A2A Safaris - Chyulu Hillshttps://www.a2asafaris.com/africa/blog/tags/chyulu-hillsen10 Things I Want People to Know about Kenya – Dereck Jouberthttps://www.a2asafaris.com/africa/blog/10-things-i-want-people-to-know-about-kenya-%E2%80%93-dereck-joubert<div class="body text-field" property="content:encoded"><p>Ten things I want people to know about Kenya.<br />
By Dereck Joubert</p>
<p>This could be titled ‘Why I love Kenya’ so be ready for some unabashed positive messages about the country.</p>
<p>I keep coming across people who ask me if it’s safe in Kenya, and while at first I was surprised, having lived for some time in Johannesburg in South Africa, later I realized that people are reading the Kenyan situation all wrong. If you hang out in any bad neighborhood bad stuff is going to happen.</p>
<p>All of the incidents have been in isolated dark and dingy areas of Mombasa or Nairobi and like most places in the world, there are certain areas you really do not want to wander around it. We caught the underground in New York this month, and ended up in just one such dark and dingy stop at 2am and it was as uncomfortable as in the back streets of Mombasa.<br />
The pristine wildlife camps and high-end lodges are almost like a different world in Kenya.</p>
<p>So the first thing I wish people knew about Kenya is that it’s safe in the areas you actually go to Kenya for! Some safari operations with camps in the Maasai Mara and in other regions now pick guests up at the international airport and whisk them off directly to the bush to start their adventure, avoiding the hustle and bustle of cities, isolating them from any threat.<a href="http://www.greatplainsconservation.com/bushbuzz/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/Charter-plane.jpg" rel="shadowbox[sbpost-9528];player=img;"><img class="aligncenter size-medium wp-image-9530" alt="Charter plane" src="http://www.greatplainsconservation.com/bushbuzz/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/Charter-plane-300x201.jpg" width="300" height="201" /></a></p>
<p>A little magic was sprinkled onto the destiny of Kenya in late 1977 when a group of local women banded together with Richard Leakey and other conservationists and marched on parliament calling for a ban on hunting.<br />
The lion population was in trouble even 37 years ago and today there are fewer than 1,500 in Kenya. But I love the fact that this was the first country in Africa to take a stand like this and make it stick. Some say that wildlife numbers today are lower than when they were back then. The same can be said for just about any wildlife population (except a couple of species that cohabit well with Man: rats and mice, viruses, and bacteria.) In general wildlife numbers decline in proportion to increased human population.</p>
<p>I was sitting on a small hill on the Olare Motorogi Conservancy and mulling over all this recently, and as I scanned around for big cats my binoculars passed over; giraffe, topi, wildebeest, zebra, Thompson’s gazelle, impala, some ostriches, eland, buffalo, elephants, a blur of warthogs, Grants gazelle and finally a pride of lions sitting virtually eye level to me on a far hill. Having found my ‘prey’ I realized that there is probably no other place in the world where one can see this amount of wildlife in one place! The sheer biomass is staggering. First time visitors to Africa should choose the Maasai Mara because there won’t be a dull moment and it is what the safari is all about: wild animals. It’s like stepping into a National Geographic film, on steroids. <a href="http://www.greatplainsconservation.com/bushbuzz/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/Sundowners_BJoubert.jpg" rel="shadowbox[sbpost-9528];player=img;"><img class="aligncenter size-medium wp-image-9533" alt="Sundowners_BJoubert" src="http://www.greatplainsconservation.com/bushbuzz/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/Sundowners_BJoubert-300x193.jpg" width="300" height="193" /></a></p>
<p>And then there is the migration, although I see that more as the moving, bleating, crazy brochure for Kenya that doesn’t need much announcement. Every cable channel around the world has had some kind of film on the poor wildebeest leaping into brown churning rivers that hide giant gnarly crocodiles but for me the Mara is much more about lush green rolling plains that are punctuated with the first steps of a new born Thompson’s gazelle as he stands up, no taller than the average sized camera I use, and these hills further punctuated by a watching cheetah. This wildlife only exist today because of tourism. Without the income, cattle would soon overwhelm the Mara and it will be just like any other place in Africa, dry, barren, overgrazed, with a scattering of poverty and sadness. <a href="http://www.greatplainsconservation.com/bushbuzz/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/MIgration-shot_BJoubert-copy.jpg" rel="shadowbox[sbpost-9528];player=img;"><img class="aligncenter size-medium wp-image-9535" alt="MIgration shot_BJoubert copy" src="http://www.greatplainsconservation.com/bushbuzz/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/MIgration-shot_BJoubert-copy-300x200.jpg" width="300" height="200" /></a></p>
<p>It’s also not just isolated to the Maasai Mara. Last month we got in a small Cessna and flew south from the Mara to ol Donyo Lodge, out of the lush green rolling savannas that you expect to see if you grew up on Out of Africa, as I did, across the great Rift Valley that holds so much mystique for me.<br />
