Out of Africa 2020

Just in case you were wondering why I’ve been a bit quiet…

I was kidnapped, but rescued by a bloodhound, so everything is fine. No, that’s not right, that’s a friend’s amusing title to this photo. It’s actually me in rapture with the anti-poaching team at the Ole Pajeta Conservancy in Kenya, on an animal behavior focused safari. These brave men have had a significant effect on the poaching of endangered rhinos, thanks to this bloodhound, trained to track people, and an adorable springer spaniel (out of the photo), trained to find guns and ammunition. No poaching attempts in three months. These guys are my heroes, doing a dangerous and vital job!

 

FYI, I had planned to do a lot more writing, but I sliced my thumb pretty badly last night and typing makes it worse. So, sorry, going to have to go with just photographs for this week. Lots more next week, with lots more details. But, here are a few more appetizers (some photos by me, some by Jim, we didn’t keep track):

Momma vervet suckling her young. Vervets were everywhere in northern Kenya, including on the porches of our tents. We had to padlock the zippers to keep them out.

 

Some might say that these are Grey Crowned Cranes, but in truth they are animatronic creations of the Kenyan tourist industry and Disney’s incredibly talented staff. Because, they couldn’t be real, right?

 

Cheetah brothers, about to begin a hunt. (We left them to it.)

Elephant babies everywhere. This one was probably about a month or two old. (We saw a newborn later who was learning to walk. Massive oxytocin rush all around.)

Dark Chanting Goshawk with a small frog.

Lion pride beside a buffalo they took down earlier that day. The light was very low, I took this with my iPhone. Lousy resolution but it all fits in with the other-worldly quality of it. (Yes, one of the females has a radio collar. More on the plight of lions next week; suffice it to say we felt privileged to see them.)

 

More next week, sorry can’t write more, but my thumb is getting pissed off. I’ll just say that it was a fantastic trip, AND I am soooo happy to be home, I missed the dogs more than I like admitting. But there it is. Dorothy was right: There’s no place like home.