Lewa2

Wednesday

On our way down the driveway of the lodge we saw 3 Dikdiks, the smallest of the antelope species... so small that it resembled a rabbit on first glance. Ironically we also saw the largest of the antelope species, the eland, this morning. We saw several other rare species today, including the rock hyrax and four black rhinos. Rock hyrax look like big rodents (think guinea pigs) but are most closely related to elephants! Black rhinos are not necessarily darker than white ones—- white rhinos are named for their wide grazing mouths (wide became white over time) so their counterparts who are shrub browsers and have a narrow mouth were named black.  Confusing?   

We also had some lessons in the ways of Mother Nature today, and when man ought or ought not intervene.  One of the black rhinos had been seriously injured in a fight, and the rhino vet was on the way to doctor him up.  This whole reserve started as an attempt to save the black rhino, which in the mid 1990’s were down to 400 individuals. There are now close to 1000 worldwide, but it still makes sense to intervene.  On the other hand, we saw a lame plains zebra today (probably injured during a lion attack) and as that species is plentiful, the animal will be left to survive or not as its luck goes.

After lunch, we had a short relaxing time (we wondered around the resort birding and viewing the vegetable gardens), then we headed off for an afternoon safari.  The first part was bird focused. As ever, we saw some interesting new bird species. Then a call came in of a cheetah sighting, so we were off in pursuit.  The cheetah was lying down in the grass, so we were grateful for the advice from the team that first spotted her, or we’d never have seen her. Once we were there, however, we were able to see her yawn, stretch, get up and walk around... she is a beautiful animal! On the trip back to the lodge we again saw a lion, as well as a young jackal (who seemed a bit confused about us, in the end he seemed quite relaxed with our presence) and a hyena which was chased off by some waterbucks.

It is fascinating to be in the Kenyan highlands. The lodge is at 6000 feet, so the days are warm, the evenings cool, and the humidity negligible. Quite a change from the overcast days and rainy nights that predominated in Uganda.