travel – Page 27 – Moonlion Safaris

White-water rafting on Sagana River that flows into the mighty Tana River with Savage Wildernes

An adrenaline-filled weekend at Savage Wilderness

Published on February 11, 2017 by Rupi MangatLeave a comment

Published Nation newspaper Saturday magazine 11 Feb 2017

Bungee-jump on Sagana River that flows into the mighty Tana River with Savage Wilderness

To counter the pulsating rush of adrenalin from white water rafting, l cross over the suspended bridge over the Tana at Sagana Wilderness and head out with Samuel Maina Muruiki to hike the hill in Sagana.

The magnet for the hill is that it has a forest on the crest.

Muruiki points to the huge rock near the top of the hill. “That’s what we’re heading for.”

It looks far away and tiny and with the day turning hotter, the temptation to return to base is strong.

“Persistence does away with resistance,” urges the young man. Humm..

Continue reading “An adrenaline-filled weekend at Savage Wilderness” →

Nightlife at Serena Mountain Lodge at the waterhole - the genet comes out to eat on it high perch

Forest Serenade

Published on February 4, 2017January 1, 2024 by Rupi MangatLeave a comment

at Serena Mountain Lodge on slopes of Mount Kenya

Published Nation newspaper Saturday magazine 4 February 2017

Above: Nightlife at Serena Mountain Lodge at the waterhole – the genet comes out to eat on it high perch. Copyright picture by Maya Mangat

Indigenous forest surounding Serena Mountain Lodge – Copyright Maya Mangat

Shafts of morning sunlight filter through the canopy of the massive tall trees and spread on the forest floor. The ground is wet with the morning dew, the grass cool and the air so fresh that taking in deep breaths is rejuvenating. It’s forest therapy.

Continue reading “Forest Serenade” →

In the Ndoto Mountains - the beautiful mountain chutes.

Fake Hirola in Ndoto Mountains

Published on January 29, 2017 by Rupi Mangat1 Comment

Published Nation newspaper Saturday magazine 28 Jan 2017

Above – Pools in the Ndoto mountains
Copyright Maya Mangat

Walking in the Ndoto mountains Copyright Maya Mangat

Enormous tortilis acacias spread their canopy over the beautiful Salato campsite that is a business venture for the local Samburu women of Ngurunit in the Ndoto Mountains. Straddling the banks of the Ngurunit River, it’s cool and we plan to hike upstream into the mountains where water chutes and fresh pools of water are.

Up in the Ndoto mountains Copyright Maya Mangat

Across the road a cluster of tents is the base for the newly appointed Samburu county rangers and l pop in to ask if there’s anything new to look out for.

“We have lots of wildlife in the forests of the mountains,” tells Henry Lekuyie the ranger. “But the animals are very shy.

Continue reading “Fake Hirola in Ndoto Mountains” →

Mountains and Plains - the Ndoto Range in northern Kenya

New Year in Ndoto Mountains

Published on January 21, 2017 by Rupi MangatLeave a comment

Mountains and plains – the Ndoto range in northern Kenya – Copyright Maya Mangat

Published Nation newspaper 21 January 2017

Reticulated giraffe in northern Kenya Copyright: Maya Mangat

A Reticulated giraffe stands alone in the midst of the green thorn scrub past the iconic Ololokwe mountain – the loaf-shaped of the northern drylands. It’s a giraffe listed in December 2016 as ‘Vulnerable’ on the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) and therefore threatened with extinction. Fewer than 100,000 exist on the planet with the Reticulated even more endangered than the other species. Understandably, we stop on the side of the newly tarmacked road that stretches all the way from Nanyuki via Isiolo past Samburu to Moyale on the Kenya-Ethiopia border.

Continue reading “New Year in Ndoto Mountains” →

Vanishing glaciers of Mount Kenya

Published on January 15, 2017January 1, 2024 by Rupi MangatLeave a comment

In 1893, the famous British geologist of the ‘rift valley’ fame, Dr John W Gregory led the first scientific expedition up Mount Kenya but could not make it past the ice glaciers to reach the summit. The mountain top was decked in ice and snow. He spent several hours at the Lewis Glacier at 15,000 feet before descending.

Continue reading “Vanishing glaciers of Mount Kenya” →