Conservation | Safari Sense

13Nov 2024 by safarisense No Comments

The Nile Monitor Lizard: East Africa’s Water Dragon

Conservation, Maasai Mara, Wildlife Safari

Image | Ernest Nyamasyo The Nile monitor lizard (Varanus niloticus) is a formidable and fascinating reptile indigenous to sub-Saharan Africa. This impressive creature can reach lengths of up to 7 feet, with males typically larger and heavier than females. Males can weigh between 44 to 55 pounds, while females are slightly smaller, averaging around 33 to 44 pounds. With a lifespan extending up to 20 years in the wild, these lizards are a testament to the resilience and adaptability of reptilian life. East Africa is home to a variety of monitor lizard species, each with unique characteristics. Apart from the Nile monitor, the region hosts the savannah monitor (Varanus exanthematicus) and the rock monitor (Varanus albigularis). The savannah monitor, smaller and more robust, is often found in drier areas, distinguished…

15Oct 2024 by safarisense No Comments

Trauma Counselor? A Brush with a Bumpy Landing!!

Conservation, Game drive, Wildlife Safari

Image | Ernest Nyamasyo Few things inspire awe quite like an African sunrise. But on this particular morning, the spectacle of the savanna was eclipsed by a far different kind of drama. Our small plane was moments from landing at our destination when a series of unsettling grinding noises filled the cabin. The pilot, a stoic man with a weathered face, announced a "minor landing gear issue" over the intercom. My heart thumped a frantic counterpoint to the grinding. Glancing at my clients, I saw a tapestry of fear etched on their faces. Wide eyes, clenched jaws – the usual safari chatter had evaporated, replaced by a suffocating silence. As a flight attendant hurried forward, the pilot, our only beacon of calm amidst the rising anxiety, assured us of a…

28Aug 2024 by safarisense No Comments

Baptism by Lion: A Young Tourist’s Unforgettable Encounter!!

Camping, Conservation, Game drive, Wildlife Safari

Image | Ernest Nyamasyo They say a safari isn't complete without a brush with danger. Now, I've dodged mock elephant charges and stared down grumpy rhinos, but never in my years guiding have I witnessed such a raw exchange as the one between Olga, a wide-eyed eighteen-year-old on her first safari, and a magnificent male lion.We were cruising the savanna on a routine game drive when we encountered a pride of lions lazing in the tall grass. As is typical, one particular male, decided to grace us with his presence. He rose and ambled purposefully towards our vehicle. Now, lions often use game tracks as paths, and this fellow's chosen route just happened to bisect ours. He wasn't charging, just exercising his right of way. Still, Olga, perched alone in…

10Jul 2024 by safarisense No Comments

Green Wood Hoopoe: Africa’s Iridescent Chatterbox – Birdnificent©

Bird_watching, Conservation, Naivasha, Wildlife Safari

Image | Ernest Nyamasyo Scientific Name; Physical Characteristics The Green Wood Hoopoe, scientifically known as Phoeniculus purpureus, presents a striking appearance. This slender, blackish bird boasts a green-blue iridescence across its plumage, particularly noticeable in certain lights where it shimmers with hues of green, blue, and violet. Its most prominent features include a long, graduated tail, and a distinctively long, curved red bill which is a hallmark of the species. During flight, the white wing bars and white-tipped tail feathers serve as distinctive markers. Male and female wood hoopoes share similar appearances, although females tend to be slightly smaller with shorter bills. Immature hoopoes exhibit duller colors and shorter, curved black bills. Size and Lifespan Green Wood Hoopoes typically measure between 38 to 41 centimeters in length. Regarding lifespan, these…

22Apr 2024 by safarisense No Comments

Majestic Avian: The Ground Hornbill

City Tour, Conservation, Excursion, History, Holiday, Nairobi Area, Wildlife Safari

Scientific Name; Physical Characteristics The regal Ground Hornbill, known scientifically as Bucorvus leadbeateri, commands attention with its impressive stature and distinct features. Standing at heights of up to 3.3 feet and measuring a remarkable length of 3.3 to 3.6 feet, the males typically outweigh their female counterparts, tipping the scales at around 8 to 13 pounds. Their plumage showcases a striking contrast of black feathers accentuated by vibrant patches of white and red wattles adorning their throat. A defining feature of these majestic birds is their long, downward-curved bill, which aids in their foraging habits. Distinct Differences and Lifespan In the savannas of Kenya, the Ground Hornbill stands apart from its hornbill brethren with its distinctive characteristics and behaviors. While other hornbill species may roam the same terrain, the Ground…

