Mzima Springs

Mzima, The word means “alive.” Yet the life of Kenya’s Mzima Springs is largely born of ash and dung. In the neighboring Chyulu Range stand porous peaks of volcanic ash, whose youngest cones formed about 500 years ago.
Mzima Springs are a series of four natural springs in Tsavo National Park, Kenya. They are located in the west of the Park, around 48km from Mtito Andei one of the most known places in Kenya. 

The source of the springs is a natural reservoir under the Chyulu Hills to the north. The Chyulu range is composed of volcanic lava rock and ash, which is too porous to allow rivers to flow. Instead, rain water percolates through the rock, and may spend 25 years underground before emerging 50 kilometres away at Mzima. The natural filtration process gives rise to Mzima's famously clear stream, which flows through a series of pools and rapids. Two kilometres downstream from the springs, the stream is blocked by a solidified lava flow and disappears below the surface again.

Mzima is one of Tsavo's most popular wildlife attractions owing to its resident populations of hippos and Nile crocodiles. Mzima's isolation makes both species are dependent on its waters: other sources are too distant for them to reach by overland travel. The hippos also sustain an entire food chain. They browse the surrounding savannah by night and return to Mzima's pools by day, where their dung fertilises the water. Fruiting trees such as date and raffia palms, waterberrys and figs grow beside the water, using their submerged roots to absorb nutrients. Their fruits are a source of food for vervet monkeys and a variety of birds. Below the water's surface, the invertebrates which feed on the hippo dung are preyed on by fish and cormorants.

In 2009, a prolonged drought proved catastrophic for Mzima's wildlife. Starving game animals were driven to permanent water sources in their thousands, bringing them into competition with the resident hippos. The grassland surrounding the spring turned to desert and hippos began starving to death. In September 2009, only five remained, down from 70 in 2003 and journalists reported seeing carcasses floating in the pools.

Mzima Springs produces around 190 million litres of water a day and thanks to it the animals of Tsavo are always quenched.

Ivory seized in Singapore a decade ago to be burnt in Kenya.

After almost 10 years of investigations and intense lobbying, seven African countries have agreed that tonnes of contraband ivory seized in Singapore in 2002 be set ablaze in Kenya.In a high profile ceremony to be attended by members of what is called the Lusaka Agreement, 335 tusks and 41,553 hankos will be set on fire at Tsavo West National Park on July 20. 

Hankos are signature stamps, similar to rubber stamps, but made from ivory and popular in Asia. This consignment was destined for Japan. According to the Lusaka Agreement secretariat’s director Bonaventure Ebayi, who is based in Nairobi, this is part of 6.5 tonnes of ivory seized in Singapore in 2002 and brought to Nairobi in 2004 for investigations.

It was estimated that more than 300 elephants had been killed for the ivory. Wildlife authorities seized the opportunity to try out a unique law enforcement tool using DNA. The investigators took samples of the ivory and sent them to the University of Washington in Seattle, US.

One of the investigators, Dr Sam Wasser who is the director of the Center for Conservation Biology at the University of Washington, said they were able to establish that most of the ivory seized in Singapore came from an area in Zambia.
The agreement to destroy the consignment is a rare occurrence among countries as some hold different views on ivory trade.

Tanzania and Zambia are for the opening up of trade in ivory, saying any profits from sales could be ploughed back into elephant conservation.
Kenya on the other hand is opposed to the opening up of the trade, arguing that this could lead to more poaching. The decision to destroy the Singapore hoard was a give and take affair, with no one country emerging a clear winner.
Ms Mwangunga said the proposals will be submitted before the next Cites meeting in two years.Tanzania has consistently lobbied Cites to allow the country to sell off its ivory stockpiles.

However, Cites turned down Tanzania’s request at its 15th meeting in Doha last year, an action that resulted in Tanzania blaming Kenya for spearheading what it sees as negative propaganda against the spirit of East African cooperation.The Lusaka Agreement countries are Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Republics of Congo, Liberia, Zambia and Lesotho while Ethiopia, South Africa and Swaziland are signatories.

Apart from burning the ivory, the taskforce will in July launch a special account for fund-raising to support activities in curtailing illegal ivory trade in member countries.

ETT- Kenya Safaris Desk

Etton Travel and Tours

Kimana Community Wildlife Sanctuary.

Kimana community wildlife sanctuary has set a precedent for being the first community owned and managed wildlife sanctuary in Kenya. The sanctuary lies in the game migration corridor linking the Amboseli and the Tsavo. This makes it one of the best view points since if you visit during migration periods you can have one of the best chance to see the red elephants of Amboseli among other animals.

A range of habitats is found within the Kimana conservancy such as swamp, savannah plains and woodland. This range of habitat provides for diverse wildlife including lions, leopards, cheetahs, buffalo, hippos and many antelopes.

