Tag: travel

Lion pride in Nairobi National Park

Happy Birthday Nairobi National Park

Published on by Rupi Mangat1 Comment
Celebrating her 70th ‘Birthday’ on the Saturday 17th December, 2016
Zebra on the plains of Nairobi National Park Copyright Rupi Mangat
Beautiful sky and savanna of Nairobi National Park Copyright Rupi Mangat
Nairobi National Park will be celebrating her 70th ‘Birthday’ on the Saturday 17th December, 2016.
We will mark this day with a peaceful Save Nairobi National Park/Commemoration Walk From Nyayo Stadium to Bomas of Kenya along Lang’ata Road from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
This is a great opportunity for those who have not been able to participate in the peaceful protests we have had during the midweek.
Red Rocks community centre by Virunga National Park in Rwanda.

Musanze Caves in Rwanda

Published on by Rupi MangatLeave a comment

Exploring Musanze Caves, Buhanga Eco-Park and Red Rocks Community Camp

Published Saturday magazine, Nation newspaper 3 December 2016

Musanze caves near Virunga National Park in Rwanda.
Musanze caves near Virunga National Park in Rwanda. Copyright Maya Mangat

Basking in the afterglow of having been in the company of the critically endangered Mountain gorillas on the high slopes of Volcanoes National Park in north-western Rwanda, we’re now in the belly of the ancient caves that are a product of the fiery volcanic drama of the volcanic Virungas. In Kinyarwanda, Virunga is the word for volcano.

Continue reading “Musanze Caves in Rwanda” →

Amboseli’s Swamps

Published on by Rupi MangatLeave a comment

Part 2 of 2

Published Nation 26 Nov 2016

 

Kilimanjaro is resplendent in the blazing morning sun – but its snow cap’s on the peak of Kibo has melted to a thin teardrop. The Maasai bring their cattle into the park under the watch of the Kenya Wildlife Service rangers. As the skeletal cattle head for the swamps, they raise a halo of dust on the dry plains of Amboseli – derived from Empusel, the Maasai word for dry dusty plains. “There’s no water outside for the cattle,” explains the KWS ranger. “So we allow the community to bring the cattle for a few hours to drink in the swamps.”

flamingos-in-amboseli-by-noomotio-hill-copyright-rupi-mangat-nov-26-2016-800x600

Away from the edge of the park, we’re up on Observation Hill or Noomotio that’s juxtaposed between the lush swamp and the dry-white dust plains under the watchful gaze of Kilimanjaro. It’s surreal for in the midst of the drought-parched land, the deep blue lake has an islet brimming with the beautiful pink bird – the lesser flamingos and flocks of white pelicans.

It’s an exciting game drive in the custom-designed safari cruiser from Ol Tukai Lodge. By the edge of a swamp an enormous Verreaux’s eagle owl with its pink-eyelids so visible through the binoculars is perched on its yellow-bark acacia tree. It is Africa’s largest owl and the only owl with pink eyelids – we’re suitably impressed.

Continue reading “Amboseli’s Swamps” →

Amboseli elephant and wildebeest

Drama of the Drought in Amboseli

Published on by Rupi Mangat1 Comment

Part 1 of 2

21 October 2016

Published Nation newspaper 19 November 2016

A dry lake bed catches the eye near Iremeto Gate into Amboseli National Park off the Emali Road. On a whim, we decide to take a walk over the small hill to the dry pan that looks similar to the dry Lake Amboseli inside the park in the shadow of Kilimanjaro.

Months-old dry elephant dung near a waterless lake outside Amboseli National Park Copyright Maya Mangat
On the trail of the elephant dung Copyright Maya Mangat
To the dry lake bed outside Amboseli National Park Copyright Maya Mangat

Continue reading “Drama of the Drought in Amboseli” →

The Ark

The Ark of the Aberdares

Published on by Rupi MangatLeave a comment

14 September 2016

Of waterfalls and the Salient at night

The animals begin to arrive at the Ark. More than two at a time. And the stage is set at the salient for the evening’s entertainment. Of the two thousand elephants in the Aberdares, there’s a herd of twenty at the waterhole. The baby in the family fits squarely under the belly between its mother’s legs. It’s a beautiful scene with the floodlights of the Ark and the full moon.

The elephant family nudge clumps of soil with their toes to lick the salt on the salient. A huge male blows a trunk-full of dust over itself while some in the herd dangle their trunks in the waterhole for a drink.

Black rhino killed by elephant in front of Ark lodge on night of 6th May 1979 Copyright picture Rupi Mangat
Chania waterfall in the Aberdares Copyright picture Luca Borghesio

Meanwhile, a pair of Grey crowned cranes – a bird that’ increasingly rare to find – come to the swamp as do the night birds. An owl hoots and lands on the rock by the water pool. The elephant family leave just as a trio of Spotted hyenas lumber in. They play amongst themselves and lie down to rest for some time before something catches their attention. It’s a family of the Giant forest hog busy foraging on the lush scrub around the Ark. The Giant hogs weighing up to 150 kilograms outstare the hyenas and the show is over as the hyenas skulk away.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Continue reading “The Ark of the Aberdares” →