A2A Safaris - tanzaniahttps://www.a2asafaris.com/africa/blog/tags/tanzaniaenFind Yourself Back in East Africa with the Ultimate Private Villa Safarihttps://www.a2asafaris.com/africa/blog/find-yourself-back-east-africa-the-ultimate-private-villa-safari<div class="body text-field" property="content:encoded"><p>A Singita safari has long been synonymous with an exceptional, once-in-a-lifetime wildlife experience that connects guests with untamed Africa while enfolding them in extraordinary comfort. As the world of travel and adventure begins to turn again, following a perspective-shifting time that has served to remind us about the most important things in life, we are...</p>
</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/lodges-and-camps" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Lodges and Camps</a></div><div class="field-item odd " rel="dc:subject"><a href="/africa/blog/tags/tanzania" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">tanzania</a></div></div>Tue, 12 Jan 2021 07:00:27 +0000Anonymous3518 at https://www.a2asafaris.com/africahttps://www.a2asafaris.com/africa/blog/find-yourself-back-east-africa-the-ultimate-private-villa-safari#commentsExperience Africa’s Most Visionary Tented Safarihttps://www.a2asafaris.com/africa/blog/experience-africa%E2%80%99s-most-visionary-tented-safari<div class="body text-field" property="content:encoded"><p>Surrounded by the wide-open spaces of the Serengeti’s breathtaking savannahs, the new Singita Sabora Tented Camp provides the kind of sanctuary where one can breathe easy again, finally unwinding as moments flow into days that comfort, restore and inspire. Perfect for travellers who long for an authentic African safari infused with the continent’s contemporary energy...</p>
</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/lodges-and-camps" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Lodges and Camps</a></div><div class="field-item odd " rel="dc:subject"><a href="/africa/blog/tags/singita-grumeti" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Singita Grumeti</a></div><div class="field-item even " rel="dc:subject"><a href="/africa/blog/tags/tanzania" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">tanzania</a></div></div>Thu, 10 Dec 2020 07:00:19 +0000Anonymous3492 at https://www.a2asafaris.com/africahttps://www.a2asafaris.com/africa/blog/experience-africa%E2%80%99s-most-visionary-tented-safari#commentsThe Last Refuge for Lionshttps://www.a2asafaris.com/africa/blog/the-last-refuge-lions<div class="body text-field" property="content:encoded"><p><em>By Claudia Smargiasso </em></p>
<p>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.</p>
<p><span id="more-7598"></span>Not as widespread as one would have expected from such beasts as fearsome as lions who have vanished from more than 80% of their historic range. These shocking statistics have been succinctly summarised and displayed on the below map.</p>
<div id="attachment_7599" style="width: 970px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><a href="http://blog.asiliaafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/NationalGeographic_map_1578927.jpg" rel="attachment wp-att-7599"><img class="size-large wp-image-7599" src="http://blog.asiliaafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/NationalGeographic_map_1578927-1024x740.jpg" alt="The range and habitat of African lions." width="960" height="694" srcset="http://blog.asiliaafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/NationalGeographic_map_1578927-300x217.jpg 300w, http://blog.asiliaafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/NationalGeographic_map_1578927-768x555.jpg 768w, http://blog.asiliaafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/NationalGeographic_map_1578927-1024x740.jpg 1024w" sizes="(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px" /></a><br /><p class="wp-caption-text">The range and habitat of African lions.</p>
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<p>Luckily, East Africa still remains a foothold for lion populations, in large part due to the rigorous conservation efforts occurring here. Areas such as <a href="http://www.asiliaafrica.com/destinations/tanzania/ruaha/">Ruaha</a> which is home to our <a href="http://www.asiliaafrica.com/destinations/tanzania/ruaha/kwihala-camp/">Kwihala Camp</a>, are remote and far off the well-worn safari track, meaning the lions here can thrive, free from human pressures, while well-known safari parks like the Serengeti and Masai Mara offer a protected sanctuary for lions to roam free.</p>
<p><a href="http://blog.asiliaafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/Lion-cub-Masai-Mara.jpg" rel="attachment wp-att-7600"><img class="aligncenter size-post-thumbnail-size wp-image-7600" src="http://blog.asiliaafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/Lion-cub-Masai-Mara-750x330.jpg" alt="Lion-cub-Masai-Mara" width="750" height="330" /></a></p>
<p><a href="http://www.asiliaafrica.com/destinations/tanzania/ruaha/">Read more about Ruaha here</a> and find out what makes this area so special.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.asiliaafrica.com/make-an-enquiry/" rel="attachment wp-att-7527"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-7527" src="http://blog.asiliaafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/VISIT.jpg" alt="VISIT" width="207" height="53" /></a></p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="http://blog.asiliaafrica.com/last-refuge-lions/">The Last Refuge for Lions</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="http://blog.asiliaafrica.com">Asilia Blog</a>.</p>
</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/tanzania" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">tanzania</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 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>Mon, 08 Aug 2016 10:36:07 +0000Anonymous2129 at https://www.a2asafaris.com/africahttps://www.a2asafaris.com/africa/blog/the-last-refuge-lions#commentsEast African Landscapeshttps://www.a2asafaris.com/africa/blog/east-african-landscapes<div class="body text-field" property="content:encoded"><p><em>By Stuart Butler</em></p>
<p>Golden, sun-blessed grasslands spotted with flat-topped acacia trees might be the common image of East Africa, but this huge region contains an endlessly diverse array of landscapes that range from beaches of snowflake white sands to high altitude glaciers, lakes the breadth of oceans and humid rainforests haunted by the echoing yelps of chimpanzees.</p>
<p>The following images reveal something of East Africa’s extraordinary range of landscapes and wildlife habitats.</p>
<p><a href="http://blog.asiliaafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Savanna.jpg" rel="attachment wp-att-7242"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-7242" src="http://blog.asiliaafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Savanna.jpg" alt="Savanna" width="5184" height="3456" srcset="http://blog.asiliaafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Savanna-300x200.jpg 300w, http://blog.asiliaafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Savanna-768x512.jpg 768w, http://blog.asiliaafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Savanna-1024x683.jpg 1024w, http://blog.asiliaafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Savanna.jpg 5184w" sizes="(max-width: 5184px) 100vw, 5184px" /></a></p>
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<p>This picture of rolling grasslands and an acacia tree essentially fills most peoples image of the classic East African landscape, but even in East Africa itself such a landscape is surprisingly rare. The best example of such an open savanna landscape is the Mara-Serengeti eco-system which, with its huge quantity of large mammals, is the focal point of East African safari tourism. Asilia has several camps in both the <a href="http://www.asiliaafrica.com/destinations/tanzania/serengeti">Serengeti</a> and <a href="http://www.asiliaafrica.com/destinations/kenya/greater-maasai-mara">Maasai Mara</a> regions.</p>
<p><a href="http://blog.asiliaafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Acacia.jpg" rel="attachment wp-att-7235"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-7235" src="http://blog.asiliaafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Acacia.jpg" alt="Acacia" width="5184" height="3456" srcset="http://blog.asiliaafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Acacia-300x200.jpg 300w, http://blog.asiliaafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Acacia-768x512.jpg 768w, http://blog.asiliaafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Acacia-1024x683.jpg 1024w, http://blog.asiliaafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Acacia.jpg 5184w" sizes="(max-width: 5184px) 100vw, 5184px" /></a></p>
<p>The definition of a savanna landscape is one of a warm, tropical grassland ecosystem characterised by trees that are widely enough spaced so as not to form a closed canopy. This open canopy means that herbaceous plants and grasses can easily grow. In reality most of East Africa’s savanna landscapes do not match the classic image but are instead scrubby, and fairly, non-descript acacia and thorn bush landscapes. <a href="http://www.asiliaafrica.com/destinations/kenya/ol-pejeta-conservancy">Kenya’s northern regions</a> or Tanzania’s <a href="http://www.asiliaafrica.com/destinations/tanzania/ruaha">Ruaha National Park</a> would both be good examples of this sort of landscape.</p>
