The beautiful North...

Shaba, Buffalo springs and Samburu national reserve have got to be some of the best places to experience an authentic safari and a place to see some of the most amazing wildlife in Africa. My family and I did a 3 night safari which was booked through a good friend of mine - Anthony Muli and Entice Africa Safaris and one thing is for sure, it was worth every penny. We stayed at Sarova Shaba and Entice Africa Safaris took care of all the details which made the safari flawless... A good friend of mine Jonathan Musyoka, guide par excellence was with us on this safari and we knew it's going to be an epic one!

Saturday 26th August we make our way from Sarova shaba and at 7am we drive into Buffalo Springs reserve through Choka gate. The feeling was good and we were optimistic about seeing amazing game. Little did we know that there is on going action minutes from us.  

A short drive from the gate, we saw some distressed giraffes and Jonathan our skilled guide knew this was a sign not to take for granted. We stopped and looked around and to the left we say a pride of lions successfully brought down a giraffe. We made our way to the site. The kill was fresh, literally made just minutes from the time we arrived. We we're lucky to be the only ones there for about 15minutes before the second vehicle arrived. 

Lions are apex predators and this successful hunt is a reminder of the power and beauty of lions. 

A lion feeding on a giraffe

A lioness looking around

Shaba Elephants in the golden light

Each game drive presented us with amazing game sightings and the experience of not having too many cars around you truly enhances this. 

Highly recommend a safari with Entice Africa and Jonathan Musyoka as guide... 

Until next time... stay safe!

Nairobi National Park

 Just 7 kilometers south of Nairobi, the capital city of Kenya lies a unique one of its kind National park. Here the open grasslands are home to some unique wildlife - from rhinos to lions to the elusive leopard and cheetahs. Nairobi park is home to numerous wildlife, flora and fauna and over 400 species of wildlife. 

Nairobi National park is also home to the famous ivory burning site. This is an important site in the annals of conservation. In 1989, Kenyan president Daniel Arap Moi made a dramatic statement to poachers worldwide by setting fire to 11 tons of seized ivory. In 2016 then President Uhuru Kenyatta oversaw the burning of 105 tons of ivory and 1.3 tons of rhino horn. 

There is a unique juxtaposition of a thriving cityscapes and a natural habitat with wild open spaces. Nairobi national park was gazetted as Kenya's first national park on 6th December, 1946 and covers about 117 square kilometers. This unique park is also a breeding area for Rhinos which are then translocated to other parks in Kenya. Nairobi park is also a bird watchers paradise, you can also have excellent game viewing and the park has some amazing picnic locations. 

Lioness in Nairobi park.

Lioness with her cubs. 

Splitnose, the Leopard King, Loses His Crown

After a long break, yours truly is back online and this blog is a tribute to a cat that holds a special place in my heart... 

Splitnose, the legendary male leopard of the Maasai Mara, has lost his grip on his vast kingdom. The once-dominant cat has been forced to retreat to his first territory of dominance, after being challenged by younger and more aggressive males.

Splitnose's decline has been a long time coming. He is now 15-17 years old, which is considered to be old age for a leopard. He has also suffered a number of injuries over the years, including a broken canine and the legendary scar across his nose. These injuries and his age are now making it difficult for him to defend his territory and his mates.

In recent months, Splitnose has been challenged by a number of younger males. These males are stronger and more agile than him, and they have been able to take advantage of his age and injuries. As a result, Splitnose has been forced to give up control of much of his territory.

Splitnose's retreat is a reminder of the harsh realities of life in the wild. Even the most dominant animals eventually reach a point where they can no longer hold on to their power. However, Splitnose's story is also one of resilience. Despite his age and injuries, he has refused to give up completely. He has returned to his first territory, where he is still able to find food and mates.

It is unclear how long Splitnose will be able to maintain his dominance in his new territory. However, one thing is for sure: he is a true leopard king, and his story is one of strength, resilience, and determination.

What does this mean for the future of Splitnose?

It is difficult to say what the future holds for Splitnose. He is still a powerful leopard, but he is no longer the dominant force that he once was. It is possible that he will be able to hold on to his new territory, but it is also possible that he will be challenged again by younger males.

Only time will tell what the future holds for Splitnose. However, one thing is for sure: he is a true leopard king, and his story is one of strength, resilience, and determination.

Splitnose perched on a tree

A tail take sign