At the foothills of the Chyulu Hills where the shadow of Kilimanjaro really does stretch across the plains I spotted a gerenuk antelope, a weird long necked beauty that stands on its hind legs to reach up to new buds on acacia trees, a surprising animal. I then caught a glimpse of great grey giants. Despite the fact that Africa loses five elephants an hour now, these giants still survive at here, protected to a large degree by the tourism that supports the anti poaching. With tusks reaching down to the ground and with names like One Ton and Unbelievable, elephants that come from ancestors with a tradition of names like “He who Ploughs the Earth” are valued representatives of an elephant population that cannot be seen anywhere else in the world. They represent the elephants that once where, the stories of our childhoods, the memories of a time when giants ruled this continent from coast to coast and ploughing the earth with gleaming ivory. An anti-poaching force run by the Big Life Foundation of over 270 rangers patrol and secure 2 million acres of land. <a href="http://www.greatplainsconservation.com/bushbuzz/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/hide-with-ele.jpg" rel="shadowbox[sbpost-9528];player=img;"><img class="aligncenter size-medium wp-image-9531" alt="hide with ele" src="http://www.greatplainsconservation.com/bushbuzz/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/hide-with-ele-300x199.jpg" width="300" height="199" /></a></p>
<p>People should know that there is a battle for Africa going on and it is being fought on three major wildlife fronts: lions, elephants and rhinos. In Kenya we help fund the Predator Compensation Fund (under Big Life) by paying fair value for cows killed by lions and Maasai warriors have agreed to stop spearing lions. It’s a major coup.</p>
<p>The warmth of a warrior’s smile one day, a six foot tall man in red checked robes with beads and spears and swords is something I will not forget but when he told me that real warriors don’t need to kill lions anymore, my heart swelled with pride, compassion and a sense of shared hope. <a href="http://www.greatplainsconservation.com/bushbuzz/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/Maasai-conservationists-copy.jpg" rel="shadowbox[sbpost-9528];player=img;"><img class="aligncenter size-medium wp-image-9534" alt="Maasai conservationists copy" src="http://www.greatplainsconservation.com/bushbuzz/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/Maasai-conservationists-copy-300x199.jpg" width="300" height="199" /></a></p>
<p>A few years ago, an electrical fire burned down most of the international airport. Like a few thousand other people we were trying to fly out and I was struck by the kindness and willingness of officials to help, to direct and just be good at making the best of a smoke filled bad thing. When we handed in our passports, and said: “Tough day?” she looked up at us and smiled, “Could have been much worse.” And I took this to be the attitude of Kenyans in general.</p>
<p>Innovation, passion, that frontier spirit, huge tusker elephants, lions in the largest density known to scientists, weird long necked antelope, deserts and mountains.</p>
<p>Mostly what I would like people to know about Kenya is that is fulfills dreams, against all kinds of odds. Those dreams only exist on a warm bed of tourism.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.greatplainsconservation.com/bushbuzz/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/bed-photo.jpg" rel="shadowbox[sbpost-9528];player=img;"><img class="aligncenter size-medium wp-image-9529" alt="bed photo" src="http://www.greatplainsconservation.com/bushbuzz/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/bed-photo-300x199.jpg" width="300" height="199" /></a></p>
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</div><div class="field-tags field-items"><div class="field-label">Tags: </div><div class="field-item even " rel="dc:subject"><a href="/africa/blog/tags/bushbuzz" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">BushBuzz</a></div><div class="field-item odd " rel="dc:subject"><a href="/africa/blog/tags/kenya-camps" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Kenya Camps</a></div><div class="field-item even " rel="dc:subject"><a href="/africa/blog/tags/mara-plains-camp" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Mara Plains Camp</a></div><div class="field-item odd " rel="dc:subject"><a href="/africa/blog/tags/mara-toto" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Mara Toto</a></div><div class="field-item even " rel="dc:subject"><a href="/africa/blog/tags/ol-donyo-lodge" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">ol Donyo Lodge</a></div><div class="field-item odd " rel="dc:subject"><a href="/africa/blog/tags/ride-kenya" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Ride Kenya</a></div><div class="field-item even " rel="dc:subject"><a href="/africa/blog/tags/botswana-luxury-safari" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Botswana Luxury Safari</a></div><div class="field-item odd " rel="dc:subject"><a href="/africa/blog/tags/chyulu-hills" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Chyulu Hills</a></div><div class="field-item even " rel="dc:subject"><a href="/africa/blog/tags/dereck-and-beverly-joubert" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Dereck and Beverly Joubert</a></div><div class="field-item odd " rel="dc:subject"><a href="/africa/blog/tags/great-plains-conservation" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Great Plains Conservation</a></div><div class="field-item even " rel="dc:subject"><a href="/africa/blog/tags/kenya" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Kenya</a></div><div class="field-item odd " rel="dc:subject"><a href="/africa/blog/tags/kenyan-luxury-safari" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Kenyan Luxury Safari</a></div><div