<p><a href="http://blog.asiliaafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Fire.jpg" rel="attachment wp-att-7237"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-7237" src="http://blog.asiliaafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Fire.jpg" alt="Fire" width="2073" height="1382" srcset="http://blog.asiliaafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Fire-300x200.jpg 300w, http://blog.asiliaafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Fire-768x512.jpg 768w, http://blog.asiliaafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Fire-1024x683.jpg 1024w, http://blog.asiliaafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Fire.jpg 2073w" sizes="(max-width: 2073px) 100vw, 2073px" /></a></p>
<p>There are many factors that influence the landscapes of East Africa. In savanna regions perhaps one of the most important, alongside the actual impact of wildlife and cattle grazing, is fire. Most people might, quite naturally, assume that fire is bad news for both the grasslands and the wildlife, but quite the contrary is true. Fires slow the advance of trees and burn off tall grass (which most wildlife often finds tough and not very nutritious) allowing the growth of fresh, much more nutritious grasses. The ash left by fire also creates a natural fertiliser for the soil. In the Serengeti the park authorities set off controlled fires such as this one in the Lamai Wedge close to <a href="http://www.asiliaafrica.com/destinations/tanzania/serengeti/sayari-camp">Sayari Camp</a> for these very reasons.</p>
<p><a href="http://blog.asiliaafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Tarangire-Swamp1.jpg" rel="attachment wp-att-7244"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-7244" src="http://blog.asiliaafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Tarangire-Swamp1.jpg" alt="Tarangire Swamp" width="2304" height="1536" srcset="http://blog.asiliaafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Tarangire-Swamp1-300x200.jpg 300w, http://blog.asiliaafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Tarangire-Swamp1-768x512.jpg 768w, http://blog.asiliaafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Tarangire-Swamp1-1024x683.jpg 1024w, http://blog.asiliaafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Tarangire-Swamp1.jpg 2304w" sizes="(max-width: 2304px) 100vw, 2304px" /></a></p>
<p>Naturally enough the availability of water plays a big role in the life of a landscape. Tanzania’s Tarangire National park (the best base for this park is <a href="http://www.asiliaafrica.com/destinations/tanzania/tarangire/olivers-camp">Oliver’s Camp</a>: is a good example of this kind of landscape and eco-system. During the wet season rivers flow and standing water is common throughout the Maasai steppe surrounding the park and much of Tarangire’s wildlife leaves the park at this time, but during the dry season, when the surrounding area is parched and hot the wildlife returns in spectacular numbers to the huge permanent swamps such as this one that form the heart of the park.</p>
<p><a href="http://blog.asiliaafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Turkana-village-on-shores-of-Lake-Turkana-near-Loyangalani-Kenya-2.jpg" rel="attachment wp-att-7247"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-7247" src="http://blog.asiliaafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Turkana-village-on-shores-of-Lake-Turkana-near-Loyangalani-Kenya-2.jpg" alt="Turkana village on shores of Lake Turkana near Loyangalani Kenya 2" width="5184" height="3456" srcset="http://blog.asiliaafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Turkana-village-on-shores-of-Lake-Turkana-near-Loyangalani-Kenya-2-300x200.jpg 300w, http://blog.asiliaafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Turkana-village-on-shores-of-Lake-Turkana-near-Loyangalani-Kenya-2-768x512.jpg 768w, http://blog.asiliaafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Turkana-village-on-shores-of-Lake-Turkana-near-Loyangalani-Kenya-2-1024x683.jpg 1024w, http://blog.asiliaafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Turkana-village-on-shores-of-Lake-Turkana-near-Loyangalani-Kenya-2.jpg 5184w" sizes="(max-width: 5184px) 100vw, 5184px" /></a></p>
<p>Many people would be surprised to hear that deserts can also be found in East Africa. A large proportion of northern Kenya consists of barren, burnt rock desert at the heart of which is Lake Turkana, the worlds largest permanent desert lake. Three rivers (the Omo, Turkwell and Kerio) flow into the lake but with no outflow water is lost only through evaporation. The lake has one of the worlds largest populations of Nile crocodiles and around the lake shores have been found some of the oldest hominoid fossils. There are fears that a major damn project in Ethiopia will have a serious impact on water levels in the lake.</p>
<p><a href="http://blog.asiliaafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Sky-Islands.jpg" rel="attachment wp-att-7243"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-7243" src="http://blog.asiliaafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Sky-Islands.jpg" alt="SkyIslands" width="5184" height="3456" srcset="http://blog.asiliaafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Sky-Islands-300x200.jpg 300w, http://blog.asiliaafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Sky-Islands-768x512.jpg 768w, http://blog.asiliaafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Sky-Islands-1024x683.jpg 1024w, http://blog.asiliaafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Sky-Islands.jpg 5184w" sizes="(max-width: 5184px) 100vw, 5184px" /></a></p>
<p>Bursting off the searing desert floors of northern Kenya are a series of volcanic mountains which capture moisture and are covered in dense forest. Known to scientists as ‘Sky Islands’ these are unique, self-contained ecosystems that provide a home to buffalo and migratory elephants as well as a number of birds, reptiles and smaller animals that are endemic to their particular sky island (an example of this would be the Kulal white-eye, a small bird found only in the montane forest of Mt Kulal near Lake Turkana). This picture shows Lake Paradise in northern Kenya’s rarely visited Marsabit National Park.</p>
<p><a href="http://blog.asiliaafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Lake-Ruhondo.jpg" rel="attachment wp-att-7239"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-7239" src="http://blog.asiliaafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Lake-Ruhondo.jpg" alt="Lake Ruhondo" width="5184" height="3456" srcset="http://blog.asiliaafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Lake-Ruhondo-300x200.jpg 300w, http://blog.asiliaafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Lake-Ruhondo-768x512.jpg 768w, http://blog.asiliaafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Lake-Ruhondo-1024x683.jpg 1024w, http://blog.asiliaafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Lake-Ruhondo.jpg 5184w" sizes="(max-width: 5184px) 100vw, 5184px" /></a></p>
<p>Lakes come in all shapes and sizes in East Africa. While Lakes Turkana and Paradise are both surrounded by wilderness, Rwanda’s Lake Ruhondo is quite the opposite. This small lake is dotted with little islands terraced from top to toe with tiny plots of farmland, but even in such a heavily farmed region wildlife survives. Just a few kilometres from here is Volcanoes National Park which is home to the famous mountain gorillas. Occasionally groups of these gorillas emerge out of their forest home into the surrounding farmland to munch on the crops.</p>
<p><a href="http://blog.asiliaafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Cherangani-Hills-North-Kenya.jpg" rel="attachment wp-att-7236"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-7236" src="http://blog.asiliaafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Cherangani-Hills-North-Kenya.jpg" alt="Cherangani Hills North Kenya" width="5184" height="3456" srcset="http://blog.asiliaafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Cherangani-Hills-North-Kenya-300x200.jpg 300w, http://blog.asiliaafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Cherangani-Hills-North-Kenya-768x512.jpg 768w, http://blog.asiliaafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Cherangani-Hills-North-Kenya-1024x683.jpg 1024w, http://blog.asiliaafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Cherangani-Hills-North-Kenya.jpg 5184w" sizes="(max-width: 5184px) 100vw, 5184px" /></a></p>
<p>Much of highland East Africa is cool, wet and very fertile. It’s in these regions that the majority of the people of East Africa live and farm. This picture is of Kenya’s Cherengani Hills. Located in the northwest of the country, the Cherengani’s are little known to most Kenyans and are even less visited by international tourists. Even so they offer fabulous hiking and lots of friendly rural encounters.</p>
