JULY 2006
As I write, dark clouds promise spectacular sunsets and golden light against the darkened hills. Spotting an aardvark closeby on arriving at the camp was a good omen for the start of what promises to be a very full season. From the Loita Hills, the wildebeest migration will begin early this year, treating us to their murmuration, alongside, the habitual sawing of our own leopard, and the barking of zebra, lion and hyena – who needs concerts when there is such a cacophony of sound in the valley?
We had reasonable rain in April, but it is drying up again – with only the occasional shower. Our herd of elephant bulls has returned and we are enjoying the female cheetah and her now half grown cubs. We have also had several sightings, most often at night, of the pride of 14 lions and their lovely maned single male. Some guests have said that they have seen more game here than they did on their full day in the Reserve! Night runs are popular particularly with children, who love spotting bushbabies, bat eared foxes, zorilla, porcupine and spring hares.
Matthew Brown continues to host with me, helping to keep all the 'wheels oiled' in the background, as well as leading the local football teams and even putting up a basketball hoop for a young fanatic! We are enjoying the Browns’ hydroponic lettuces and have a wonderful selection of freshly grown salads from which to choose each day – a great addition to Evans’s delicious repertoire of meals. Said’s evening Star Walks have been a great success and we are blessed to have such an experienced friend and guide. Betty and Dominic who have recently graduated from the Koiyaki Guiding School, have joined our team, making five Kenya Professional Safari Guides. Letilet our Il Ndorobo spotter enthralls our guests with tales of his hunter gathering days, and Barufa heads our Waliangulu team of experienced safari staff, having been on our safari staff now for 36 years.
We have received our Bronze Award from the Environmental Society of Kenya, and have since introduced the Millenium Fuel Project (making fuel briquettes from leaves and cow dung) to the local enkang. This is reducing the number of trees being cut and providing an income for some of the women in the village. Footballs, laminated posters and books have been given to the nearby Olesere Primary School, and we continue to fund raise to build a kitchen so that they may make the most of the local government feeding schemes.
We look forward to hosting you and your guests here at Ol Seki Mara Camp,
Warmest wishes, Susie