Trip Report: Kenya and Tanzania - August '07 - by Safaridude
Oct 11th, 2007, 03:38 PM
#24
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 179
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Post Script:
In the latest Swara magazine, there is an interesting article regarding a land lease scheme whereby migratory corridors southeast of Nairobi National Park are being preserved.
Mbirikani Group Ranch (Ol Donyo Wuas) is working on establishing a formal wildlife conservancy within the group ranch.
In Meru National Park, a second round of animal translocation has begun (the first one was done several years ago to restock the park from its poached, depleted state). Five new camp/lodge spots have been offered in and around Meru for tender.
Wild dogs have not been spotted at Lewa Downs since my lucky day in August. They are seen roaming around Laikipia as a whole, however.
Unusually heavy rains have pounded Maasai Mara and the northern Serengeti (I presume). There were massive wildebeest drowinings in the Mara River recently. I wonder if anyone from Sayari ever crossed the bridge to Lamai Wedge, I wonder.
Lastly, even though I wrote extensively on Sayari Camp (and there are other posts wondering about Sayari Camp), if you search for "Sayari" on this site, it does not come up.
In the latest Swara magazine, there is an interesting article regarding a land lease scheme whereby migratory corridors southeast of Nairobi National Park are being preserved.
Mbirikani Group Ranch (Ol Donyo Wuas) is working on establishing a formal wildlife conservancy within the group ranch.
In Meru National Park, a second round of animal translocation has begun (the first one was done several years ago to restock the park from its poached, depleted state). Five new camp/lodge spots have been offered in and around Meru for tender.
Wild dogs have not been spotted at Lewa Downs since my lucky day in August. They are seen roaming around Laikipia as a whole, however.
Unusually heavy rains have pounded Maasai Mara and the northern Serengeti (I presume). There were massive wildebeest drowinings in the Mara River recently. I wonder if anyone from Sayari ever crossed the bridge to Lamai Wedge, I wonder.
Lastly, even though I wrote extensively on Sayari Camp (and there are other posts wondering about Sayari Camp), if you search for "Sayari" on this site, it does not come up.
Oct 11th, 2007, 07:03 PM
#25
Join Date: Mar 2003
Posts: 1,123
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
See bridge in photos 15 & 16. ADS website Destinations/Northern Serengeti/Mara River.
http://www.africadreamsafaris.com/dest_ser_mara.html
Hope this works.
http://www.africadreamsafaris.com/dest_ser_mara.html
Hope this works.
Oct 12th, 2007, 02:40 PM
#26
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 179
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Yes, that photo #15 is an excellent one. Note the tire tracks... the bridge is not wide at all. Notice also that the left side of the bridge is rocky and shallow. That is the downstream side. As I mentioned, at least three vehicles were swept off the bridge this year, but no one was hurt because the downstream side is quite shallow. All three days I was there in August, the water level was about two feet above the top of the bridge. We didn't even think about crossing it.
Oct 13th, 2007, 03:17 PM
#28
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 13,393
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
safaridude,
Could you tell me more about the accommodation options at Swara Plains? Is there a website?
I debating where to spend our first night in Kenya before heading to Galdessa in Tsavo East and that sounded like a nice option especially after a long flight.
Thanks!
Could you tell me more about the accommodation options at Swara Plains? Is there a website?
I debating where to spend our first night in Kenya before heading to Galdessa in Tsavo East and that sounded like a nice option especially after a long flight.
Thanks!
Oct 14th, 2007, 04:43 AM
#29
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 179
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Patty, there is no official website. If you Google it, however, you will find some information on travel agents' websites.
There are two or three different levels of accommodations. One that I saw was a series of tented camps. They looked fine except they were built too close together. As far as I can tell (I did not stay over), the tents are not luxurious, I believe the price is right though.
There is an orphan (now fully grown and domesticated) cheetah that one can take a close look at. Like I mentioned, you will see everything you see at Nairobi National except for the cats (now very few at NN anyway), rhinos and buffalos. Swara Plains has the fringe-eared oryx (NN does not).
There are two or three different levels of accommodations. One that I saw was a series of tented camps. They looked fine except they were built too close together. As far as I can tell (I did not stay over), the tents are not luxurious, I believe the price is right though.
There is an orphan (now fully grown and domesticated) cheetah that one can take a close look at. Like I mentioned, you will see everything you see at Nairobi National except for the cats (now very few at NN anyway), rhinos and buffalos. Swara Plains has the fringe-eared oryx (NN does not).
Oct 14th, 2007, 04:45 AM
#30
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 179
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Patty, this one of the links that might be helpful. There are many others.
http://www.lets-go-travel.net/?q=node/view/13215
http://www.lets-go-travel.net/?q=node/view/13215
Oct 14th, 2007, 04:52 AM
#31
Join Date: Feb 2005
Posts: 2,309
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Oct 14th, 2007, 09:51 AM
#33
Join Date: Feb 2007
Posts: 873
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Great report Safaridude. I must have missed it when you first posted. A Mara River crossing of the migration. Just splendid. I also particularly enjoyed reading about Lewa. Karamushu was my guide at Wilderness Trail in 2003. He was excellent. I'm happy to learn he is now managing.
Oct 14th, 2007, 10:11 AM
#34
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 13,393
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Thanks for the links, safaridude and Nyamera. I also found this one http://www.africanmeccasafaris.com/k...nscottages.asp which I think is what's referred to as Kanga Camp on the Let's Go site, so it sounds like there are at least 3 different accommodation options. I'll ask my operator to find out more.
Thread
Original Poster
Forum
Replies
Last Post
PerpetualStudent
Africa & the Middle East
6
Aug 27th, 2009 05:17 PM
