The warm couple arrive at around 11.00 am and we exchange heartfelt greetings like old friends then we depart for Tsavo shortly afterwards.
We begin our mid morning/early afternoon safari game drive heading in the direction of our safari lodge, we are amazed at what we see a short distance into Tsavo East a herd of elephants, zebra in a huge herd and on to Aruba Dam a number of water birds notably the Egyptian Geese. We continue with a hurried safari game drive as we are hungry and we check in to the Red Elephant Safari Lodge.
Red Elephant Safari Lodge is coll and dimly lit, a perfect place for those who want some silence and only noise you can hear is the noise of the bush; birds singing, the distant cry of a hyena, the trumpeting and at time the sight of elephants.
We take our lunch and at 4.15 pm we head out for our safari game drive.
a male waterbuck just which we met just as we were begining our afternoon safari game drive, on the far right
shortly a female joined the male and we captured a family portrait
as we proceeded with our safari in Tsavo east we met this young elephant which was in group of about 12
as we headed to the pipeline (the red tanks) that receiving water all the way from Mzima Springs in Tsavo West National Park the water then flows to Mombasa by the force of gravity
Tsavo was amazing - some parts were green other brown dry as usual, at a distance we could see rain falling in distant area - that explains the dark clouds in the background
we were surprised at elephant feeding verociously at 5.00 pm! No wonder they can feed 170 to 200kg of vegetation in a day! The main reason beyond their great size for eating so many pounds of food each day is that the elephant digestion track is actually poorly adapted to extracting the most out of its vegetative food.
Elephants spend 18 to 20 hours a day feeding, everyday they have to consume 170 to 200kg of vegetation. Fluid intake for the elephant is also enormous 20 to 40 gallons of water a day is required to keep them healthy
on with our safari and we meet a Grants Gazelle, infact we met a huge load of herbivores at a distance, all of them seemed agitated at something; it took sometime before we notice a mane-less lion walking in the far distance. Dave was lucky to see the lion using his binoculars, unlucky Vivienne was not able to see the king of the jungle - Dave made it clear - had I not seen it - I'd have said you making this up!
We also came across two very thin lion cubs, i could amost count all the ribs - they were literaly sticking out of their skins - probably their mother was killed by other lions or she had died of a disease - I wonder for how long they would survive - they mostly walked behind bushes so I couldnt get a nice shot
Classic Tsavo Safari Game drive withred earth and hills
the beautiful helmeted guniea fowl
Dave trying to get a good look at an elephant we met while heading bak to the lodge
To end the evening we met an elephant herd with a young one that had problems using his trunk to get grass and put it to it's mouth, it takes baby elephants a number of years to become truly expert in their use. It is amusing to see the antics of newly born as they try to get used to the limb dangling in front of them!
We have dinner and overnight at the Red elpehant Lodge - a tired lot but impressed.
Day 2 of Tsavo Safari
We wake up very early in the morning by 6.30 am we are out for our safari game drive in Tsavo. We take the same route we took the previous evening with hopes of sighting more game below are some pictures of what we came across
Male Impala antelope
Safari Land cruiser dwafed by a giraffe
Elephants on both side of the road - they nearly blocked the way for us we had to do some good waiting before they all crossed the road and allowed us safe passage. In Tsavo (and any other national park or reserve) - animals have the right to the roads.
Three lionesses that we met resting by the roadside, it was like they were waiting for us to come along for they only stayed about 10 minutes then they walked away into the sorrounding bush
Apair of Imapala rams
A monitor Lizard
Granst Gazelle just as we were about to exit Tsavo East and end our safari
Mocabe Tours and Safari Senior Tour Leader Cornaleus Mwaruma with our guests Vivienne on the Right and David on the Left at Tsavo East's Bachuma Gate before rejoining Mombasa Road for a trip to Kilifi for the couples onward holiday plans.
We take this chance to wish all our friends and their families Happy Easter holidays
MOCABE TOURS AND SAFARIS
Web: http://www.mocabesafaris.com/
