Conservation | Safari Sense

05Nov 2025 by safarisense 2 Comments

The Rock Star of the Mara: Meet the Mwanza Flat-headed Agama 

Conservation, Nairobi Area, Wildlife Safari

Image | Ernest Nyamasyo The sun is high over the Masai Mara, baking the golden grass and sending heat ripples across the plains. My guests are scanning the horizon for lions when I quietly raise a finger and point—not to the distance, but to a sunlit rock just a few meters away. There he is. A flash of color so vivid it almost doesn’t seem real—a reptilian superhero basking in full glory. “Everyone,” I whisper, grinning, “meet the Mwanza Flat-headed Agama—the Masai Mara’s very own Spider-Man lizard.” Named Agama mwanzae in scientific circles, the Swahili call him Balababa, but I like to call him the show-off of the savanna. He’s not large—barely 32 centimeters from snout to tail—but what he lacks in size, he makes up for in swagger. With…

10Jul 2025 by safarisense 1 Comment

Whiskers in the Grass: Tracking the Secretive Serval

Conservation, Nairobi Area, Wildlife Safari

Image | Ernest Nyamasyo The sun is barely peeking above Nairobi’s skyline when my guests and I bump down the red-dust trail into the wilderness of Nairobi National Park—Africa’s only national park with a capital city for a neighbor. Zebras blur past in early light, and giraffes crane their necks against a backdrop of high-rises. But I’m not watching the giants this morning. I’m looking for a ghost in the grass. “Mondo,” I whisper to the guests. That’s Swahili for Serval, the long-legged, small-bodied, big-eared feline phantom we’re hoping to glimpse. With the scientific name Leptailurus serval, this spotted cat isn’t as famous as the lion or cheetah, but trust me—when you see one, it’s unforgettable. Imagine a creature sculpted for stealth: about a meter long, weighing up to 13…

03May 2025 by safarisense 2 Comments

Chasing Shadows: Elusive Felines of Mara North Conservancy

Conservation, Maasai Mara, Wildlife Safari

Image | Ernest Nyamasyo There’s a moment, just before dusk falls over the golden plains of Kenya’s Mara North Conservancy, when the air seems to still, and every sense sharpens. It’s as if the land itself holds its breath. That’s when I know—Chui is near. The Swahili name for the leopard rolls off the tongue like a secret. It means stealth, elegance, and the thrill of a sighting that even the most seasoned guides can’t quite predict. The leopard (Panthera pardus), after all, is a master of vanishing. Unlike the loud, swaggering lions or the bustling hyenas, the leopard glides through the shadows, a ghost in dappled gold. Its coat, an exquisite tapestry of rosettes on a background that shifts from pale cream in dry country to deep orange or…

13Nov 2024 by safarisense 3 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 2 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 44 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…

Category: Conservation