Amboseli - a land of giants

Amboseli is a land of giants. This is a place of wide dry plains, where the horizons stretch into the furthest distance and become one with the sky.

Amboseli is renowned for its elephant populations and large herds, including some impressively tusked bulls are drawn to a series of large, lush swamplands. But the most impressive giant of all is Mt Kilimanjaro.

Africa’s largest mountain lies just over the border in Tanzania, but the most impressive views of its snow-capped peak are to be found in Amboseli. The early light of dawn turns the mountain a dark hue of purple, and its snows into an ethereal pink.

The sight of Kilimanjaro high above herds of elephant crossing the plains of Amboseli is a timeless African image.

This area is home to many Maasai communities, centred around the Amboseli National Park. The park is 400 sq kms, with its southern boundary along the Tanzanian border.

The park is home to more than just Elephants, and herds of wildebeest, zebra and impala graze on the open plains.. There are areas of acacia forest that make for good birding, and are home to many small mammals. Cheetah are also often sighted here.

The park is centred around a large hill, with fantastic views of the surrounding plains, often crossed by whirlwinds that send winding columns of dust into the sky. This open country is good walking territory, and many camps and lodges organise game walks, or trips to spend time in local Maasai villages.

Camel Derby will take place from the 17th – 19th August 2012

Kenya's Camel Classic - Maralal Camel Derby The Annual Maralal Camel Derby takes place in the month of August in Maralal, a remote desert outpost in Samburu county.

The quiet town of Maralal, about 348 kms North of Nairobi, is considered the gateway to Kenya’s wild and arid North, and is a mecca for adventurers, nomads and camels.

Maralal Camel Derby will take place from the 17th – 19th August 2012 at Yare Camel Camp in Maralal.

This is real camel country, and the single humped dromedary camel is a vital part of life for many of Northern Kenya’s nomadic people.

Each year, the Camel Derby brings colour and action to the streets of Maralal as the finest Camels in the North gather for the big race.

While most of Kenya’s camel rearing communities do not ride them- using them as pack animals- they are excellent handlers and judges of an animals strength and potential for speed.

Winning the Derby is a great local honour, and each year the title is hotly contested. But this by no means a purely local event.

Maralal is a haven for nomadic cultures, and that includes travellers from all over the globe.

The Town is a popular stopover for travellers looking for adventure in Kenya’s Northern Frontier District - one of Africa’s last great unspoilt wilderness areas.

For anyone visiting the area around this time, attending the Derby is a must. The three day race event is a chance to experience culture, colour, action and adventure first hand.

This is not just a spectator sport - if you are going to attend the derby, why not saddle up and join in? 

The derby this year will include: Camel ride competition for amateurs and experts as well, Tricamalon, 10km fun run, 5 km fun run for the physically challenged and bike races.

Verreaux's Eagle-owl

Verreaux's Eagle-owl -also known as the Milky Eagle Owl, Giant Eagle Owl- is a member of the family Strigidae and is the largest African owl. This owl is claimed to be the world's third largest owl; after the Blakiston's Fish Owl and Eurasian Eagle Owl.

Verreaux's Eagle-owl ranges from 66–75 cm (26-30 in) in length. This species can attain a wingspan 2 m (6.5 ft) and weighs from 1600 to 3115 grams (equal to 3.5 to 7 pounds). In appearance, they are distinguished by a whitish oval disk face with a black border, pink eyelids, orange eyes and two feather tufts on their ears. Their feathers are dark brown on top and light grey below.

It is a nocturnal bird; it can be seen perching on exposed branches during the day. It often hunts in early evening and will wade into water to catch fish. Particularly partial to hedgehogs when nesting, it will take a wide variety of prey from moths to Great White Egrets, Grey Herons and apparently even Secretary Birds. At Lake Baringo Club the resident family has driven the White-faced Scops Owl from the grounds, having preyed on their chicks. They have also decimated the hotel's domestic cat population, the remaining cats are very cautious. Above all Verreaux's Eagle-Owls are opportunistic feeders which are quite happy scavenging for leftovers. You should watch out for them at lodges that engage in daily crocodile feeding.

Balloon Safaris over the Maasai Mara, Kenya

Float with us in the early light of dawn above the grazing herds of game in the Maasai Mara. This, Kenya’s best known Game Reserve is world famous for its herds of buffalo, prides of lion and the vast concentrations of wildebeest that migrate from the Serengeti Plains each year. The vast grassland plains are scattered with herds of Zebra, Giraffe, Gazelle, and Topi. With its gentle rolling landscape the Mara is surely the finest place on earth to go ballooning.

A gentle ascent lifts you well above tree-top level and the light soothing breeze allows you to enjoy a panoramic view of wildlife below and offers great and unique photographic opportunities. Apart from the hiss of the burners, the flight above the Masai Mara plains is magically silent.

The David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust

The David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust is a small, flexible charity, established in 1977 to honour to memory of a famous Naturalist, David Leslie William Sheldrick MBE, the founder Warden of Tsavo East National Park in Kenya, where he served from its inception in 1948 until his transfer to Nairobi in 1976 to head the Planning Unit of the newly created Wildlife Conservation & Management Department. David died 6 months later but his legacy of excellence and the systems he installed for the management of Tsavo and wildlife generally in Kenya, particularly in the sphere of wildlife husbandry and ethics, lives on.

Charitable Status & How they Operate

Since its inception, the Trust has remained true to his principles and ideals, its modus of operation overseen by 6 competent and well versed Trustees assisted by an Advisory Committee of practical Naturalists with a lifetime experience of wildlife, local environmental conditions and the history of conservation in this country. In 2004 the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust attained US Charitable status enhancing its corporate funding capability under the guidance of the U.S. based Friends of the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust, all whom work on a voluntary basis. On 9th June 2004 it was incorporated as a Charitable Company Limited by Guarantee in the U.K. and granted charitable status by the Charities Commission, its Charity No. 1103836. A Company Limited by Guarantee retains the overall jurisdiction of the Trust’s existing Trustees over the disbursement of funds generated in the U.K.
The Trust’s Conservation Ethics

The Trust has played an extremely significant role in Kenya’s conservation effort since it was founded in 1977, speaking out when necessary on controversial issues and stepping in unobtrusively and rapidly to bridge a gap or meet a shortfall that jeopardizes wildlife during times of Governmental economic constraints. Because in life David Sheldrick strongly censored the extravagance of exorbitant overheads, the Trust places great emphasis on minimal expenditure in this respect, thereby ensuring that donations given in support of wildlife reach their target in full in the most practical and positive manner. The reputation of the Trust is a proud one, as was the record of the man whose name it bears, thanks to the dedication and energy of a competent Staff committed to the example of David Sheldrick as their role model.

Aberdares

The Aberdares is best known for being home of the famous Treetops hotel in Nyeri.it was where the passing of her father in 1952,Princess Elizabeth became queen of England.part of the range is protected as the Aberdares National Park and encompasses all the land above 3200 metres as well as a portion of land towards the eat,known as the salient which reaches down to 2130 metres near Nyeri Town.The Aberdares forest is rich in wildlife e.g Elephant,rhino,warthog,dikdik,reed buck and the very and rare bongo

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.

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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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Etton Travel and Tours

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.

ETT - Kenya Safaris Desk

 Etton travel and Tours