<p><a href="http://blog.asiliaafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Tea.jpg" rel="attachment wp-att-7245"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-7245" src="http://blog.asiliaafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Tea.jpg" alt="Tea" width="5184" height="3456" srcset="http://blog.asiliaafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Tea-300x200.jpg 300w, http://blog.asiliaafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Tea-768x512.jpg 768w, http://blog.asiliaafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Tea-1024x683.jpg 1024w, http://blog.asiliaafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Tea.jpg 5184w" sizes="(max-width: 5184px) 100vw, 5184px" /></a></p>
<p>One of the big cash crops of East Africa is tea. Large parts of the wetter highland areas are carpeted in neat lines of glowing green tea bushes. With afternoon thunderstorms being common in such regions most picking of the tea leaves takes place early in the morning, which means a dawn start for those who want to see where the worlds favourite cuppa comes from.</p>
<p><a href="http://blog.asiliaafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Ngorongoro-Crater.jpg" rel="attachment wp-att-7240"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-7240" src="http://blog.asiliaafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Ngorongoro-Crater.jpg" alt="Ngorongoro Crater" width="2304" height="1536" srcset="http://blog.asiliaafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Ngorongoro-Crater-300x200.jpg 300w, http://blog.asiliaafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Ngorongoro-Crater-768x512.jpg 768w, http://blog.asiliaafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Ngorongoro-Crater-1024x683.jpg 1024w, http://blog.asiliaafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Ngorongoro-Crater.jpg 2304w" sizes="(max-width: 2304px) 100vw, 2304px" /></a></p>
<p>No visit to East Africa is complete without gazing in awe across the Ngorongoro Crater. The crater is the world’s largest inactive, intact and unfilled volcanic caldera and was formed two to three million years ago. Approximately 25 000 large animals live in the natural enclosure formed by the 300km² crater, while the greater conservancy surroundings are home to wildebeest and zebra which migrate in and out of the area depending on the rainfall. Asilia have recently opened a ground breaking new lodge here called <a href="http://www.asiliaafrica.com/destinations/tanzania/ngorongoro-conservation/the-highlands">The Highlands</a>, which gives easy access to the crater itself as well as some of the best hiking in east Africa.</p>
<p><a href="http://blog.asiliaafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Rainforest.jpg" rel="attachment wp-att-7241"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-7241" src="http://blog.asiliaafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Rainforest.jpg" alt="Rainforest" width="3456" height="5184" srcset="http://blog.asiliaafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Rainforest-200x300.jpg 200w, http://blog.asiliaafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Rainforest-768x1152.jpg 768w, http://blog.asiliaafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Rainforest-683x1024.jpg 683w, http://blog.asiliaafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Rainforest.jpg 3456w" sizes="(max-width: 3456px) 100vw, 3456px" /></a></p>
<p>Jungles aren’t normally associated with East Africa but each country in the region has areas of dense forest filled with colourful birds and butterflies and mischievous monkeys. Uganda and Rwanda have the largest tracts of rainforest and in these countries it’s possible to visit habituated groups of chimpanzees and gorillas in such forest parks. This picture shows a river in Rwanda’s Nyungwe Forest National Park. This is one of the most important rainforest reserves in eastern Africa and has excellent walking trails, habituated troops of colobus monkeys and semi-habituated chimps.</p>
<p><a href="http://blog.asiliaafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/The-Beach.jpg" rel="attachment wp-att-7246"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-7246" src="http://blog.asiliaafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/The-Beach.jpg" alt="The Beach" width="5184" height="3456" srcset="http://blog.asiliaafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/The-Beach-300x200.jpg 300w, http://blog.asiliaafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/The-Beach-768x512.jpg 768w, http://blog.asiliaafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/The-Beach-1024x683.jpg 1024w, http://blog.asiliaafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/The-Beach.jpg 5184w" sizes="(max-width: 5184px) 100vw, 5184px" /></a></p>
<p>Many visitors to the region finish off their safari with a few days relaxing on one of the beautiful Indian Ocean beaches of Kenya or Tanzania. The most famous beach destination is the magical island of <a href="http://www.asiliaafrica.com/destinations/zanzibar/matemwe">Zanzibar off the Tanzanian coast</a>, but stunning stretches of palm backed sands are to be found up and down the coast. This picture is of Takaunga creek in Kenya.</p>
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<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="http://blog.asiliaafrica.com/east-african-landscapes/">East African Landscapes</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="http://blog.asiliaafrica.com">Asilia Blog</a>.</p>
</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/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/photography" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Photography</a></div><div class="field-item even " rel="dc:subject"><a href="/africa/blog/tags/tanzania" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">tanzania</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>Mon, 23 May 2016 11:56:05 +0000Anonymous1972 at https://www.a2asafaris.com/africahttps://www.a2asafaris.com/africa/blog/east-african-landscapes#commentsHigh in the skyhttps://www.a2asafaris.com/africa/blog/high-the-sky<div class="body text-field" property="content:encoded"><h5><strong>Ruaha vulture refuge</strong></h5>
<p>Against a backdrop of plummeting vulture numbers worldwide Ruaha National Park and southern Tanzania are lights in an otherwise gloomy tale.</p>
<p>Currently vultures are the fastest declining group of birds in the world. The IUCN Red List was updated in 2015 to indicate that of the eleven African species four are now listed as critically endangered and three as endangered.</p>
<p><span id="more-6613"></span></p>
<p>“The essential role that Vultures play in maintaining healthy eco-systems and disposing of carcasses and associated disease is often over-looked,” says Aaron Nicholas, Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) Program Director for the Ruaha-Katavi Landscape Program in Tanzania.</p>
<p>These often maligned birds are defenceless against poisons used by humans in retaliatory acts after livestock depredation by predators, and by poachers who poison dead elephant and rhino to prevent rangers using the vultures to locate the carcass. Just one poisoned carcass can easily kill 100 vultures. Carbofuran pesticides appear to be widely used for this purpose and efforts to ban these pesticides have been mostly unsuccessful.</p>
<p>Another threat is the traditional medicine trade where vulture parts are prescribed by healers for people who wish to ‘see into the future’ (remember vultures are far-sighted).</p>
<p>“The declining numbers of these vital scavengers affects the balance of nature,” says Pietro Luraschi, Head Guide at Kwihala Camp in Ruaha National Park.</p>
<p>Rotting carcasses are breeding grounds for insects such as blow flies, flesh flies and house flies which are major vectors for livestock, wildlife and human diseases. These diseases are easily spread and often have catastrophic results – typhoid, cholera, dysentery, salmonella, anthrax, myiasis, flystrike and tuberculosis to name just a few.</p>
<p>“Such an imbalance always leads to terrible consequences as it has a domino effect on everything else,” adds Luraschi.</p>
<p>Since 2013 WCS, the Tanzania National Parks Authority and experts from North Carolina Zoo have been monitoring these amazing birds in the Ruaha area. The research is already confirming that southern Tanzania’s protected areas provide essential refuge to substantial vulture populations.</p>
<p>These protected areas are strongholds for four species – African white-backed vulture, Hooded vulture, White-headed vulture and Lappet-faced vulture.</p>
<p>A vulture movement study, using satellite telemetry units, will help to confirm whether southern Tanzania contains a separate population of vultures to the northern areas, and if they overlap with Zambia and Mozambique. It is also guiding park protection efforts as vultures are naturally expert at locating carcasses, including poached elephants.</p>
