By Claudia Smargiasso
Ask any safari traveller which animal they’re most hoping to glimpse while on safari, and you’re likely to hear lion more often than not. These lithe and majestic cats make for really jaw-dropping sightings in the wild, and while they’re known as mighty hunters, their existence and population numbers are in a delicate state.
By Amy Dickman, Director, Ruaha Carnivore Project
Amy Dickman and the Ruaha Carnivore Project were recently voted into the top 3 finalists at the Tusk Conservation Awards for their innovative approach to big cat conservation, an achievement they have every right to be extremely proud of after all the hard work that has gone into the project. To see the highlights of this year’s awards, click here .
By Marius Swart, Kwihala Guide
Judith recently had a whirlwind tour of the Asilia camps in Tanzania, and here she shares her impressions of a day at Kwihala Camp in Ruaha National Park with us.
August
Zarafa and its Dhow Suites would like to thank the many American citizens who made the long trip to Africa for their safari!
For our camp, August is traditionally an ‘American month’ with around 60% of our guests coming from overseas and this year was no exception. We wish you all safe travels back home and we hope to see you next winter. Oh! And for those of you who enjoy flexible work arrangements or are retired, please do not be a stranger and visit us even earlier. In November for example, it is a completely different ball game out here!
The Ruaha Carnivore Project has initiated a study using camera traps to gather crucial data on the movements of predators within Ruaha. These cameras provide an excellent, non-intrusive way of monitoring wildlife, and sometimes they can be used for entirely different reasons.
Amy Dickman, director of the Ruaha Carnivore Project, (RCP) has been co-supervising PhD student Jeremy Cusack, who has set up the initiative with Trevor Jones from the Udzungwa Elephant project with assistance from the RCP team.
A lone bull crosses the plains, heading for the ol Donyo waterhole. (Photo: Walter Kolon)
May should have been a month of dramatic storms and heavy downpours, but sadly we have not had much of a rainy season so far – more of a “gentle drizzle”! So we are keeping our fingers crossed that we may get some late rain in June to fill the waterholes out on the plains and top up our tanks.
Guide James and Lion Tracker Lenka discussing the route through the Chyulu Hills to the collared lion Nemasi
