The Joys of Retirement Production Company

We visited this center today and we able to observe a few of the chimpanzees who have been rescued from human situations over the years since it was established by Jane Goodall in 1973. She started with 3 chimps, brought another 9 a couple years later, and over the years, the population in the Sanctuary has grown to 35. Five young have been born, showing these abused and damaged animals are recuperating, living a more normal life than the situation from which they were rescued. Six were found in a box when an attempt to smuggle them out was thwarted at the airport… but 2 died. One was living in a very small cage for 9 years at a gas station. They are learning to be chimpanzees again in a healthy environment, but they will not be able to be released. Because of the psychological damage they have experienced, it is feared they would not survive. Their nutrition is supplemented here, and they are cared for medically. They are not natural inhabitants of Kenya, more the jungle areas of Congo. It was a very interesting visit.

This is a group of 2 females and 2 young males, a 1 year old and a 5 year youngster.

The enclosure for the chimps is for their protection as well as ours. Should one escape and be threatening, there is a safe space for us in the viewing area. Maybe schools need these safe spaces!?

Known for the large population of Southern white Rhino and Cape Buffalo, we saw both in one scene as soon as we entered Olpejeta. There are still many Grants Gazelle impala, and antelop, plus some new ones we haven’t seen before here. The Zebra here are Common Zebra.

There are photos uploaded to our snug mug and it will have them added as we encounter new ones.

Tonight, we are took a night time safari drive. We missed the lions, it seems they had a kill yesterday and we sleeping it off! But we did see hyenas and jackets finishing off the remains of a Zebra

We also had a sighting of a very elusive stripped hyena, but he wouldn’t pose! Fabulous day in Kenya!

Today, we left Samburu for the Olpejeta Preserve, and Sweetwater Serena Tent Camp. Our new camp is inside the preserve so when we leave for game drive we are already in the park

In case you wonder, we are eating well!

The trip between campus can be a interesting ad the wildlife drives around real preserve or park. We passed thru an area of a Muslim tribe. Passed a bit north of Mount Kenya.

As we entered the olpejeta private game preserve we immediately saw a different environment and different animals! We are a higher altitude, Right on the equator but color than Samburu area which is very low and hot.

Some animals we recognized but worth a little variety. The Zebra here are Common Zebra, not Grevy Zebra . Can you see the difference in the stripes?

But there are also reticulated Giraffe, Grants gazelles and Impala here

After lunch and a rest we have our first real game drive here, but we feel that the view of the water hole from the whole camp includes most of the species we will see!

Today we got to sleep in…. To 5:45AM! We were even able to eat breakfast before our first drive of the day! And it was a fabulous drive. Antony, our guide works hard to make sure we see as many animals as possible. He heard there were 2 male lions in an area several km away so he drove there as quickly as possible. The guides communicate and Share great tips on rare sightings! On the way to, we had to stop and see a pair of elephant twins!

When we arrived at the area the 2 male lions had been sighted, there were already 4-5 vehicles vying for a good position. But the lions were resting in deep brush, nestled among the plants. Lying low! We were able to see them move when both of them tried to make a quick get away altho we couldn’t photograph them running. We found a great position to see the head of the lighter color one…. and caught a photo of him eying us!

After a half hour or so, Antony heard of a family of cheetahs, so we decided not wait out the lions any longer. And we were rewarded!

We saw a group of elephants and 2 giraffe drinking at the river and it was wonderful to watch then a while

And the contortions the poor giraffe have to do to drink!

A Small herd of Impala ran down to drink too and a couple Bachelors had to joust a bit!

For more pictures.

Our highlight of this afternoons game drive was a troop of baboons at least 200-300 strong! There is a video on the FB Group.

We also saw our first dikdik, giraffe, Zebra and lions!

We also saw more elephants

Another stunning sunset

For the full gallery, go to https://susandemaggio.smugmug.com/Samburu-Day-2-afternoon-drive

At Samburu we left at 6 for an early drive. Here are a few highlights with note at our smugmug group.

It was BEYOND our EXPECTATION

For more of these see our Smugmug account

https://susandemaggio.smugmug.com/Our-first-game-drive

These are pictures, not edited. Just as we took them! I will edit and crop later. When I have returned home! Enjoy.

It is about 320 km from Nairobi to our camp, Ashnil in Samburu. For more than highlights see our smugmug

This was our longest driving day and then our first game drive.

We have internet only in the lodge lobby, and electricity goes off at about 1 AM until 4 AM. And since it was a long day, I won’t have time to get the pictures transferred and the blog written before I hit the bed! Just let me tell you, you will be amazing at the animals we saw today. Hang in there. For those with FB, Emmett will post a preview!