<p><a href="http://blog.asiliaafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/Hooded-white-back-white-headed-and-lappet-faced-vultures-c-Wildlife-Conservation-Society.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-6617" src="http://blog.asiliaafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/Hooded-white-back-white-headed-and-lappet-faced-vultures-c-Wildlife-Conservation-Society-1024x686.jpg" alt="Hooded, white-back, white-headed and lappet-faced vultures (c) Wildlife Conservation Society" width="960" height="643" srcset="http://blog.asiliaafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/Hooded-white-back-white-headed-and-lappet-faced-vultures-c-Wildlife-Conservation-Society-300x201.jpg 300w, http://blog.asiliaafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/Hooded-white-back-white-headed-and-lappet-faced-vultures-c-Wildlife-Conservation-Society-1024x686.jpg 1024w, http://blog.asiliaafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/Hooded-white-back-white-headed-and-lappet-faced-vultures-c-Wildlife-Conservation-Society.jpg 1429w" sizes="(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px" /></a></p>
<p>“Knowing that there is a stronghold in southern Tanzania where the population is actually in good shape is of huge importance as allows more time to solve the critical situation elsewhere,” says Dr. Corinne Kendall of North Carolina Zoo.</p>
<p>So when you visit Ruaha, please keep an eye on the sky and take a minute to appreciate the presence and work of these magnificently adapted waste managers. This is one of their last bastions.</p>
<h5><strong>Info box:</strong></h5>
<p>Hooded Vulture (Necrosyrtes monachus): CRITICALLY ENDANGERED</p>
<p>White-backed Vulture (Gyps africanus): CRITICALLY ENDANGERED</p>
<p>White-headed (Vulture Trigonoceps occipitalis): CRITICALLY ENDANGERED</p>
<p>Rüppell’s Vulture (Gyps rueppellii): CRITICALLY ENDANGERED</p>
<p>Cape Vulture (Gyps coprotheres): ENDANGERED</p>
<p>Lappet-faced Vulture (Torgos tracheliotos): ENDANGERED</p>
<p>Egyptian Vulture (Neophron percnopterus): ENDANGERED</p>
<p>Bearded Vulture (Gypaetus barbatus): NEAR THREATENED</p>
<p>Cinereous Vulture (Aegypius monachus): NEAR THREATENED</p>
<p>Griffon Vulture (Gyps fulvus): LEAST CONCERN</p>
<p>Palm-nut Vulture (Gypohierax angolensis): LEAST CONCERN. Note: palm-nut vultures are vegetarian.</p>
<p>Interested in joining us in Ruaha and Southern Tanzania to witness these famous scavengers for yourself? Why not get in touch with your trusted travel agent/tour operator or send us an enquiry to start planning your trip!</p>
<p><a href="http://www.asiliaafrica.com/make-an-enquiry/" target="_blank"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-6071" src="http://blog.asiliaafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/Screen-Shot-2015-05-21-at-4.29.15-PM.png" alt="Screen-Shot-2015-05-21-at-4.29.15-PM" width="251" height="66" /></a></p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="http://blog.asiliaafrica.com/high-in-the-sky/">High in the sky</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="http://blog.asiliaafrica.com">Asilia Blog</a>.</p>
</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/tanzania" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">tanzania</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 class="field-item even " rel="dc:subject"><a href="/africa/blog/tags/endangered" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">endangered</a></div></div>Fri, 15 Jan 2016 10:14:44 +0000Anonymous1899 at https://www.a2asafaris.com/africahttps://www.a2asafaris.com/africa/blog/high-the-sky#commentsBest of our guest & guide pics – October 2015https://www.a2asafaris.com/africa/blog/best-our-guest-guide-pics-%E2%80%93-october-2015<div class="body text-field" property="content:encoded"><p>Every week we select the best safari moments captured by our guests and guides.<br />
We update our <a href="https://www.facebook.com/AsiliaAfrica?ref=tn_tnmn" target="_blank" data-cke-saved-href="https://www.facebook.com/AsiliaAfrica">Asilia Africa Facebook Page</a> with these new shots so keep checking our page for the latest ones!</p>
<p><a href="https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.1050744291636531.1073741852.300441300000171&type=3" target="_blank">Enjoy the highlights of October 2015 below.</a></p>
<p><span id="more-6338"></span></p>
<p><a href="http://blog.asiliaafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/1.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-6339" src="http://blog.asiliaafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/1.jpg" alt="1" width="720" height="476" srcset="http://blog.asiliaafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/1-300x198.jpg 300w, http://blog.asiliaafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/1.jpg 720w" sizes="(max-width: 720px) 100vw, 720px" /></a> <a href="http://blog.asiliaafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/2.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-bloggrid wp-image-6340" src="http://blog.asiliaafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/2.jpg" alt="2" width="720" height="476" srcset="http://blog.asiliaafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/2-300x198.jpg 300w, http://blog.asiliaafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/2.jpg 720w" sizes="(max-width: 720px) 100vw, 720px" /></a> <a href="http://blog.asiliaafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/3.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-bloggrid wp-image-6341" src="http://blog.asiliaafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/3.jpg" alt="3" width="720" height="476" srcset="http://blog.asiliaafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/3-300x198.jpg 300w, http://blog.asiliaafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/3.jpg 720w" sizes="(max-width: 720px) 100vw, 720px" /></a> <a href="http://blog.asiliaafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/4.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-bloggrid wp-image-6342" src="http://blog.asiliaafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/4.jpg" alt="4" width="720" height="476" srcset="http://blog.asiliaafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/4-300x198.jpg 300w, http://blog.asiliaafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/4.jpg 720w" sizes="(max-width: 720px) 100vw, 720px" /></a> <a href="http://blog.asiliaafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/5.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-bloggrid wp-image-6343" src="http://blog.asiliaafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/5.jpg" alt="5" width="720" height="476" srcset="http://blog.asiliaafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/5-300x198.jpg 300w, http://blog.asiliaafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/5.jpg 720w" sizes="(max-width: 720px) 100vw, 720px" /></a> <a href="http://blog.asiliaafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/6.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-bloggrid wp-image-6344" src="http://blog.asiliaafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/6.jpg" alt="6" width="720" height="476" srcset="http://blog.asiliaafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/6-300x198.jpg 300w, http://blog.asiliaafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/6.jpg 720w" sizes="(max-width: 720px) 100vw, 720px" /></a> <a href="http://blog.asiliaafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/7.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-bloggrid wp-image-6345" src="http://blog.asiliaafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/7.jpg" alt="7" width="720" height="476" srcset="http://blog.asiliaafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/7-300x198.jpg 300w, http://blog.asiliaafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/7.jpg 720w" sizes="(max-width: 720px) 100vw, 720px" /></a> <a href="http://blog.asiliaafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/8.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-bloggrid wp-image-6346" src="http://blog.asiliaafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/8.jpg" alt="8" width="720" height="476" srcset="http://blog.asiliaafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/8-300x198.jpg 300w, http://blog.asiliaafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/8.jpg 720w" sizes="(max-width: 720px) 100vw, 720px" /></a></p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong><em>Asilia’s Portfolio of Camps Includes:</em></strong></p>
<p><strong>In Tanzania</strong>: <a href="http://sayaricamp.asiliaafrica.com/default.aspx" target="_blank">Sayari Camp</a>, <a href="http://dunia.asiliaafrica.com/" target="_blank">Dunia Camp</a>, <a href="http://olakira.asiliaafrica.com/" target="_blank">Olakira Camp</a>, <a href="http://kimondo.asiliaafrica.com/Home.aspx" target="_blank">Kimondo Camp</a>, <a href="http://kwihala.asiliaafrica.com/Home.aspx" target="_blank">Kwihala Camp</a>, <a href="http://namiriplains.asiliaafrica.com/Home.aspx" target="_blank">Namiri Plains</a>, <a href="http://oliverscamp.asiliaafrica.com/" target="_blank">Oliver’s Camp</a>, <a href="http://oliverscamp.asiliaafrica.com/About/About-Little-Olivers.aspx" target="_blank">Little Oliver’s</a>, <a href="http://highlandsngorongoro.asiliaafrica.com/Home.aspx" target="_blank">The Highlands</a>, <a href="http://ubuntu.asiliaafrica.com/" target="_blank">Ubuntu Camp</a> and <a href="http://rubondo.asiliaafrica.com/Home.aspx" target="_blank">Rubondo Island Camp.</a></p>
