You might remember that a while ago a rather inquisitive elephant took a liking to one of my shoes, which I had foolishly left outside my tent one night. The elephant took it into the bush and investigated it thoroughly before deciding that it was inedible and threw it away into a thorn tree, where…
Lion Guardian Games!
As you may remember, we were planning to hold the Lion Guardian Games at the very end of last year, but we had to postpone them for a number of reasons – firstly due to major floods, which meant that the Guardians could not attend, but also because the depletion of herbivores and the presence…
The mystery of the missing shoe
Foolishly I left my shoes outside my tent in the Eselenkei Lion Guardians camp overnight. The next morning I woke up to find only the left one remaining. Perplexed, I investigated the scene to discover what had happened. It became quickly evident that an elephant had come through in the night. But why would…
Snakes and lions
As well as lions, we are coming across a lot of snakes at the moment. The Lion Guardians have been spotting them in holes, up trees and in grass, others on the road, and even one flying through the sky – read more to find out how! Late one evening while the Lion Guardians team…
Lion Guardians busy stopping lion hunts
The Lion Guardian Games that were scheduled to be held between 27th and 29th December have unfortunately had to be postponed to a later date. The current heavy rainfall that is pounding the Amboseli ecosystem has made some areas no-go zones and has completely blocked access to many places. This is a great blessing for…
Rain and caterpillars!
We are very pleased to tell you that over the last few days the rains have been quite heavy! This is great news – the grass is growing, and the hills and plains are green! We hope this continues for some time, so that the animals, both wild and domestic can become healthy and strong…
A rare ostrich meeting!
After only a little rain, the devastating drought is still ravaging the greater Amboseli ecosystem. The drought is bound to completely change specialized pastoralism, the core of the Maasai’s cultural identity. It is like a wind that blows nobody good. Wildlife of all kinds despite their shapes and sizes are also susceptible to the drought.…
Mice in the oven!
Last night the Lion Camp received yet another visit from some naughty elephants, though they didn’t cause too much destruction this time, only knocking over the water container. We are also still getting regular nightly visits from our friend the genet.. ..and this morning the lion camp had even more animal visitors in the kitchen…
Honey badger raids beehive!
Not far past midnight, Project Biologist Kylie was roused from her dreamy slumber by the sound of cracking timber and the tearing of metal sheeting. Believing it to be an elephant, the usual culprit of camp destruction, Kylie armed herself with a big Maglite torch and marched towards the source of the racket, determined to…
First green shoots!
Finally the Lion Guardians, Maasai communities, wildlife and livestock that live together on Mbirikani, Eselenkei and Olgulului Group Ranches have experienced their first showers of rain. Everyone is very excited and thankful that at last there are a few green shoots appearing from the ground. Though the wildlife and livestock are still very hungry, at…