Well, the photos I've just posted of the horses were taken a couple of months ago before the rains. The grass on Lewa is now a beautiful emerald green after a massive deluge of rain just over a week ago. It literally rained for four days and nights which is very unusual. Roads were impassable and previously dry rivers were in full flow. The mud was something else and I was not out of wellington boots for about a week! It reminded me somewhat of living in Britain except here no one complains about the rain.
Back to normality now and sunshine and blue skies. We had a very naughty elephant come into camp a couple of nights ago. He decided to take a walk through the stable yard taking down fences en route and then destroying a large yellow fever acacia tree that overlooks the yard! He tried to come back last night but after a few rounds of gunfire (not at him obviously - just into the sky to scare him off), he thought better of it and has hopefully learnt he is not welcome.
Went for a lovely walk the other morning, along the river and then up into the hills. Saw a crocodile basking on the river bank. Having seen signs of a buffalo, we were then tentatively walking up the hill through scrubby bushland when Rakita (the guide) grabs my arm and beckons me to follow him quickly. My heart stopped for a moment as I feared we had happened upon the buffalo - probably the most aggressive and dangerous animal on Lewa. To my relief, I did not need to scramble up a tree, Rakita's excitement was due to him having spotted two bushpigs which are incredibly elusive and hard to spot. Fortunately, we never did see the buffalo, but had an amazing time watching elephant and rhino, especially a mother and three month old white rhino lazing in the sunshine below us as we sat on a rock above them.
Sad times as horse numbers have now been reduced by one. 27 year old Lester reached the end of the road after many years of service as a fantastic guest horse. He has been slowly retiring for sometime, only coming out to provide much pleasure to small children as he takes them safely through the bush in the number two spot right behind the lead guide horse. Even some of the syces were sad to see him go. It was the only kind thing to do though as old age and arthritis were getting the better of him and he could no longer keep up with the herd. Lester was affectionately known as "mzee" which literally means old man in Swahili but is very much a term of respect. What was most endearing was that Finn (another mzee of the yard) always stayed with Lester close to home whilst the rest of the herd went further afield. I hope he is not missing his old friend too much.
Back to normality now and sunshine and blue skies. We had a very naughty elephant come into camp a couple of nights ago. He decided to take a walk through the stable yard taking down fences en route and then destroying a large yellow fever acacia tree that overlooks the yard! He tried to come back last night but after a few rounds of gunfire (not at him obviously - just into the sky to scare him off), he thought better of it and has hopefully learnt he is not welcome.
Went for a lovely walk the other morning, along the river and then up into the hills. Saw a crocodile basking on the river bank. Having seen signs of a buffalo, we were then tentatively walking up the hill through scrubby bushland when Rakita (the guide) grabs my arm and beckons me to follow him quickly. My heart stopped for a moment as I feared we had happened upon the buffalo - probably the most aggressive and dangerous animal on Lewa. To my relief, I did not need to scramble up a tree, Rakita's excitement was due to him having spotted two bushpigs which are incredibly elusive and hard to spot. Fortunately, we never did see the buffalo, but had an amazing time watching elephant and rhino, especially a mother and three month old white rhino lazing in the sunshine below us as we sat on a rock above them.
Sad times as horse numbers have now been reduced by one. 27 year old Lester reached the end of the road after many years of service as a fantastic guest horse. He has been slowly retiring for sometime, only coming out to provide much pleasure to small children as he takes them safely through the bush in the number two spot right behind the lead guide horse. Even some of the syces were sad to see him go. It was the only kind thing to do though as old age and arthritis were getting the better of him and he could no longer keep up with the herd. Lester was affectionately known as "mzee" which literally means old man in Swahili but is very much a term of respect. What was most endearing was that Finn (another mzee of the yard) always stayed with Lester close to home whilst the rest of the herd went further afield. I hope he is not missing his old friend too much.
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