http://www.cleverscampcamp.com/camping-sly-park-lake/
Essenia Safari Experts, Kenya Wildlife – Fun while observing wildlife
Recently during a trip to the Lake Nakuru and Masai Mara, We took our time to observe some facinating animals and insects. Lake Nakuru is a national park well known for its avian life. The park is relatively small measuring some 188 sq kms and stands at an altitude of approximately 5,770 ft.
The Masai Mara national reserve is an endless savanna plain and is relativel big as compared to the lake Nakuru park. The Masai Mara measures 1,510 sq kms and stands at an altitude of approximately 5,000 ft above sea level.
During the routine grame drives, we stopped to observe the dung beetle. The dung beetle always leaves me in awe for the troubles it goes in breaking down animal dung and rolling it into small round balls. The male dung beetle will make a small dung ball and roll it as far as its nest is. The male rolls the dung with its hind lesgs as the females rides on top of the small dung ball. In the dung beetles world, just like in our world, there exists the lazy and bandits lying by the wayside waiting for easy loot. The male will from time to time encounter these dung bandits and what ensues…is a natural marvel. The dung beetle will abandon the dung and embark in a wrestling match with its oponent…with clinical expertise that would leave the wrestlings superstars green with envy…this fight will continue until he subdues the marauding male and continues with his “Gold” back to his nest. To the beetle, the dung is indeed like Gold. To the beetle, fresh dung is like rain pouring at the perched sahara.
While on a fulls day game drive january 2010 at the Mara national reserve, we traced group of hyenas “hoping” to hunt down some thompson gazelles. Thompson gazelles are agile animals that are hunted maily bay the fast animals or the sly cat- the leopard. This rendevouz was at open plains with the gazelles well aware of the ulterior intentions of the hyenas. The Hyena is known to be a savage hunter which will tear down its prey without killing it. Most of the animals will eithr die of shock or excessive bleeding.
With the hyenas intentions well noted, the gazelles were keen to mock them. well known for their laziness, the hyenas would walk behind slowly following the gazelles and lying down after every 5 or so meters. African folk has it that a hyena will follow a person closely…….watching closely yhe swinging arm………with the hope that at some point soon enough, it should fall off….offering it an easy earned buffet.
While observing and discussing the Hyena amongst the clients on board…..the conclusion that reigned (on a lighter note)….was the hyenas were praying and hoping that either God strikes one gazelle dead ….or lightening would strike one dead for them.
These are some of the fascinating wildlife viewing exeriences you encounter while on east africa…just to mention but a few.
Karibu Kenya,Tanzania
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