class="field-item even " rel="dc:subject"><a href="/africa/blog/tags/kenyan-safari" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Kenyan Safari</a></div><div class="field-item odd " rel="dc:subject"><a href="/africa/blog/tags/mara-plains-camp" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Mara Plains Camp</a></div><div class="field-item even " rel="dc:subject"><a href="/africa/blog/tags/ride-kenya-horse-safaris" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Ride Kenya Horse Safaris</a></div><div class="field-item odd " rel="dc:subject"><a href="/africa/blog/tags/ride-kenya-mobile-horse-safaris" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Ride Kenya Mobile Horse Safaris</a></div><div class="field-item even " rel="dc:subject"><a href="/africa/blog/tags/safari" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Safari</a></div><div class="field-item odd " rel="dc:subject"><a href="/africa/blog/tags/wildlife" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Wildlife</a></div></div>Tue, 05 Aug 2014 15:43:06 +0000Anonymous1049 at https://www.a2asafaris.com/africahttps://www.a2asafaris.com/africa/blog/10-things-i-want-people-to-know-about-kenya-%E2%80%93-dereck-joubert#commentsMay news – ol Donyo Lodge, Kenyahttps://www.a2asafaris.com/africa/blog/may-news-%E2%80%93-ol-donyo-lodge-kenya<div class="body text-field" property="content:encoded"><p><em>A lone bull crosses the plains, heading for the ol Donyo waterhole. (Photo: Walter Kolon)</em></p>
<p>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.</p>
<p>The quieter start to the month was put to good use, and many projects were completed around the camp, stables and surrounding roads. The lodge has never looked better and we are now geared up to be firing on all cylinders for the coming peak season.</p>
<p>With this current lack of rain, the area is becoming increasingly dry and consequently the lodge waterhole is becoming a bustling hive of activity. Sitting in the hide less than ten metres from these daily visitors is an enthralling experience. There is a definite hierarchy in place, mainly dictated by size! Our resident bull elephants are definitely top of the pile and everyone else has to patiently wait their turn… apart from one bold species – the Warthog! There are two families that we see regularly who come swooping in like kamikaze fighter pilots, taking a swift couple of gulps before hurtling away to find a new angle for the next approach! We have also had the rare Southern Ground Hornbill at the waterhole in the past weeks. These large birds are listed as “Vulnerable” on the IUCN Red List so it is thrilling to see them here at ol Donyo.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.greatplainsconservation.com/bushbuzz/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/DSC_3736.jpg" rel="shadowbox[sbpost-9391];player=img;"><img class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-9447" alt="DSC_3736" src="http://www.greatplainsconservation.com/bushbuzz/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/DSC_3736-1024x682.jpg" width="1024" height="682" /></a><br /><em>One Warthog family just waiting for an opportunity! (Photo: Walter Kol</em>on)</p>
<p><a href="http://www.greatplainsconservation.com/bushbuzz/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/DSC_3777.jpg" rel="shadowbox[sbpost-9391];player=img;"><img class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-9446" alt="DSC_3777" src="http://www.greatplainsconservation.com/bushbuzz/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/DSC_3777-926x1024.jpg" width="926" height="1024" /></a><br /><em>Southern Ground Hornbill at the Waterhole (Photo: Walter Kolon)</em></p>
<p>The end of the month was extremely busy for the stables with riders in continuously for the last two weeks. Fabulous cool morning rides out to a bush breakfast are a true highlight, and these are not just for the experienced rider – novice riders can also enjoy a gentle saunter through the zebra and gazelle herds to a fantastic breakfast under an enormous acacia tree. We also did a night’s fly camping out in the bush with two full days riding either side. To be out in the bush, sleeping under the beautiful starry Kenyan night sky is something so truly special.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.greatplainsconservation.com/bushbuzz/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/IMG_0370.jpg" rel="shadowbox[sbpost-9391];player=img;"><img class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-9443" alt="IMG_0370" src="http://www.greatplainsconservation.com/bushbuzz/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/IMG_0370-1024x682.jpg" width="1024" height="682" /></a><br /><em>The horses and elephants mingling at the water hole (Photo: Annie Waterer)</em></p>
<p>The lions have been very loud around the lodge at night this month and we have had some great relaxed sightings of the sisters Nosinoni and Nelowua and their four cubs. We also have a new lioness in the area that has been identified as Mbalueni. She has two female cubs that are approximately a year old – hopefully the future leading ladies of Mbirikani’s lion population. The stunning male Kasiyo, thought to be the father of her cubs as well as Nosinoni and Nelowua’s four male cubs, also accompanied them.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.greatplainsconservation.com/bushbuzz/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/DSC_3232.jpg" rel="shadowbox[sbpost-9391];player=img;"><img class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-9448" alt="DSC_3232" src="http://www.greatplainsconservation.com/bushbuzz/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/DSC_3232-1024x682.jpg" width="1024" height="682" /></a><br /><em> Nosi Noni and two of her cubs (Photo: Walter Kolon)</em></p>
