soil with the acacias and baobabs offering precious shade to the wildlife.

Afternoon heat is intense. A pair of bull elephants in the waterpan to cool off. Image Rupi Mangat

The two red giants are in no hurry to move away from the waterhole. It’s hot and they have to cool themselves, entertaining us with a mock fight by pushing each other around, hosing themselves with their trunks and trumpeting. Done with cooling their large bodies, they step out, their wet bodies glistening in the midday sun.

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Snows of Kilimanjaro from Tsavo West

Above; Snow-capped Kilimanjaro from Tsavo West Kitani bandas April 2020. Courtesy Severin Safari Lodge

Published: The East African Nation media

By Rupi Mangat

It was predicted that the snows of Kilimanjaro would vanish by 2020…but look at what’s happened

Kilimanjaro’s snow hat is perfectly on its head – that is on its dome-shaped Kibo also dubbed the roof of Africa because at 19,340 feet high, it’s the continent’s highest point.

Late March and the first surprise after leaving Diani famous for its powder white beach and blue warm water on Kenya’s South Coast was the mist covered peaks of Shimba Hills.  It was surreal watching from the ridge of the escarpment as the mist rose, warming up to the rising sun.

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