SAMBURU
If you have heard that the roads in Kenya are nothing more than potholes connected by rocks, you have heard the truth. Notwithstanding, minivans filled with tourists race down these roads jostling their passengers and throwing up great clouds of dust. We were in a four wheel drive land-rover. Occasionally, we would pull off the road and drive along side it. It was much smoother there. After several hours of being bounced around, arrival at the Shaba Sarova was a welcome relief.
The entrance to the Shaba portion of Samburu is rather forbidding.
The desolate landscape and animal skullsaround the gate reminded me a bit of the American West in a strange and exotic way.
The Sarova Shaba Lodge, hidden in the oasis that follows the river, has all the amenities. It must have been quite an undertaking to build this remote paradise. The rooms are huge and have windows on opposing sides for cross ventilation and the grounds are beautifully landscaped. In the evening monkeys played in the lower trees around the grounds.
Samburu is home to several special animal species featured on this page.
I was very fortunate to have Richard on my first safari. He has been coming to Kenya each February for the past 20 years, speaks fluent Swahili and is an excellent game spotter. He knew our driver from previous safaris and talked him into three and four hour game drives instead of the normally scheduled two hour drives. He and I spent most of the drives standing on seats enjoying the great views while Richard pointed out animals, birds and plants. The girls eventually sat back and listened to their walkmen.
There were herds of many different species of antelope and gazelle in Samburu. Richard's eagle eye spotted this elusive dik-dik standing under a bush. The dik-dik is a tiny antelope, about the size of a large rabbit.
We were fortunate to find this great herd of elephants heading our way. They crossed the road shorlty after we passed
Another unusual antelope living in Samburu is the gerenuk. They have long necks and very delicate features and have specialized hip bones allow the gerenuk to stand straight up and reach tender leaves.
Herds of Oryx were also quite abundant on the plains. We were fortunate enough to come quite close to this beautiful male Ostrich. I had no idea their necks and legs were so blue.
During our afternoon game drive we witnessed this grevys zebro rolling about in the dust near the side of the road.
Elephants were also generously dusting themselves in the mid afternoon. This is good protection against insects.
This mother elephant and her family found it all: shade, cool water and a forest full of snacks.
KENYA
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