The Unique Kitich Camp of Samburu

Above: Kitich Forest Camp – Dinner under the stars with a herd of elephants.

Published: The East African Nation media – FEBRUARY 13 2015

It’s the deep-throated growl of the lion that alerts us that he’ around. The sound wafts through the forest night uninterrupted by any other. Seated by the open glade of grass where the river flows, we’re surrounded by silhouettes of the mountain peaks rising 6,000 feet high, visible in the glare of the full moon. Decked in a mesmerizing forest of sky-spiraling trees and endemic cycads that have been here since the time of the dinosaur, l scan the glade beyond for a glimpse of the mighty king of beast. But it’s only his growl that gives him away – and the hidden camera.

Kitich Forest Camp - The island forests of Mathews Range in the semi-arid north Kenyain d
Kitich Forest Camp – The island forests of Mathews Range in the semi-arid north Kenya drylands

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Turkana Basin

In ancient sands that reveal our past

Above: The anicent earth of Turkana by the Turkwel River flowiing into Lake Turkana
Copyright Rupi Mangat

Published: 3 February 2018 Saturday magazine, Nation newspaper

Eagle's eye-view of Turkana Basin Copyright Rupi Mangat
Eagle’s eye-view of Turkana Basin Copyright Rupi Mangat

The eagle’s eye-view from the air is fascinating – vast horizons of sand, thorn trees, plains and hills. Closer to landing time at Lodwar, l scan the hills of Lothagam with their ancient sediments dating seven million years before present – when this part of the world was the home of dinosaurs like carnivorous theropods, herbivorous sauropods, and flying pterosaurs that lived many more millions of years than seven.

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