<p><strong>On Zanzibar</strong>: <a href="http://matemwelodge.asiliaafrica.com/Home.aspx" target="_blank">Matemwe Lodge</a>, <a href="http://matemweretreat.asiliaafrica.com/Home.aspx" target="_blank">Matemwe Retreat</a> and <a href="http://matemwebeach.asiliaafrica.com/Home.aspx" target="_blank">Matemwe Beach House</a>.</p>
<p><strong>In Kenya</strong>: <a href="http://marabushhouses.asiliaafrica.com/" target="_blank">Mara Bush Houses</a>, <a href="http://rekero.asiliaafrica.com/" target="_blank">Rekero Camp</a>, <a href="http://nomadic.asiliaafrica.com/Home.aspx" target="_blank">Nomadic Camp</a>, <a href="http://encountermara.asiliaafrica.com/Home.aspx" target="_blank">Encounter Mara</a>, <a href="http://olpejetabushcamp.asiliaafrica.com/Home.aspx" target="_blank">Ol Pejeta Bush Camp</a> and <a href="http://naboisho.asiliaafrica.com/" target="_blank">Naboisho Camp</a>.</p>
<p>If you are interested in seeing the wildlife and experiences we have to offer at our many Asilia camps then please explore our camps more by following the links below. Get in touch with your trusted Travel Agent to start planning your dream safari or <a href="http://www.asiliaafrica.com/Enquire/AsiliaAfrica.aspx" target="_blank">make an enquiry with us.</a></p>
<p><a href="http://www.asiliaafrica.com/Enquire/AsiliaAfrica.aspx" target="_blank"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-5390" src="http://blog.asiliaafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/Screen-Shot-2015-05-21-at-4.29.15-PM.png" alt="Screen Shot 2015-05-21 at 4.29.15 PM" width="251" height="66" /></a></p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="http://blog.asiliaafrica.com/best-of-our-guest-guide-pics-october-2015/">Best of our guest & guide pics – October 2015</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="http://blog.asiliaafrica.com">Asilia Blog</a>.</p>
</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/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/photography" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Photography</a></div><div class="field-item even " rel="dc:subject"><a href="/africa/blog/tags/tanzania" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">tanzania</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>Fri, 13 Nov 2015 10:56:02 +0000Anonymous1900 at https://www.a2asafaris.com/africahttps://www.a2asafaris.com/africa/blog/best-our-guest-guide-pics-%E2%80%93-october-2015#commentsCaught on Camera – East Africa’s animal home videoshttps://www.a2asafaris.com/africa/blog/caught-camera-%E2%80%93-east-africa%E2%80%99s-animal-home-videos<div class="body text-field" property="content:encoded"><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Ruaha National Park is a beautiful stretch of wilderness, home to a large population of elephants, African wild dog and sable antelope and studded with baobab. It lies at the heart of a 150,000 square kilometer wildlife area that stretches from Selous in the east to Katavi N.P. in the west. At 20,226 square kilometers, it is a candidate for the largest national park in Africa, but it’s remoteness has kept it less congested than its more famous northern cousins.</span></p>
<p><span id="more-6215"></span><br /><a href="http://blog.asiliaafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/Kwihala-2191.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-6233" src="http://blog.asiliaafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/Kwihala-2191.jpg" alt="Kwihala Ruaha" width="600" height="399" srcset="http://blog.asiliaafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/Kwihala-2191-300x200.jpg 300w, http://blog.asiliaafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/Kwihala-2191.jpg 600w" sizes="(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px" /></a></p>
<p> </p>
<p><a href="http://blog.asiliaafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/Kwihala-Camp-scenery-kopje-MR.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-6231" src="http://blog.asiliaafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/Kwihala-Camp-scenery-kopje-MR.jpg" alt="Kwihala-Camp-scenery-kopje-MR" width="600" height="400" srcset="http://blog.asiliaafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/Kwihala-Camp-scenery-kopje-MR-300x200.jpg 300w, http://blog.asiliaafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/Kwihala-Camp-scenery-kopje-MR.jpg 600w" sizes="(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px" /></a></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Unfortunately, the remoteness has not kept this area and the wildlife from coming under under threat.</span><span style="font-weight: 400;"> As human populations increase, human-wildlife conflict has become more prevalent. As these altercations increase, it is our natural response to ask how can we mitigate this conflict and ensure safe development for human populations while still preserving our wildlife and natural resources.</span></p>
<h3><b>A solution to human-wildlife conflict: Community Camera Trap Programme</b></h3>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In order to reduce conflict value perceptions require shifting; the question then becomes: How do you place a value on wildlife that will demotivate their destruction and fuel their conservation?</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The answer lay in what has become </span><i><span style="font-weight: 400;">The Community Camera Trap Programme</span></i><span style="font-weight: 400;">. This innovative initiative was conceived and is run by </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">the Ruaha Carnivore Programme and African Wildlife Fund, and seeks to change behaviour and values by linking</span><span style="font-weight: 400;"> direct, household-l</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">evel benefits to wild animals caught in camera traps.</span></p>
<p><a href="http://blog.asiliaafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/IMG_0892.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-6235" src="http://blog.asiliaafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/IMG_0892.jpg" alt="camera Traps" width="600" height="450" srcset="http://blog.asiliaafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/IMG_0892-300x225.jpg 300w, http://blog.asiliaafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/IMG_0892-400x300.jpg 400w, http://blog.asiliaafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/IMG_0892.jpg 600w" sizes="(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px" /></a></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The traps are located around Ruaha National Park and were donated by Friends of Asilia. </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">Each village accumulates points every month for the number and type of wildlife captured in the traps and is rewarded with school books, medicine or veterinary medicine for the number of points earned.</span></p>
<h3><b>Caught on Camera – Africa’s animal home videos</b></h3>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The result of the program can be seen here. Note the snare wounds on some of the animals – a clear indication of the human-wildlife conflict.</span></p>
<p><a href="http://blog.asiliaafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/Cheetah-photographed-in-village-land-rare-record.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-6222" src="http://blog.asiliaafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/Cheetah-photographed-in-village-land-rare-record.jpg" alt="Animal Camera Traps" width="600" height="450" srcset="http://blog.asiliaafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/Cheetah-photographed-in-village-land-rare-record-300x225.jpg 300w, http://blog.asiliaafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/Cheetah-photographed-in-village-land-rare-record-400x300.jpg 400w, http://blog.asiliaafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/Cheetah-photographed-in-village-land-rare-record.jpg 600w" sizes="(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px" /></a></p>
<p> </p>
<p><a href="http://blog.asiliaafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/IMG_0201.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-6226" src="http://blog.asiliaafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/IMG_0201.jpg" alt="Animal Camera Traps" width="600" height="450" srcset="http://blog.asiliaafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/IMG_0201-300x225.jpg 300w, http://blog.asiliaafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/IMG_0201-400x300.jpg 400w, http://blog.asiliaafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/IMG_0201.jpg 600w" sizes="(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px" /></a></p>
<p><a href="http://blog.asiliaafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/IMAG0712.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-6221" src="http://blog.asiliaafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/IMAG0712.jpg" alt="Animal Camera Traps" width="600" height="450" srcset="http://blog.asiliaafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/IMAG0712-300x225.jpg 300w, http://blog.asiliaafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/IMAG0712-400x300.jpg 400w, http://blog.asiliaafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/IMAG0712.jpg 600w" sizes="(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px" /></a></p>