<p><a href="http://www.greatplainsconservation.com/bushbuzz/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/DSC_4910.jpg" rel="shadowbox[sbpost-9391];player=img;"><img class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-9444" alt="DSC_4910" src="http://www.greatplainsconservation.com/bushbuzz/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/DSC_4910-930x1024.jpg" width="930" height="1024" /></a><br />
The mighty Kasiyo (Photo: Walter Kolon)</p>
<p><a href="http://www.greatplainsconservation.com/bushbuzz/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/DSC_4907.jpg" rel="shadowbox[sbpost-9391];player=img;"><img class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-9445" alt="DSC_4907" src="http://www.greatplainsconservation.com/bushbuzz/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/DSC_4907-1024x498.jpg" width="1024" height="498" /></a><em></em><i>Mbalueni and her cubs striding off through the long grass near the Kopjes </i><em>(Photo: Walter Kolon)</em></p>
<p>A momentous occasion in May was the first egg from the Chyulu Chicks! They are now producing regularly and we are very much enjoying the satisfaction and taste of home laid eggs. The gardens are growing fantastically and before long we will have lettuce straight from the garden to plate (via a little wash!) in minutes.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.greatplainsconservation.com/bushbuzz/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/IMG_0427.jpg" rel="shadowbox[sbpost-9391];player=img;"><img class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-9442" alt="IMG_0427" src="http://www.greatplainsconservation.com/bushbuzz/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/IMG_0427-1024x682.jpg" width="1024" height="682" /></a><br /><em>In the Green Gate Garden! (Photo: Annie Waterer)</em></p>
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</div><div class="field-tags field-items"><div class="field-label">Tags: </div><div class="field-item even " rel="dc:subject"><a href="/africa/blog/tags/bushbuzz" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">BushBuzz</a></div><div class="field-item odd " rel="dc:subject"><a href="/africa/blog/tags/headlines" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Headlines</a></div><div class="field-item even " rel="dc:subject"><a href="/africa/blog/tags/kenya-camps" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Kenya Camps</a></div><div class="field-item odd " rel="dc:subject"><a href="/africa/blog/tags/ol-donyo-lodge" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">ol Donyo Lodge</a></div><div class="field-item even " rel="dc:subject"><a href="/africa/blog/tags/ride-kenya" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Ride Kenya</a></div><div class="field-item odd " rel="dc:subject"><a href="/africa/blog/tags/chyulu-hills" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Chyulu Hills</a></div><div class="field-item even " rel="dc:subject"><a href="/africa/blog/tags/dereck-and-beverly-joubert" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Dereck and Beverly Joubert</a></div><div class="field-item odd " rel="dc:subject"><a href="/africa/blog/tags/elephants" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">elephants</a></div><div class="field-item even " rel="dc:subject"><a href="/africa/blog/tags/great-plains-conservation" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Great Plains Conservation</a></div><div class="field-item odd " rel="dc:subject"><a href="/africa/blog/tags/kenya" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Kenya</a></div><div class="field-item even " rel="dc:subject"><a href="/africa/blog/tags/kenyan-luxury-safari" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Kenyan Luxury Safari</a></div><div class="field-item odd " rel="dc:subject"><a href="/africa/blog/tags/kenyan-safari" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Kenyan Safari</a></div><div class="field-item even " rel="dc:subject"><a href="/africa/blog/tags/lion" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Lion</a></div><div class="field-item odd " rel="dc:subject"><a href="/africa/blog/tags/lions" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">lions</a></div><div class="field-item even " rel="dc:subject"><a href="/africa/blog/tags/ride-kenya-horse-safaris" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Ride Kenya Horse Safaris</a></div><div class="field-item odd " rel="dc:subject"><a href="/africa/blog/tags/ride-kenya-mobile-horse-safaris" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Ride Kenya Mobile Horse Safaris</a></div><div class="field-item even " rel="dc:subject"><a href="/africa/blog/tags/wildlife" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Wildlife</a></div></div>Mon, 09 Jun 2014 20:02:24 +0000Anonymous983 at https://www.a2asafaris.com/africahttps://www.a2asafaris.com/africa/blog/may-news-%E2%80%93-ol-donyo-lodge-kenya#commentsApril News – ol Donyo Lodge, Kenyahttps://www.a2asafaris.com/africa/blog/april-news-%E2%80%93-ol-donyo-lodge-kenya<div class="body text-field" property="content:encoded"><p><b><i>Guide James and Lion Tracker Lenka discussing the route through the Chyulu Hills to the collared lion Nemasi</i></b></p>