17Feb 2024 by safarisense No Comments

Exploring Nairobi: A Journey Through Time – Part XI

City Tour, Conservation, Excursion, History, Nairobi Area, Wildlife Safari

Image | Courtesy The first postal headquarters, constructed in 1906 on Delamere Avenue (currently Kenyatta Avenue), was originally based in Mombasa since its establishment in 1899. On our right, we passed Kipande House, built in 1913 as a train depot and later used for the issuance of IDs before being acquired by KCB in 1976. Opposite stands the Nairobi Gallery, originally constructed in 1913 as the District Commissioner’s Office, where records of births, marriages, and deaths were kept until 1976 when Vice President Joseph Murumbi and his wife Sheila sold their art collection to the Kenyan government. Image | Courtesy Turning onto Uhuru Highway, we marveled at the Nyayo Monument, created in 1988 to mark 10 years of former President Moi's rule and 25 years of independence, located at Central…

17Feb 2024 by safarisense No Comments

Exploring Nairobi: A Journey Through Time – Part X

City Tour, Conservation, Excursion, History, Nairobi Area, Wildlife Safari

Image | Courtesy Passing through Moi Avenue, we marveled at the Kenya National Archives, whose construction began in 1928, commissioned by the Bank of India, and was completed in 1931. Also located on the then Government Road is the Tom Mboya Statue, erected in 2011, in memory of the politician who was assassinated on July 5, 1969. Further ahead, we encountered the August 7th Memorial Park, which commemorates the 1998 terrorist bombings of the American embassy. Turning towards City Hall Way, previously known as Sergeant Ellis Avenue after Sergeant George Ellis, the first European resident who arrived from Newington Butts, Surrey, England in 1896, we passed through the Nairobi City Court (Supreme Court), built in the 1930s. The statue of The Naked Boy of Justice adorns its premises, erected in…

17Feb 2024 by safarisense No Comments

Exploring Nairobi: A Journey Through Time – Part IX

City Tour, Conservation, Excursion, Nairobi Area, Wildlife Safari

Image | Courtesy Turning onto Kimathi Street, formerly known as Hardinge Street during the colonial period after the first Administrator of the Kenya Protectorate, Sir Arthur Hardinge, we made our way to the Thorn Tree Restaurant for a cup of coffee, pausing first to acknowledge the Dedan Kimathi Statue. It was erected on August 15, 2007, in honor of Dedan Kimathi, a rebel field marshal fighting against British colonial authorities during the Mau Mau rebellion of the 1950s. “A relentless campaign to capture Kimathi and his insurgents was launched by the British colonial government’s tribal police that ended up capturing him alone early on October 21, 1956. After a laborious and intricate trial, on November 19, 1956 at the Supreme Court of Kenya in Nyeri, Chief Justice Kenneth O’Connor found…

17Feb 2024 by safarisense No Comments

Exploring Nairobi: A Journey Through Time – Part V

City Tour, Conservation, Excursion, History, Nairobi Area, Wildlife Safari

Image | Courtesy Our next destination was the Nairobi National Museum, a sentinel of Kenya's past, guarding its secrets with silent reverence. As we made our way in, Vlad and Olga were curious about the museum's storied history, from its humble origins in 1910 when a modest institution was born from the vision of the East Africa and Uganda Natural History Society, to what it is today. Image | Ernest Nyamasyo “The Nairobi National Museum was officially opened on September 22, 1930, and named Coryndon Museum in honor of Sir Robert Coryndon, a former Governor of Kenya,” I explained. With each step, we journeyed through time, from prehistory and the country’s rich tapestry of different tribes with their unique customs, to the dawn of independence—a testament to Kenya's enduring spirit…

30Jan 2023 by safarisense

Why Voluntary Waterfowl Bird Counts Play a Key Role in Climate Change Mitigation and Eco-tourism Promotion

Bird_watching, Conservation, Excursion, Game drive, Holiday, Naivasha, Wildlife Safari

The morning air was crisp and chilly as we looked across Lake Naivasha, ready to board the single engine boat. We were here for the annual waterfowl counts, and I was not disappointed. As soon as we set off around the edge of lake, a flurry of activity caught my eye. A pair of fish eagles was perched on a dead tree; their piercing calls filling the air. I quickly set up my DSLR, and watched in awe as they gracefully swooped down to catch fish from the lake. As we continued, we were surrounded by a symphony of bird songs. The lake was alive with hundreds of different species, from the colorful pink-backed pelicans to the elusive little grebe. Kenya is home to a diverse array of waterfowl birds,…

Category: Conservation