<p> </p>
<p><a href="http://blog.asiliaafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/IMG_1571.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-6227" src="http://blog.asiliaafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/IMG_1571.jpg" alt="Animal Camera Traps" width="600" height="450" srcset="http://blog.asiliaafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/IMG_1571-300x225.jpg 300w, http://blog.asiliaafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/IMG_1571-400x300.jpg 400w, http://blog.asiliaafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/IMG_1571.jpg 600w" sizes="(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px" /></a></p>
<p><a href="http://blog.asiliaafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/IMG_0011-2.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-6223" src="http://blog.asiliaafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/IMG_0011-2.jpg" alt="Animal Camera Traps" width="600" height="450" srcset="http://blog.asiliaafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/IMG_0011-2-300x225.jpg 300w, http://blog.asiliaafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/IMG_0011-2-400x300.jpg 400w, http://blog.asiliaafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/IMG_0011-2.jpg 600w" sizes="(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px" /></a></p>
<p><a href="http://blog.asiliaafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/IMG_0095.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-6224" src="http://blog.asiliaafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/IMG_0095.jpg" alt="Animal Camera Traps" width="600" height="450" srcset="http://blog.asiliaafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/IMG_0095-300x225.jpg 300w, http://blog.asiliaafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/IMG_0095-400x300.jpg 400w, http://blog.asiliaafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/IMG_0095.jpg 600w" sizes="(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px" /></a></p>
<p><a href="http://blog.asiliaafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/IMG_2038.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-6229" src="http://blog.asiliaafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/IMG_2038.jpg" alt="Animal Camera Traps" width="600" height="450" srcset="http://blog.asiliaafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/IMG_2038-300x225.jpg 300w, http://blog.asiliaafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/IMG_2038-400x300.jpg 400w, http://blog.asiliaafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/IMG_2038.jpg 600w" sizes="(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px" /></a></p>
<p> </p>
<h3>Tourism’s role</h3>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;"> Through our role as the leading East African tour operator, we invest in the areas and communities where we operate, and our positive impact can be seen through:</span></p>
<ul><li>Funding of conservation programmes such as The Ruaha Carnivore Project and their initiatives, such as The Community Camera Trap Programme.</li>
<li>Sponsored Scholarships to provide better education to the children of these communities</li>
<li>Development of career opportunities in tourism for locals</li>
</ul><p>If you want to be a part of the solution and get involved with our work in East Africa, contact Clarissa Hughes, our Positive Impact Co-ordinator at <a href="mailto:clarissa@asiliaafrica.com">clarissa@asiliaafrica.com</a></p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="http://blog.asiliaafrica.com/can-tourism-mitigate-human-wildlife-conflict/">Caught on Camera – East Africa’s animal home videos</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="http://blog.asiliaafrica.com">Asilia Blog</a>.</p>
</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/wildlife" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Wildlife</a></div><div class="field-item odd " rel="dc:subject"><a href="/africa/blog/tags/tanzania" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">tanzania</a></div></div>Wed, 14 Oct 2015 14:53:55 +0000Anonymous1901 at https://www.a2asafaris.com/africahttps://www.a2asafaris.com/africa/blog/caught-camera-%E2%80%93-east-africa%E2%80%99s-animal-home-videos#commentsRuaha: Spotted All-Stars, Meet Oncahttps://www.a2asafaris.com/africa/blog/ruaha-spotted-all-stars-meet-onca<div class="body text-field" property="content:encoded"><p><em>By Pietro Luraschi<br /></em></p>
<p>Quintessential beauty, unforgettable elegance, striking power, heavenly grace and a perfect balance of many qualities: these are the words that come to my mind every time I see a leopard.<br /><span id="more-4664"></span></p>
<p><strong>Onca<br /></strong>Onca gets his name from the scientific name for the jaguar, as his pattern and shape of rosettes very similar to that of the South American cat. He is three and an half, and we have known him since he was one year old, when he had just left his mother. We found him around Kimilamatonge Hill, which became the centre for most of his activity. He is a very relaxed cat of predictable habits, where he loves the roads, using them to move along the hill to access the best rocks where Hyraxes live. Recently he started killing bigger prey but still stays around the hill where he can count on hundreds of bush hyraxes for easy meals. He has a real love for the mid rainy season, where he likes to sit on granite boulders in the late afternoon when the temperature drops, his elegant body wrapped around the rocks.</p>
<p><a href="https://ruahaproject.files.wordpress.com/2015/03/20140804_124147-2.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-large wp-image-636" src="https://ruahaproject.files.wordpress.com/2015/03/20140804_124147-2.jpg?w=640&h=425" alt="20140804_124147-2" width="640" height="425" /></a></p>
<p><a href="https://ruahaproject.files.wordpress.com/2015/03/20140908_182445.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-large wp-image-637" src="https://ruahaproject.files.wordpress.com/2015/03/20140908_182445.jpg?w=640&h=425" alt="20140908_182445" width="640" height="425" /></a></p>
<p><a href="https://ruahaproject.files.wordpress.com/2015/03/20140924_182059-3.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-large wp-image-638" src="https://ruahaproject.files.wordpress.com/2015/03/20140924_182059-3.jpg?w=640&h=425" alt="20140924_182059-3" width="640" height="425" /><br /></a></p>
<p>Sightings of these “Spotted All-Stars” are often the highlight of visitors’ experiences here in Ruaha, with their effortless combination of fierce grace and power, and they certainly are among my favourite animals to photograph.</p>
<p>Pietro</p>
<p>If you would like to spend some time at Kwihala Camp and have a chance to see these beautiful creatures in person please contact your trusted travel agent or <a href="http://kwihala.asiliaafrica.com/Enquire/Kwihala.aspx" target="_blank">enquire with us.</a></p>
<p><a href="http://blog.asiliaafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/PietroLuraschi.jpg" data-rel="fancybox"><img class="alignleft wp-image-4530 size-medium" src="http://blog.asiliaafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/PietroLuraschi-300x283.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="283" srcset="http://blog.asiliaafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/PietroLuraschi-300x283.jpg 300w, http://blog.asiliaafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/PietroLuraschi.jpg 350w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /></a><strong>About Pietro<br /></strong>Pietro works as a safari guide in southern Tanzania for six months and devotes the other half of the year to private customers he accompanies to different African countries from north to south, but always going through his beloved East Africa. His passion for Africa took him for the first time to the continent as a volunteer in the Tarangire Lion Project, doing research on the lion population in the Tarangire National Park in northern Tanzania. For years he has worked as a manager and guide, but then he gradually left management to devote himself exclusively to working as a guide.</p>
<p>We will be updating our blog with news on the other famous and beautiful leopards of Ruaha, to see more please keep an eye on <a href="http://blog.asiliaafrica.com/ruaha-spotted-stars/#more-4655" target="_blank">this blog post</a>.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="http://blog.asiliaafrica.com/ruaha-spotted-stars-meet-onca/">Ruaha: Spotted All-Stars, Meet Onca</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="http://blog.asiliaafrica.com">Asilia Blog</a>.</p>
</div><div class="field-tags" rel="dc:subject"><div class="field-label">Tags: </div><a href="/africa/blog/tags/tanzania" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">tanzania</a></div>Wed, 04 Mar 2015 09:11:55 +0000Anonymous1907 at https://www.a2asafaris.com/africahttps://www.a2asafaris.com/africa/blog/ruaha-spotted-all-stars-meet-onca#commentsRuaha’s Spotted All-Starshttps://www.a2asafaris.com/africa/blog/ruaha%E2%80%99s-spotted-all-stars<div class="body text-field" property="content:encoded"><h4 style="text-align:center;"><strong>*** Important ***</strong><br />