While at the conservancy several activities can be done including: going for nature walks, bird viewing since the area is one of the highly populated areas with birds, you can also go for picnic at the sanctuary accompanied by Kenya wildlife service’s game rangers among other activities.

The cost of entrance into the Kimana community wildlife sanctuary is Two dollars including the vehicles and all its passengers. The money is used to run the conservancy and help educate the nearby community on the importance of conserving nature at its best form. 

Accommodation can be at the nearby Serena lodge in the Amboseli game reserve or at kibo safari camp.

ETT- Kenya Safaris Desk

Etton Travel and Tours

Fly Camping - At close quarters with nature

"Fly" is the name of the upper sheet of a tent. A simple mobile camp is even today called a fly camp. Facilities at a fly camp are a bucket shower, a pit toilet tent, and a double tent with safari beds. Dining is under the stars. 

It’s a rare opportunity to spend a night with basic comforts and in very close quarters with nature, fly camping favours those who choose light-weight camping.

Fly camps are the ideal end to a day’s walking safari or game drive, with many unexpected comforts – a canvas washbasin with hot water, fresh towels, hurricane lamps and delicious food cooked on the fire.

Fly camping is fast becoming the most popular option for luxury safari guests who want to experience the freedom and adventure of camping in the African bush without the encumbrances camping often entails.

Often while on fly camping, during day time you embark on hikes through the bush with private guides whereby you get the chance to see wild animals in close range, learn how to trek animals by using their footsteps and the finest thing is that your camp is set up each evening in a new locale.

Currently only a few game parks and reserves are offering this wild experience of african bush which is what makes Tanzania’s Selous Game Reserve the climax of Tanzania safaris.

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Tortoise - a survivor on the land

Tortoises are a family of land-dwelling reptiles of the order of turtles. Like their marine cousins, the sea turtles, tortoises are shielded from predators by a shell. The top part of the shell is the carapace, the underside is the plastron, and the two are connected by the bridge. The tortoise has both an endoskeleton and an exoskeleton. Tortoises can vary in size from a few centimeters to two meters. 

Tortoises are usually diurnal animals with tendencies to be crepuscular depending on the ambient temperatures. They are generally reclusive animals.

Tortoises generally have lifespans comparable with those of human beings, and some individuals are known to have lived longer than 150 to 225years. Because of this, they symbolize longevity in some cultures, such as China

.

Most land based tortoises are herbivores, feeding on grazing grasses, weeds, leafy greens, flowers, and some fruits although there are some omnivorous species in this family. Pet tortoises typically require a diet based on wild grasses, weeds and certain flowers. Certain species consume worms or insects and carrion in their normal habitat. Too much protein is detrimental in herbiverous species and has been associated with shell deformities and other medical problems. Cat or dog foods should not be fed to tortoises, as these do not contain the proper balance of nutrients for a reptile. Additionally, it should not be assumed that all captive tortoises can be fed on the same diet. As different tortoise species vary greatly in their nutritional requirements it is essential to thoroughly research the dietary needs of your individual tortoise.

The best approach to determining the proper diet is to consult a qualified veterinarian specialising in chelonian care. In Kenya thse creatures can be seen at the Nairobi Museum and some in the various national parks in Kenya.

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Ethiopian Airlines resumes flights

Ethiopian Airlines announced on Wednesday 15^th June that it had resumed flights to some of the destinations affected by volcanic ash from a volcanic eruption in Eritrea Monday morning.

“The volcanic ash cloud in the Northern part of Ethiopia is clearing. Therefore, Ethiopian flights to Djibouti will resume 15 June," the Airlines said in a press statement Wednesday afternoon.

However, “Flights to Khartoum and some destinations in the Northern part of Ethiopia are still suspended.”

The eruption of a long-dormant volcano in northeastern Africa disrupted air traffic since Monday night. The Dubbi volcano erupted on Sunday night following a series of minor earthquakes, spewing ash up to eight miles into the air.

The eruption was its first in 150 years.

Dubbi is located 219 miles south of the Eritrean capital, Asmara, and 146 miles east of the Ethiopian city of Mekelle.

US officials were quoted as saying that Ethiopia was considering shutting down Addis Ababa's main international airport as the ash cloud headed toward the capital, though this was not confirmed by Ethiopia's Civil Aviation Authority.

Nevertheless, a press statement by Ethiopian Airlines on Tuesday 14 June, stated that northern Ethiopia, neighboring Djibouti and the Sudanese capital of Khartoum, had been affected.

Germany's Lufthansa had said that it had canceled a flight out of Asmara on Monday and another flight into Addis Ababa.

According to most African weather services, the cloud was moving in the direction of Saudi Arabia and Jordan.

ETT- African Safaris Desk

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