The 2021 Africa Journals, Ch. 17: In Which We Leave Samburu

 

Chapter 17:

In Which We Leave Samburu

 

Today is moving day as our time is up at Elephant Bedroom Camp in the Samburu National Reserve.  Frankly, I would have loved to stay another few days just to enjoy the unusual animals found only in this area--the retirculated giraffe, Grevy's zebra, Somali ostrich, Beisi oryx, and especially, especially the gerenuk (pictured left).

It wasn't a bad place for birds, either!

But, it was off to a rhino reserve for us and a chance to see the wild and endangered black rhinos. 

 

 

The sun was rising as we set out on a shortened game drive.   We had to be back in camp by 9 o'clock for breakfast, packing, and heading back the way we came.
 

Not all of the  following photos were taken on this morning drive, but I'm posting them because I didn't want you to miss them.   We paused to give several elephants the right of way as they were heading for the river for a drink.  Their well-worn path went right through a small public camping spot.

 

 

 

 

If you look closely at the above photo, you can see several camping items behind the elephant.   Table, water jugs, etc.    I saw the campers sitting in their parked vehicle.   Very wise thing to do when the behemoths are in your campsite.

 

 

 

Another sight that blew my mind was a line of vulturine guineafowl coming out of the brush.   They just kept coming in a seemingly endless stream.    I counted fifty before our driver moved on, and they were still appearing!

We found the warthogs to be very skittish and it was difficult to get a photo of anything but hog butts going away from us with their tails straight in the air.

And now, I would like you to meet Red.   He's a red-headed agama lizard and he owns the pavilion at Elephant Bedroom Camp where guests have meals and relax.   When I first saw, he was rather faded.

Part of his tail is missing.  Agamas use their tails to fight other agamas and have the ability to drop part of their tails.    They eventually grow back!

One day, Red was on the ramp leading up to the lounge area.   He was much more colorful and vibrant.    I walked over to see what had captured his rapt attention.

On the ground beside the ramp, was another lizard.    I don't know lizards very well (okay, not at all) so I mistook what was going on.    I thought the greenish lizard ono the ground was an interloper.

It turns out that the greenish lizard was a female agama and that's what had Red's color up.   He jumped down behind her.

Look at how colorful he is.   Look at the expression on his face.   Her tail is in the air!   She's receptive.   Go for it, Red!

Oh, Red.  You're fading again.  You lost your opportunity.  No female is going to be interested in a guy was a fading libido.

By the way, that leer is just plain creepy..   You really have to work on your presentation, Bud.

 Ah, the beautiful  bee-eaters.

 

Downloading photos on Marg's deck during an early afternoon break.

Grevy's zebra on he march.

 

Goshawk

 

One day we found a cheetah with three cubs.   They had a kill and were in a deep thicket with it.

 

Generuk

 

 

 Grevys zebra

Close up of generuk male.  The dark spot in front of the eye is a preorbital gland.

The lead elephant is kicking up dust to hide the baby in the back.

Three generuk.

Helmeted guineaufowl.

Great egret

Black-necked weaver, female.

 

 

I don't know what I did to get their attention, but I'm glad there's a wide river  between us.

 

Elephants across the river from camp.

 

Elephant in the duom palms

 

 

The hornbill that came to lunch.

 

Superb starling

A map of the Samburu National Reserve.    Our camp is  the second blue area from the right.

 Samburu  is near the center in the map below.

 

 

A couple of the ladies on this trip decided to do something awesome for the children at this school, which is right outside the gate of Samburu National Reserve.   They took photos of the younger children, one by one, and will (somehow) get those to the children.   Also, Laura brought a duffle bag full of supplies and three soccer balls.

 

A few of the kids.

 

 

The three photos above were taken in one schoolroom.  It was a humbling experience.

The school's water source.

Another class.

Some dwellings outside the reserve.  Our guides say the residents are transitioning to brick homes.

Back in Nanyuki, we stopped briefly and the requisite equator sign photo.

 

 

 

And less than an hour later, we arrived at the gate of Rhino Watch Lodge, where we would spend three nights.

 

 

 

 

Next:   The hunt for rhinos.