From 1 March 2015 this website will not be live anymore.<br />
With the launch of our new Asilia Blog all future blog articles about Rubondo Island can be found there.<strong><br /><a href="http://blog.asiliaafrica.com/category/areas/ruaha_national_park/" target="_blank">We invite you to our new Asilia Blog here ></a></strong></h4>
<h4>By Pietro Luraschi</h4>
<p>Quintessential beauty, unforgettable elegance, striking power, heavenly grace and a perfect balance of many qualities: these are the words that come to my mind every time I see a leopard.</p>
<p>Every leopard has its own way and its own character: some are shy, allowing you just a glimpse of them, some are confident in trees but disappear as soon as they climb down, some climb rocks, others prefer trees, and others again do not like much climbing and prefer the undergrowth. There are leopards absolutely relaxed with cars around, then there the one-car-leopards that vanish the moment a second car approaches. Lastly there are the leopards that we never see because they are way too wary of humans – all we find are sets of tracks here and there, but no other sign of them.</p>
<p>As guides of <a href="http://kwihala.asiliaafrica.com/Home.aspx" target="_blank"><span style="text-decoration:underline;">Kwihala Camp</span></a> we know of a good number of leopards around us, not less than fifteen individuals, but if I have to do the maths, there are probably five of them that count for the 80% of the sightings – our five ‘Spotted All-Stars’.</p>
<p><strong>Furaha</strong></p>
<p>Furaha, which means ‘joy’ in Swahili, is 4 years old, and at time of writing is probably busy with a litter of cubs that she has not yet revealed to the world.</p>
<p>We have known her since she was 4 months old. Festo and I were driving guests in the Sokwe Forest when we spotted a shy female up a rain tree no more then 8 metres from the road, and by her side, a small furry cub as shy as her mother.</p>
<p>Their impala kill tucked up on a branch kept them there for four days, and then one night the mother went down, killed another ewe and brought it up the same tree where for another four days the leopards enjoyed their meal. That gave little Furaha the time to slowly overcome her fear of vehicles and has made her a real joy for us since. She is a great fan of sausage trees, which are by far her favourite trees to rest in. She does not use trees much when there is good cover on the ground, but she climbs more and more as the dry season advances.</p>
<p><a href="https://ruahaproject.files.wordpress.com/2015/03/20140902_074113.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-large wp-image-631" src="https://ruahaproject.files.wordpress.com/2015/03/20140902_074113.jpg?w=640&h=425" alt="20140902_074113" width="640" height="425" /></a></p>
<p><a href="https://ruahaproject.files.wordpress.com/2015/03/20140917_171422.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-large wp-image-632" src="https://ruahaproject.files.wordpress.com/2015/03/20140917_171422.jpg?w=640&h=425" alt="20140917_171422" width="640" height="425" /></a></p>
<p><a href="https://ruahaproject.files.wordpress.com/2015/03/20140917_172749-2.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-large wp-image-633" src="https://ruahaproject.files.wordpress.com/2015/03/20140917_172749-2.jpg?w=640&h=425" alt="20140917_172749-2" width="640" height="425" /></a></p>
<p><a href="https://ruahaproject.files.wordpress.com/2015/03/20140917_172306-2.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-large wp-image-634" src="https://ruahaproject.files.wordpress.com/2015/03/20140917_172306-2.jpg?w=640&h=425" alt="20140917_172306-2" width="640" height="425" /></a></p>
<p><strong>Onca</strong></p>
<p>Onca gets his name from the scientific name for the jaguar, as his pattern and shape of rosettes very similar to that of the South American cat. He is three and an half, and we have known him since he was one year old, when he had just left his mother. We found him around Kimilamatonge Hill, which became the centre for most of his activity. He is a very relaxed cat of predictable habits, where he loves the roads, using them to move along the hill to access the best rocks where Hyraxes live. Recently he started killing bigger prey but still stays around the hill where he can count on hundreds of bush hyraxes for easy meals. He has a real love for the mid rainy season, where he likes to sit on granite boulders in the late afternoon when the temperature drops, his elegant body wrapped around the rocks.</p>
<p><a href="https://ruahaproject.files.wordpress.com/2015/03/20140731_094850.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-large wp-image-635" src="https://ruahaproject.files.wordpress.com/2015/03/20140731_094850.jpg?w=640&h=425" alt="20140731_094850" width="640" height="425" /></a></p>
<p><a href="https://ruahaproject.files.wordpress.com/2015/03/20140804_124147-2.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-large wp-image-636" src="https://ruahaproject.files.wordpress.com/2015/03/20140804_124147-2.jpg?w=640&h=425" alt="20140804_124147-2" width="640" height="425" /></a></p>
<p><a href="https://ruahaproject.files.wordpress.com/2015/03/20140908_182445.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-large wp-image-637" src="https://ruahaproject.files.wordpress.com/2015/03/20140908_182445.jpg?w=640&h=425" alt="20140908_182445" width="640" height="425" /></a></p>
<p><a href="https://ruahaproject.files.wordpress.com/2015/03/20140924_182059-3.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-large wp-image-638" src="https://ruahaproject.files.wordpress.com/2015/03/20140924_182059-3.jpg?w=640&h=425" alt="20140924_182059-3" width="640" height="425" /></a></p>
<p><strong>Bandido</strong></p>
<p>Bandido is an old pirate, one ear just a stump, his gums covering the lower incisors, and has a massive body full of scars. He often walks through the camp at night, and he is not afraid of humans: he just keeps a safe distance and does not run away at full speed when we cross his path. Completely at ease when he is up a tree, he does not like to follow roads when he is on the ground, usually moving steadily into thicker areas of undergrowth.</p>
<p>An old boy, definitely in his prime, he is one of the princes of the Mwagusi Valley, roaming all the area from Mbagi almost to White Rocks, more or less ten kilometres as the crow flies. He is not the only huge male around, as strangely his range overlaps with that of a very shy, blue-eyed male we call Ghost. Last year we saw him with a female between Lorenzo’s and my tent, and keeping just out of view, he mated with her all night, keeping us and half the camp awake!</p>
<p><a href="https://ruahaproject.files.wordpress.com/2015/03/20141005_191307-bandido.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-large wp-image-630" src="https://ruahaproject.files.wordpress.com/2015/03/20141005_191307-bandido.jpg?w=640&h=425" alt="20141005_191307- bandido" width="640" height="425" /></a> <a href="https://ruahaproject.files.wordpress.com/2015/03/20140926_125233-bandido.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-large wp-image-629" src="https://ruahaproject.files.wordpress.com/2015/03/20140926_125233-bandido.jpg?w=640&h=425" alt="20140926_125233-bandido" width="640" height="425" /></a> <a href="https://ruahaproject.files.wordpress.com/2015/03/20140926_115821-bandido.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-large wp-image-628" src="https://ruahaproject.files.wordpress.com/2015/03/20140926_115821-bandido.jpg?w=640&h=425" alt="20140926_115821- bandido" width="640" height="425" /></a></p>
<p><strong>BRM and BRF</strong></p>
<p>BRM and BRF are two siblings named Black Rocks Male and Black Rocks Female. I know the names lack imagination, but refer to the area where they live. Black Rocks is a basalt ridge surfacing along the Mwagusi River, a good place for hunting hyraxes, one of the favourite prey species of young leopards not confident enough to target bigger mammals. They are probably three years old. When we started seeing them they were around eighteen months old, together with their mother, who was extremely shy. She always moved away from us but the cubs would often stay, curious of cars and people.<br />
At one of the first sightings we had of them, the three leopards were cornered by a pride of lions, perched high up in two huge baobabs! Over time, BRF has become very, very confident, and she is completely unfazed by vehicles even when she is on the ground. BRM loves baobab trees and in recent times has started killing impalas and dragging them up there, but when he is on the ground he likes to keep his distance.</p>
<p>They have left their mother to get on with their solitary lives, but sometimes when they meet, BRM always approaches BRF with a friendly manner, and she always tells him off with snarls and growls. This year we found them in a baobab with a third leopard, a male of the same age (BRM2) that seems to have a strong bond with them. He may be a cub of the same litter that left the mother before the other two, and before we started seeing them.</p>
