Conservation | Safari Sense

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,…

04Jan 2023 by safarisense

Experience: Mara North Conservancy

Conservation, Excursion, Game drive, History, Holiday, Nairobi Area, Wildlife Safari

A rolling savanna of more than 28.000 hectares, the Mara North Conservancy is home to a spectacular array of plants, reptiles, birds and mammals, including elephant, rhino, buffalo, lion, leopard and massed concentrations of wildebeest, zebra, gazelle and other migratory wildlife. Leopard Gorge in the heart of the conservancy is famous as the setting of countless BBC Big Cat Diaries and National Geographic documentaries. Bordering the Maasai Mara National Reserve, Mara North Conservancy is vital for sustaining the famous Serengeti wildebeest migrations and the highly threatened African wild dog and black rhino. Mara North Conservancy has struck a novel and innovative partnership between the Maasai landowners and a consortium of tour companies to sustain wildlife, improve livelihoods and develop a high quality tourism destination. The partnership has the support of…

11Dec 2022 by safarisense

Great Game At Samburu National Reserve

Conservation, Excursion, Game drive, History, Holiday, Nairobi Area, Wildlife Safari

Samburu National Reserve is a wildlife reserve in northern Kenya that is known for its diverse array of wildlife. The reserve is home to a wide variety of animals, including: • Elephants: The reserve is home to a large population of elephants, which can be seen grazing on the grasslands or wading in the rivers. • Giraffes: The reserve is home to several species of giraffe, including the reticulated giraffe, which is found only in northern Kenya. • Lions: The reserve is home to a healthy population of lions, which can often be seen lounging in the shade or hunting on the grasslands. • Leopards: The reserve is also home to a small population of leopards, which are elusive and difficult to spot. • Buffalo: The reserve is home to…

05Nov 2022 by safarisense

Experience: Lumo Wildlife Conservancy

Conservation, Excursion, Game drive, History, Holiday, Nairobi Area, Wildlife Safari

As we approached Nairobi National Park, the sun began to cast a golden glow across the sky. We were entering through the Main Gate, located just off the Lang'ata Road. With our backs to the city, it was easy to forget we were only a few kilometers from an international airport. The bush land in front of us stretched almost as far as the eye could see; dusty, flat, and rich in flora and fauna. With our backs to the city, it was easy to forget we were only a few kilometers from an international airport It was surreal and quite beautiful to witness the harmony of man and nature in a way that few people get to see. Zebras stood shoulder to shoulder with their backs to us, watching…

08Jul 2022 by safarisense

3 Benefits Online Safari Booking

Conservation, Excursion, Game drive, History, Holiday, Nairobi Area, Wildlife Safari

I must confess that I was once a skeptic of online booking platforms. Living in an age of cyber crime had put me off the idea until I was forced to do so on a recent trip. When I booked online, I realized how simple the entire process is, as well as the perks one gets from the experience. Here are some advantages: It is practical No more standing in long lines or filling out forms. Online bookings, whether for a holiday or an excursion, are quick and easy. From the palm of your hand, you can book your dream safari to the ideal destination. It is less expensive Did you know you get discounts when you book online? Online bookings allow travelers to compare prices for various safari packages…

27Jun 2022 by safarisense

Fascinating Game Drive at Nairobi National Park

Conservation, Excursion, Game drive, History, Holiday, Nairobi Area, Wildlife Safari

As we approached Nairobi National Park, the sun began to cast a golden glow across the sky. We were entering through the Main Gate, located just off the Lang'ata Road. With our backs to the city, it was easy to forget we were only a few kilometers from an international airport. The bush land in front of us stretched almost as far as the eye could see; dusty, flat, and rich in flora and fauna. With our backs to the city, it was easy to forget we were only a few kilometers from an international airport It was surreal and quite beautiful to witness the harmony of man and nature in a way that few people get to see. Zebras stood shoulder to shoulder with their backs to us, watching…

04Feb 2022 by safarisense

Legendary Treetops Hotel – A Princess’s Turning Point

Bird_watching, Conservation, Excursion, Nairobi Area, Wildlife Safari

The visitor's book at Treetops Hotel, Nyeri On February 6, 1952, Princess Elizabeth’s life changed forever. Together with her husband Prince Philip, they were staying in Treetops, a game-viewing lodge built in a tree in Aberdare National Park, when her father died and she became Queen. She was just 25-years-old. It was actually the next day at Sagana Lodge, 20 miles away, that she heard the news, but it is Treetops Hotel that has become synonymous with the event. The lodge, known for its rustic design, was built in 1932, and sits right in the middle of an ancient migration route for elephants between the Aberdare Ranges and Mt Kenya National Park. Treetops sits close to a natural salt lick, allowing guests to see animals as they come to drink…

01Feb 2022 by safarisense

Fundi Chuma! Why the Hamerkop is known as the Flying Architect

Bird_watching, Conservation, Excursion, Nairobi Area, Wildlife Safari

Along the shores of Kenya’s rivers and lakes, the Hamerkop rakes the muddy banks with its short, heavy bill, searching for frogs and fish. Occasionally, It also employs other tactics such as wiggling its feet in the mud to stir up the menu, and may even fly into the wind at low level and dip at the water’s surface to pick on unsuspecting fish. Dull brown, with a pale chin and throat, the Hamerkop is named for its unusual shape – the word “Hamerkop” meaning “hammerhead” in German, and aptly describes the bird’s profile with a prominent heavy crest at the back of its head. It belongs to the heron family. Although only about 30cm high, breeding pairs use twigs, mud, and grass to build the most remarkable permanent spherical…

19Aug 2021 by safarisense

Misadventure at Lake Naivasha

Bird_watching, Conservation, Holiday, Naivasha

There’re some experiences we try to gloss over when reviewing our travels. Not that they’re embarrassing, but probably coz of the mental stress they induce once recalled. Just the other year, at a time like now, I found myself on a motorboat, looking out for cormorants, pink backed pelicans, jacanas, and fish eagles, the air punctuated by different bird songs of Lake Naivasha’s approximately 400 recorded species. The lake extends like a vast sunlit sea, with dozens of water bird above and around the sparkling sheet of water surrounded by scenic hills and mountains. Amidst the sun’s reflections bouncing off the water droplets at the wake of the boat’s motor, colourful shiny-eyed superb starlings flit between the acacia trees on the shore, the backdrop made up of translucent tents of…

07Aug 2021 by Rei Mongela

Experience Tanzania: Your Ultimate Adventure Holiday

Conservation, Extreme, Game drive, Holiday, Wildlife Safari

While on safari, every game drive is a trip into the unexpected.., a chance to encounter nature at its most raw. No wonder that for many, a trip to Kenya is firmly at the top of their wish list. What many people don't realize, however, is that while Kenya is the world's best-known safari destination, it is far from being the only one. ‘When you go on a Kenya safari, you are watching the most amazing film in the world. But when you go on a Tanzania safari, you are the lead role,’ says our driver guide with a hint of pride in his voice. A herd of elephants makes its way across the savannah. A leopard stalks through the grass. A pack of hyenas munch on a kill. Reminiscing…