<p>April’s word has to be lions! The sightings have been amazing with so much Lion activity……… Nemesi has been consistently seen with her 3 cubs who are growing rapidly and seem to be doing extremely well and absolutely loving their home in the Chyulus. We are able to track the prides movements using our Maasai tracker Lenka and a special tracking antenna which responds to Nemasi’s collar when she is near. The guests get to experience tracking in the vehicle but also on foot and see first-hand what is involved with protecting and observing these magnificent creatures.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.greatplainsconservation.com/bushbuzz/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/Image-2.jpg" rel="shadowbox[sbpost-9383];player=img;"><img class="aligncenter size-medium wp-image-9382" alt="Image 2" src="http://www.greatplainsconservation.com/bushbuzz/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/Image-2-300x200.jpg" width="300" height="200" /></a></p>
<p><b><i>A unique look at Nemasi’s collar. This is how we are able to track this pride and are able to share this incredibly raw and unique experience with our guests. </i></b><a href="http://alyraywyatt.smugmug.com/2014olDonyoLodgeKenya/April-Newsletter-Photos/i-XwJ3Vtt/0/XL/IMG_2169-XL.jpg" rel="shadowbox[sbpost-9383];player=img;"><br /></a></p>
<p>Easter was fantastic, and what could be a better way to spend the morning then to spoil our guests with a Bush Breaksfast. Now a bush breakfast is already an amazing experience under the umbrella of an acacia tree with Kilimanjaro as a back drop but just as one of our guests was riding in after a morning horse ride, Annie, the stables manager spotted 2 cheetahs just lazily lounging under a tree within viewing distance of the breakfast table! They were so relaxed and were seemingly just as interested in the horse riders as the horse riders were in them. It was a great start to Bush Breakfast.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.greatplainsconservation.com/bushbuzz/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/Image-3.jpg" rel="shadowbox[sbpost-9383];player=img;"><img class="aligncenter size-medium wp-image-9381" alt="OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA" src="http://www.greatplainsconservation.com/bushbuzz/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/Image-3-300x225.jpg" width="300" height="225" /></a></p>
<p><b><i>Our waiters Douglas and Isaac waiting patiently to surprise the guests with Mimosa’s ….. little did they know as the picture was being taken there were 2 cheetah just a stone’s throw away wanting to be a part of the celebration, too.</i></b></p>
<p>Finally towards the end of April we had some heavy and well needed rains across the plains which is not only a spectacular sight from the lodge but also a huge help to the animals that roam the plains. The rains allow the animals to traverse the area without worry of going thirsty, many of our animals can be seen in large groupings slowly making their way to Tsavo or Amboseli national parks in order to breed or graze in green pastures.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.greatplainsconservation.com/bushbuzz/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/Image-4.jpg" rel="shadowbox[sbpost-9383];player=img;"><img class="aligncenter size-medium wp-image-9380" alt="Image 4" src="http://www.greatplainsconservation.com/bushbuzz/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/Image-4-300x199.jpg" width="300" height="199" /></a><b><i></i></b></p>
<p><b><i>An elephant enjoys one of lush lakes and green pastures of Amboseli over the rainy season.</i></b></p>
<p>This for us is an excellent time for our guests to explore a little further afield as well and we can treat our guests to longer game drives into the areas where the animals are enjoying themselves. One of the most beautiful areas this time of year is Amboseli and it is under a 2 hour game drive from the lodge to the main gate.</p>
<p>Although the park covers only 392 sq km, despite its small size and its fragile ecosystem the park supports a wide range of mammals, well over 50 of the larger species and over 400 species of birds.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.greatplainsconservation.com/bushbuzz/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/image-6.jpg" rel="shadowbox[sbpost-9383];player=img;"><img class="aligncenter size-medium wp-image-9379" alt="image 6" src="http://www.greatplainsconservation.com/bushbuzz/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/image-6-300x238.jpg" width="300" height="238" /></a></p>
<p><b><i> A beautiful Grey Crown Crain can be one of the many species of birds found in this area.</i></b></p>
<p>Amboseli National Park is one of the best areas near the lodge for photography thanks to the abundant wildlife all under the shadow of Mt. Kilimanjaro and at this time of year it has a decent dusting of snow, and the mountain is consistently clear making any photo with an animal in the foreground that much more dramatic. Amboseli has a large number of elephants and some of the biggest breeding herds around, it is breath-taking to watch the elephants, water buffalo and hippos just go about their day as if you didn’t exist, wallowing in the mug or lazily wandering through one of the many swamps. These swamps and springs are fed by underground rivers which are fed by the melting snows of Kilimanjaro and they form permanent watering places for the wildlife through times of drought. The park’s best game drives are around these swamps and there is a fantastic lookout on Observation Hill which offers views over the whole of the park and beyond, one of our favourite spots to serve up a delicious picnic lunch consisting of ever changing items, this month we had items such as individual fennel and butternut squash quiche, grilled brie and eggplant chutney sandwiches, Tikka chicken skewers with Harissa yogurt dip and for dessert spiced Jamaican Banana bread with dark rum buttercream!</p>
