randombirder

....and more wildlife pursuits. There's a view to enjoy too. This was an absolutely crazy moment when in the distance I noticed a large mammal making moves across the plain heading in our direction.  It was moving at a steady pace, disappearing briefly into woodland before returning to view.  It was getting closer so I asked the driver to slow down. We stopped and watched it trot past us.  It was a Black Rhino . The highlights continued, more Giraffe and a couple of White Rhino .   Then there were these splendid and really striking Rothschild's Giraffe . And more birds with Yellow-billed Stork , White-breasted Cormorant , Marabou Stork and Great White Pelican  on the lake.

More wildlife pursuits. This African Harrier Hawk paused briefly as we were driving by.  An impressive bird. My mate primate. I couldn't get enough of the landscape - wildlife everywhere. The critically endangered White Rhinoceros were present in the Mara.  A travesty to witness their decline as a result of poaching by the barbarous gun-toting groups intent on grinding the population into extinction based on nothing more than mindless superstition.  I have no respect to the people and their respective nations that continue perpetrate these heinous wildlife crimes with incomprehensible impunity.  I hope one day that justice will be their portion.  Meanwhile, I considered it an unbridled privilege to have shared the same landscape as these impressive and gorgeous creatures. There was plenty of birdlife within the marshy areas with good numbers of African Spoonbill , Glossy Ibis , and Greater Flamingo . ...

The pride of Lions that we observed stole the show.  Now totally desensitised to the marauding mini-vans that drive across the plateau, close access is possible. It wasn't just the Lions that dominated the day.  Moving away from the pride, a call came through of Cheetah present on the savannah.  We made our way up to the location and watched two of these amazing animals taking some time out within the long grass. The was so much to see today.  Elephant, Crocodile, Hippo, and a cute little Tortoise.