<p><a href="https://ruahaproject.files.wordpress.com/2015/03/20140720_172702.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-large wp-image-639" src="https://ruahaproject.files.wordpress.com/2015/03/20140720_172702.jpg?w=640&h=425" alt="20140720_172702" width="640" height="425" /></a></p>
<p><a href="https://ruahaproject.files.wordpress.com/2015/03/20140720_175020-2.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-large wp-image-643" src="https://ruahaproject.files.wordpress.com/2015/03/20140720_175020-2.jpg?w=640&h=425" alt="20140720_175020-2" width="640" height="425" /></a></p>
<p><a href="https://ruahaproject.files.wordpress.com/2015/03/20140720_175342-4.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-large wp-image-644" src="https://ruahaproject.files.wordpress.com/2015/03/20140720_175342-4.jpg?w=640&h=425" alt="20140720_175342-4" width="640" height="425" /></a></p>
<p><a href="https://ruahaproject.files.wordpress.com/2015/03/20140726_083401.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-large wp-image-645" src="https://ruahaproject.files.wordpress.com/2015/03/20140726_083401.jpg?w=640&h=425" alt="20140726_083401" width="640" height="425" /></a></p>
<p><a href="https://ruahaproject.files.wordpress.com/2015/03/20140824_085712.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-large wp-image-646" src="https://ruahaproject.files.wordpress.com/2015/03/20140824_085712.jpg?w=640&h=425" alt="20140824_085712" width="640" height="425" /></a></p>
<p><a href="https://ruahaproject.files.wordpress.com/2015/03/20140911_081132.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-large wp-image-647" src="https://ruahaproject.files.wordpress.com/2015/03/20140911_081132.jpg?w=640&h=425" alt="20140911_081132" width="640" height="425" /></a></p>
<p><a href="https://ruahaproject.files.wordpress.com/2015/03/20140911_080846.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-large wp-image-648" src="https://ruahaproject.files.wordpress.com/2015/03/20140911_080846.jpg?w=640&h=425" alt="20140911_080846" width="640" height="425" /></a></p>
<p>Sightings of these “Spotted All-Stars” are often the highlight of visitors’ experiences here in Ruaha, with their effortless combination of fierce grace and power, and they certainly are among my favourite animals to photograph.</p>
<p>Pietro</p>
<p>Visit the <a href="http://kwihala.asiliaafrica.com/Home.aspx" target="_blank"><span style="text-decoration:underline;">Kwihala Camp website</span></a> to find out more about the camp and Ruaha National Park. To come and stay, contact your trusted tour operator or <a href="http://kwihala.asiliaafrica.com/Enquire/Kwihala.aspx" target="_blank"><span style="text-decoration:underline;">enquire here</span></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/conservation" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Conservation</a></div><div class="field-item odd " 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 even " rel="dc:subject"><a href="/africa/blog/tags/wildlife" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Wildlife</a></div><div class="field-item odd " rel="dc:subject"><a href="/africa/blog/tags/africa" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Africa</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/leopards" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Leopards</a></div><div class="field-item even " rel="dc:subject"><a href="/africa/blog/tags/tanzania" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">tanzania</a></div></div>Tue, 03 Mar 2015 11:11:14 +0000Anonymous1242 at https://www.a2asafaris.com/africahttps://www.a2asafaris.com/africa/blog/ruaha%E2%80%99s-spotted-all-stars#commentsSmall wonders on Rubondo Islandhttps://www.a2asafaris.com/africa/blog/small-wonders-rubondo-island<div class="body text-field" property="content:encoded"><p style="text-align:center;"><span style="color:#339966;"><strong>*** Important ***</strong></span><br />
From 1 March 2015 this website will not be live anymore.<br />
With the launch of our new Asilia Blog all future blog articles about Rubondo Island can be found there.<strong><br /><a href="http://blog.asiliaafrica.com/category/areas/rubondo_island/" target="_blank">We invite you to our new Asilia Blog here ></a></strong></p>
<p>By Akil Halai</p>
<p>Rubondo Island on Lake Victoria is not only fascinating for its Nile perch fishing, its introduced population of chimps or its beautiful birdlife. It has a wide range of smaller animals that you don’t see on a normal safari.</p>
<p><strong>Off the beaten track</strong></p>
<p>Few tourists and guests are actually privileged to have visited the island because the island’s attractions are more low-key and esoteric than the often-visited savannah safari parks. This is changing dramatically nowadays, as visitors seek out more unusual experiences. They have already seen the big and ‘usual’ wildlife, and now crave something different. In this case unique places such as Rubondo are now coming into the picture, offering spectacular and unique wildlife experiences.</p>
<p><strong>Small wonders</strong></p>
<p>On my recent trip to <a href="http://rubondo.asiliaafrica.com/Home.aspx" target="_blank">Rubondo Island Camp,</a> I had a chance to tick off some animals I had waited for a long time to see. Watching the behaviour of these creatures was fascinating, and so much worth the time I spent.</p>
<p style="text-align:center;"><a href="https://rubondoislandcampproject.files.wordpress.com/2015/02/img_8044.jpg"><img class="alignnone wp-image-1907" src="https://rubondoislandcampproject.files.wordpress.com/2015/02/img_8044.jpg?w=488&h=325" alt="IMG_8044" width="488" height="325" /></a></p>
<p>The road from the park headquarters to the swampy Mlaga Bay every evening had a high concentration of colourful butterflies and Serrated Hinged Terrapins, especially after rain in the mornings.</p>
<p style="text-align:center;"><a href="https://rubondoislandcampproject.files.wordpress.com/2014/07/friar.png"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1705" src="https://rubondoislandcampproject.files.wordpress.com/2014/07/friar.png?w=300&h=225" alt="Friar" width="300" height="225" /></a> <a href="https://rubondoislandcampproject.files.wordpress.com/2014/07/charaxes1.png"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1702" src="https://rubondoislandcampproject.files.wordpress.com/2014/07/charaxes1.png?w=300&h=225" alt="Charaxes1" width="300" height="225" /></a></p>
<p>The Serrated Hinged Terrapins (<em>Pelusios sinuatus</em>) are a species of turtle in the Pelomedusidae family. They are only found in lakes and rivers in tropical East Africa. I spent many evenings watching them bask in mud banks and puddles on the roads made by wheel tracks. I was even lucky to see a clever one on the back of a hippo! They usually eat water snails, soft-weed and insects. The female terrapins are larger than the males with a carapace of up to 55cm long, and males can be distinguished from the females by their longer tails. For defence, the hinged plastron closes to protect the head and forelimbs, and the terrapin also secretes a foul odour when threatened.</p>
<p style="text-align:center;"><a href="https://rubondoislandcampproject.files.wordpress.com/2015/02/turtle.jpg"><img class="alignnone wp-image-1908" src="https://rubondoislandcampproject.files.wordpress.com/2015/02/turtle.jpg?w=488&h=325" alt="turtle" width="488" height="325" /></a></p>
<p>We saw the evidence of many female terrapins having laid their eggs in puddles – they usually lay from seven up to twenty-two eggs. The laying season is from October to January, and cute hatchlings appear from March to April. On Rubondo Island there were so many, we had to actually zigzag on the track to make sure we didn’t drive over any terrapin or its eggs!</p>
<p>It is the small wonders like this that make Rubondo such a rewarding place for me to visit.</p>
<p>Akil</p>
<p>Visit the <a href="http://rubondo.asiliaafrica.com/Home.aspx" target="_blank">Rubondo Island Camp website</a> for more information about the camp and the island.</p>
<p>To come and stay on Rubondo, contact your trusted travel agent or <a href="http://rubondo.asiliaafrica.com/Enquire/Rubondo.aspx" target="_blank">send an enquiry.</a></p>
<p><strong>About Aki</strong><strong>l</strong></p>
<p><a href="https://rubondoislandcampproject.files.wordpress.com/2015/02/akil.jpg"><img class=" size-medium wp-image-1909 alignleft" src="https://rubondoislandcampproject.files.wordpress.com/2015/02/akil.jpg?w=300&h=300" alt="Akil" width="300" height="300" /></a> Tanzanian-born Akil Halai is the Field Operations Coordinator for Asilia Tanzania. A birding enthusiast of note, he endeavours to observe as many avian species as possible upon his travels through Africa.</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/africa" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Africa</a></div><div class="field-item odd " rel="dc:subject"><a href="/africa/blog/tags/tanzania" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">tanzania</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>Fri, 20 Feb 2015 11:35:15 +0000Anonymous1238 at https://www.a2asafaris.com/africahttps://www.a2asafaris.com/africa/blog/small-wonders-rubondo-island#comments