<p><a href="http://www.greatplainsconservation.com/bushbuzz/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/image-7.jpg" rel="shadowbox[sbpost-9383];player=img;"><img class="aligncenter size-medium wp-image-9378" alt="image 7" src="http://www.greatplainsconservation.com/bushbuzz/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/image-7-300x172.jpg" width="300" height="172" /></a></p>
<p><b><i>Imagine, picnicking whilst watching the hippos on the plains! </i></b></p>
<p><a href="http://alyraywyatt.smugmug.com/2014olDonyoLodgeKenya/April-Newsletter-Photos/i-r2SLrjQ/0/XL/IMG_3181-XL.jpg" rel="shadowbox[sbpost-9383];player=img;"><span style="color: #333333;">Amboseli and the Imbirikani group ranch on which the lodge is situated conjur up images from the words written by Ernest Hemingway and Robert Ruark Manyatta, rolling hills which at this time of year are a lush emerald green, easing out onto golden savannahs of waving grass and wildlife.</span></a></p>
<p><a href="http://www.greatplainsconservation.com/bushbuzz/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/image-8.jpg" rel="shadowbox[sbpost-9383];player=img;"><img class="aligncenter size-medium wp-image-9377" alt="image 8" src="http://www.greatplainsconservation.com/bushbuzz/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/image-8-300x283.jpg" width="300" height="283" /></a></p>
<p><b><i>Bride Veronica with our ol Donyo staff members (left) Mwangi and (right) Jackson to help celebrate their special day.</i></b></p>
<p>Once again we were privileged enough to be invited to a traditional Maasai wedding this past month by one of our staff members, Veronica. All of us at ol Donyo would like to end our April newsletter by congratulating her and her new husband Dan- who just happens to be a guide at our sister camp, Mara Plains in the Masai Mara. <i>…..What a perfect match, indeed!</i></p>
<p><a href="http://www.greatplainsconservation.com/bushbuzz/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/image-9.jpg" rel="shadowbox[sbpost-9383];player=img;"><img class="aligncenter size-medium wp-image-9376" alt="image 9" src="http://www.greatplainsconservation.com/bushbuzz/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/image-9-200x300.jpg" width="200" height="300" /></a></p>
<p>Congratulations Veronica and Dan!</p>
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</div><div class="field-tags field-items"><div class="field-label">Tags: </div><div class="field-item even " rel="dc:subject"><a href="/africa/blog/tags/bushbuzz" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">BushBuzz</a></div><div class="field-item odd " rel="dc:subject"><a href="/africa/blog/tags/kenya-camps" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Kenya Camps</a></div><div class="field-item even " rel="dc:subject"><a href="/africa/blog/tags/ol-donyo-lodge" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">ol Donyo Lodge</a></div><div class="field-item odd " rel="dc:subject"><a href="/africa/blog/tags/chyulu-hills" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Chyulu Hills</a></div><div class="field-item even " rel="dc:subject"><a href="/africa/blog/tags/dereck-and-beverly-joubert" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Dereck and Beverly Joubert</a></div><div class="field-item odd " rel="dc:subject"><a href="/africa/blog/tags/elephants" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">elephants</a></div><div class="field-item even " rel="dc:subject"><a href="/africa/blog/tags/great-plains-conservation" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Great Plains Conservation</a></div><div class="field-item odd " rel="dc:subject"><a href="/africa/blog/tags/kenya" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Kenya</a></div><div class="field-item even " rel="dc:subject"><a href="/africa/blog/tags/kenyan-luxury-safari" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Kenyan Luxury Safari</a></div><div class="field-item odd " rel="dc:subject"><a href="/africa/blog/tags/kenyan-safari" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Kenyan Safari</a></div><div class="field-item even " rel="dc:subject"><a href="/africa/blog/tags/leopard" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">leopard</a></div><div class="field-item odd " rel="dc:subject"><a href="/africa/blog/tags/lion" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Lion</a></div><div class="field-item even " rel="dc:subject"><a href="/africa/blog/tags/ride-kenya-horse-safaris" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Ride Kenya Horse Safaris</a></div><div class="field-item odd " rel="dc:subject"><a href="/africa/blog/tags/ride-kenya-mobile-horse-safaris" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Ride Kenya Mobile Horse Safaris</a></div><div class="field-item even " rel="dc:subject"><a href="/africa/blog/tags/safari" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Safari</a></div><div class="field-item odd " rel="dc:subject"><a href="/africa/blog/tags/wildlife" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Wildlife</a></div></div>Thu, 22 May 2014 23:58:41 +0000Anonymous954 at https://www.a2asafaris.com/africahttps://www.a2asafaris.com/africa/blog/april-news-%E2%80%93-ol-donyo-lodge-kenya#commentsJanuary 2014 News – ol Donyo Lodge, Kenyahttps://www.a2asafaris.com/africa/blog/january-2014-news-%E2%80%93-ol-donyo-lodge-kenya<div class="body text-field" property="content:encoded"><p style="text-align: center;"><i>The start of the traditional Maasai Wedding ceremony of our staff member Jackson…. Where the January celebration began.</i></p>
<p>The entrance in to 2014 has been an eventful, rewarding and celebratory one!</p>
