Amboseli National Park

Just returned from a week in Amboseli followed by a week in Mombasa (next post). We stayed at a lodge on the outskirts of the park and did day trips from there. The local population is primarily Maasai, and we had the opportunity to visit multiple Maasai homes to learn about issues regarding human-wildlife conflict, land availability, the ongoing drought, and more. The Maasai we spoke with explained how their community is shifting away from the pastoralist lifestyle towards a hybrid of agro-pastoralism. This is due to the numerous environmental and societal pressures they face. Currently, Maasai group ranches are undergoing subdivision. Having ownership over land, while not present in the traditional Maasai society, is becoming necessary in order to secure land rights. 

Aside from visiting with the Maasai we of course went on game drives in the national park! Buckle up for some safari pics. 

First look at Kilimanjaro right from our lodge!

Elephants! Seeing these creatures was breathtaking. However, what was also astonishing was the status of the landscape due to the presence of the elephants. The elephant population in the park is four times the carrying capacity, and due to the amount of vegetation they consume each day the ground is bare. This is a tricky conservation issue driven by a tourism agenda that limits population control. People love elephants, but other species, and local communities who face constant battles with elephants destroying crops, are paying a price. 

A black falcon captured through my binoculars. 

Grey crowned crane.

A hippo carcass decaying in the swamp. The region has been in drought for four years and that combined with the ecosystem damage from elephants is fatal. Kenya Wildlife Service actually cleans up the carcasses in the park and hides them away from tourist eyes in a pit. Thus most people who visit Amboseli are unaware of the ecological status of the park. 

Malachite kingfisher through the bins. 

Sooo much water in this region of the park but other areas were completely dry. Ground water runoff from Kilimanjaro creates wetlands in some areas but others get barely any water. 

Big big bird! The size of ostriches still amazes me. No way birds can be that tall. 

And here's a hippo who's hanging out with a couple egrets, textbook example of a symbiotic relationship. 

 

Giraffe and Kili.

And a close up! Just for you Leana.

Saw lots and lots and lots of zebras. 

Safari car selfie!
 

BIG CAT. A group of cheetahs put on quite the show for us playing and running around. We also saw a female lion taking a cat nap in the sun. I'd still have to say the scariest animals we saw were hyenas. 

I could watch this elephant eat water plants all day. 

Sun directly overhead at the equator creates some cool shadows.

Sunrise swim with Kili and Marg on the morning we left.