We got up early (5:45) and got to the park by 6:30. There were a plethora of animals, including all we had seen yesterday, as well as elephants in larger family groups, giraffes, gazelles and hyenas scaring all they came near.
Amboseli Park, It is not uncommon for many different animals to share the forage. (7)
We got close to the cape buffalo herds, as scary as they looked. We drove by one old male who was wallowing in a mud puddle close to the road trying to get enough mud on himself to keep the flies off.
An hippopotamus made its way across our view at one point, going from one watering hole to another presumably looking for better forage. The wildebeest wandered all around us, and at one point there were a group of four lopping across the savannah headed toward an elephant male standing on his own.
We did see a couple of lone baboons lopping across the savannah close to us.
More birds showed up as well, even an example of one of the largest eagles, the largest of the flight-able birds, as well as an ostrich off in the distance.
Martial Eagle
Kori Bustard
Vulture, White-backed
Ibis, Hadeda
Ibis, Glossy; Ibis, Sacred
Lapwing, Long-Toed
Goose, Egyptian
Ibis, Hadeda
Jacana
Duck, White-faced
Ibis, Sacred
Spoonbill
Teal, Red-Billed
Heron, Great Blue; white bird unknown
Duck, White-faced
Bustard, Harlaub’s
We learned a lot about eastern Africa from our guide Philip Keter. He was joined after his talk by a Masai tribesman dressed in the traditional costume, and the two took us around the perimeter of the hotel compound and showed us some of the bones kept near the signs, and some of the plant life that grew within its confines.
The Masai groups traditional occupation is livestock, which now means cattle, sheep, and goats. As we travelled in the park, we saw a large such herd that had permission to forage in the park, overseen by younger boys who were off from school as the result of a teachers’ strike.
Tomorrow promises to enable us to see even more animals!
Bearded Wonders 