<p>We are delighted to say that our resident Thompson’s Gazelle is doing amazingly well, last month he was brought to us barely breathing and only 2 days old. Bahati was found on the airstrip and luckily for us, our store man Dan had a Thompson’s Gazelle growing up so he immediately jumped at the chance to try and save Bahati (the name came quickly seeing how Bahati in Swahili means Luck).</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.greatplainsconservation.com/bushbuzz/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/OD2.jpg" rel="shadowbox[sbpost-9162];player=img;"><img class="aligncenter size-medium wp-image-9160" alt="OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA" src="http://www.greatplainsconservation.com/bushbuzz/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/OD2-223x300.jpg" width="223" height="300" /></a><i>Dan giving Bahati its daily dose of ol Donyo TLC</i></p>
<p> In the beginning Dan housed Bahati in his room and started feeding him with milk from a Sprite bottle with a teat improvised from an old tyre inner tube! Bahati now guzzles down the milk and is starting to graze, he does however not reside in Dan’s room throughout the night but is currently guarding our new chicken coop whilst we put on the finishing touches.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.greatplainsconservation.com/bushbuzz/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/OD3.jpg" rel="shadowbox[sbpost-9162];player=img;"><img class="aligncenter size-medium wp-image-9159" alt="OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA" src="http://www.greatplainsconservation.com/bushbuzz/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/OD3-225x300.jpg" width="225" height="300" /></a></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><i>We love Bahati’s daily office visits!</i></p>
<p>He is a regular sight roaming around the back of house area (and loves to ‘pop’ into the office for visits) and really enjoys a good neck scratch. Our guests have loved getting up close and personal to this very special addition to the ol Donyo family.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.greatplainsconservation.com/bushbuzz/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/OD4.jpg" rel="shadowbox[sbpost-9162];player=img;"><img class="aligncenter size-medium wp-image-9158" alt="OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA" src="http://www.greatplainsconservation.com/bushbuzz/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/OD4-300x202.jpg" width="300" height="202" /></a></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><i>The Chyulu Hills Hen House!</i></p>
<p>The coop itself has been a fun project to watch from the beginning and it is now awaiting the arrival of 15 very lucky chickens who will be hopefully supplying our guests with fresh eggs daily and we are sure they will love the colour of their new home!</p>
<p><a href="http://www.greatplainsconservation.com/bushbuzz/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/OD5.jpg" rel="shadowbox[sbpost-9162];player=img;"><img class="aligncenter size-medium wp-image-9157" alt="OD5" src="http://www.greatplainsconservation.com/bushbuzz/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/OD5-300x225.jpg" width="300" height="225" /></a></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><i>Breaking Water Records at ol Donyo with our legendary bulls!</i></p>
<p>With the rains long gone, the Elephants are back in droves and we actually broke the waterhole record the other day as we had 16 there over lunch for our guests to enjoy. It is great to see them all back and the hide has seen its fair share of action with guests in there all day long, just a few meters away from the Bulls themselves fascinated by the subtle interactions and of course observing the definite hierarchy amongst them.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.greatplainsconservation.com/bushbuzz/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/OD6.jpg" rel="shadowbox[sbpost-9162];player=img;"><img class="aligncenter size-medium wp-image-9156" alt="OD6" src="http://www.greatplainsconservation.com/bushbuzz/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/OD6-265x300.jpg" width="265" height="300" /></a></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><b><i></i></b><i>O</i><i>ur exciting Nosi Noni lion sighting…. Getting closer every day.</i></p>
<p>Annie our stables manager has had some amazing lion sightings this month just up the road from the lodge. Resident lioness Nosi Noni and her sister seen enjoying the sun and long grass with 4 cubs, we have also heard some great lion activity close at night with the low grunts reverbing off of the lodge and the Chyulu hills, we are hoping that February brings a few more sightings.</p>
<p>The Cheetahs have also been spotted numerous times during game drives and even once on foot during one of our amazing morning walks. It was the first time that we have spotted them whilst hiking so that was extremely exciting, something to celebrate and not to mention, heart racing.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.greatplainsconservation.com/bushbuzz/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/OD7.jpg" rel="shadowbox[sbpost-9162];player=img;"><img class="aligncenter size-medium wp-image-9155" alt="OD7" src="http://www.greatplainsconservation.com/bushbuzz/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/OD7-300x200.jpg" width="300" height="200" /></a></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><i>The ol Donyo Team with Jackson celebrating his wedding day!</i></p>
<p>Another reason to celebrate this month is the wedding of one of our employees, Jackson Salonka and his new wife, Faith.</p>
