  In May 2008 Vicky is working in East Africa and I fly to Kenya for a long weekend safari. On Saturday morning we fly up to Nanyuki and then drive for 30 mins to Sweetwater Camp in the Ol Pejeta wildlife conservancy. At 1800m above sea level, next to Mount Kenya the climate is perfect. |
  The tents are laid out around a waterhole and from the front of your tent you can watch as all sorts of game come to drink. We see impala, zebra, giraffe, warthogs, waterbuck and, while having dinner, a rhino appears in the moonlight to drink. |
  It is also a great spot for birds. Superb starlings hop around camp and a pair of Malibu Storks look like they own the place. We also see these crested cranes, yellow billed stork and egrets, ibis, and many other birds I don't recognise. |
  Ol Pejeta is a 90,000 reserve that was formerly a farm owned by the Delamere family. It includes a wide range of habitats including grassland, swamp, and fairly dense scrub with Acacia and Euclea bushes.
Herds of Morani cattle remind you that this was once a cattle ranch.
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  The conservancy is not all wild. There is a chimpanzee sanctuary, set up by Jane Goodall which takes many chimps rescued from captivity and poachers.
There are also two rescued rhinos, Jack and Morani (right). Morani likes a bit of Euclea bush or goose grass for his morning snack.
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  You can also see the big 5 game. We don't find any leopard but find this family of lions deep in the bush courtesy of the transmitter on mum's collar.
The elephants also hide in the bush but big herds of buffalo roam the grassland.
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  All of this is overlooked by the spectacular peaks of Mount Kenya. In haze in the mornings and clouds at mid-day it comes into its own in late afternoon.
It is nearing the end of the rainy season and the land is still very dry. The locals are pleased when rain clouds appear on Saturday afternoon.
Check out the link on the left for more pictures.
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