<p>The wedding was a display of colour, culture, love and support. The ceremony starts with the couple walking to the main tent area, the ladies in front and the men behind in a large parade that is so festive with traditional songs being chanted by everybody and of course a decent amount of dancing to go with! Once at the tent, before the speeches….more amazing song and dance.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.greatplainsconservation.com/bushbuzz/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/OD8.jpg" rel="shadowbox[sbpost-9162];player=img;"><img class="aligncenter size-medium wp-image-9154" alt="OD8" src="http://www.greatplainsconservation.com/bushbuzz/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/OD8-300x200.jpg" width="300" height="200" /></a></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><i>Maasai Warriors danced into the night celebrating wedding ceremony with the dramatic chanting and jumping.</i></p>
<p>The whole day from the parade in, to the junior warriors chanting and moving in a rhythmic chant was magical and we hope that everyone gets to someday be a part of something so moving even if it is on a slightly smaller scale visiting one of the local Maasai villages whilst visiting us at ol Donyo, Congratulations Jackson & Faith.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.greatplainsconservation.com/bushbuzz/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/OD9.jpg" rel="shadowbox[sbpost-9162];player=img;"><img class="aligncenter size-medium wp-image-9153" alt="OD9" src="http://www.greatplainsconservation.com/bushbuzz/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/OD9-300x200.jpg" width="300" height="200" /></a></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><i>Newly married—Jackson and Faith! We are all so happy for you</i></p>
<p>February is looking to be a hot month with the herds of zebra, wildebeest and gazelles moving back closer to the lodge which is very exciting as they have been away lapping up the last of the water from the rains and the last tasty patches of green grass, so soon our guests will be able to hike, drive, horse ride or walk amongst the plains surrounded by animals with the Chyulu hills and Kilimanjaro as a back drop!</p>
<p><a href="http://www.greatplainsconservation.com/bushbuzz/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/OD10.jpg" rel="shadowbox[sbpost-9162];player=img;"><img class="aligncenter size-medium wp-image-9152" alt="OD10" src="http://www.greatplainsconservation.com/bushbuzz/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/OD10-300x199.jpg" width="300" height="199" /></a></p>
<p><i>Biking amongst the giraffes on the plains is an experience unlike no other at ol Donyo.</i></p>
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</div><div class="field-tags field-items"><div class="field-label">Tags: </div><div class="field-item even " rel="dc:subject"><a href="/africa/blog/tags/bushbuzz" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">BushBuzz</a></div><div class="field-item odd " rel="dc:subject"><a href="/africa/blog/tags/headlines" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Headlines</a></div><div class="field-item even " rel="dc:subject"><a href="/africa/blog/tags/kenya-camps" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Kenya Camps</a></div><div class="field-item odd " rel="dc:subject"><a href="/africa/blog/tags/ol-donyo-lodge" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">ol Donyo Lodge</a></div><div class="field-item even " rel="dc:subject"><a href="/africa/blog/tags/cheetah" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">cheetah</a></div><div class="field-item odd " rel="dc:subject"><a href="/africa/blog/tags/chyulu-hills" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Chyulu Hills</a></div><div class="field-item even " rel="dc:subject"><a href="/africa/blog/tags/dereck-and-beverly-joubert" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Dereck and Beverly Joubert</a></div><div class="field-item odd " rel="dc:subject"><a href="/africa/blog/tags/elephants" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">elephants</a></div><div class="field-item even " rel="dc:subject"><a href="/africa/blog/tags/great-plains-conservation" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Great Plains Conservation</a></div><div class="field-item odd " rel="dc:subject"><a href="/africa/blog/tags/kenya" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Kenya</a></div><div class="field-item even " rel="dc:subject"><a href="/africa/blog/tags/kenyan-luxury-safari" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Kenyan Luxury Safari</a></div><div class="field-item odd " rel="dc:subject"><a href="/africa/blog/tags/kenyan-safari" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Kenyan Safari</a></div><div class="field-item even " rel="dc:subject"><a href="/africa/blog/tags/lion" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Lion</a></div><div class="field-item odd " rel="dc:subject"><a href="/africa/blog/tags/lions" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">lions</a></div><div class="field-item even " rel="dc:subject"><a href="/africa/blog/tags/ride-kenya-horse-safaris" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Ride Kenya Horse Safaris</a></div><div class="field-item odd " rel="dc:subject"><a href="/africa/blog/tags/ride-kenya-mobile-horse-safaris" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Ride Kenya Mobile Horse Safaris</a></div><div class="field-item even " rel="dc:subject"><a href="/africa/blog/tags/the-last-lions" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">The Last Lions</a></div></div>Tue, 04 Feb 2014 22:56:52 +0000Anonymous805 at https://www.a2asafaris.com/africahttps://www.a2asafaris.com/africa/blog/january-2014-news-%E2%80%93-ol-donyo-lodge-kenya#comments