Our Travels

SAT., OCT. 14, 2017 - DAY #5 OF SAFARI - SAMBURU TO SWEETWATERS TENTED CAMP, OL PEJETA - We began this day with an early breakfast so that we could board the van and make what amounts to a "game drive" as we departed this beautiful area. Our first sighting was the baboons.

And, I seem to be fascinated by these termite hills.

Then we crossed what appeared to be a rather large stream...

...using a bridge!

Shortly after we came across a herd of Biesa Oryx

and a dead zebra

Nearby was a small herd of zebras. Note these are known as Grevy's zebras i.e. mainly distinguished from others because of having white bellies & a different stripe pattern.

And a giraffe in these trees...

And, the final animal of the named Samburu 5, the Cape Buffalo

It seemed our morning game drive had ended with the sighting of the cape buffalo.

We soon came to what appeared to be a nice, wide paved road. Traveling down that road was a herd of camels.

We Continued across the wilderness & jungle until about 1:30 p.m. when we arrived at the Sweetwaters Tented Camp of Ol Pejeta Conservancy.

Located on the plains of Mount Kenya, Sweetwaters Tented Camp is a sheltered oasis, clustered around a water hole and set in the pristine calm of the private Ol Pejeta Conservancy. It offers a charming blend of under-canvas ambiance and safari luxury.

The camp features 39 luxury tents, each with its own private veranda overlooking the waterhole. Each tent is fitted with its own en-suite bathroom (continuous hot & cold running water), king-sized double bed or twin beds, 24-hour (generator) electricity, mineral water and toiletries, bathrobes and slippers, safe, hairdryer, and mosquito nets. The tents have a canvas exterior with solid flooring and thatched roofing. 14 of the tents are on raised platforms with private balconies. The others have private verandas, all with safari chairs and tables.

The Rhino Restaurant is housed in the former manager's house of this once colonial farm and offers both regional and international cuisine. Breakfast and lunch are presented in buffet style. Vegetarian options are always available. The majority of the meat, fruits, vegetables, and dairy products come from the communities that surround the reserve. Also within this house is the Kashoggi Bar and lounge which boasts a large wood fireplace. The Waterhole Bar, built in the style of a game-viewing hide, overlooks the waterhole and offers unrivaled wild-life watching.

Below is a picture of our room at the tented camp. This is looking at the back tented wall that, when the beds were turned down & the hot water bottles put in place, was dropped separating the bathroom area from the sleeping area.

This is a somewhat blurry picture of the resident stark (I think) that was on the grounds. (Picture was taken looking through the window and did not come out very acceptable).

This is the entrance of the large old former manager's house that is now the dining hall/bar, etc.

Upon arrival, we had lunch and after a short break, then departed for a visit to the Jane Goodall Chimpanzee sanctuary (closed about 4 p.m.).

The Sweetwaters Sanctuary is located in a game reserve near Nanyuki, Kenya. A number of chimpanzee orphans that been rescued from other countries are kept at Sweetwaters, as chimpanzees are not native to Kenya. Their plight is largely the result of habitat destruction, the bushmeat trade, and the killing of mothers so that their infants can be sold as pets, or for medical research and entertainment industries. Also, some die from infections from wounds caused by snares set for other forest animals. Sweetwaters is home to 22 chimps.

We climbed a viewing platform but could see only the playground and sleeping quarters--no chimps. Finally, our guide was able to coax these two chimps out away from the others who seemed to be in hiding.
(Note the fencing to prevent both access out of and into the sanctuary area).

This chimp is known as "Manno"
When the process to move Manno to the Goodall sanctuary began in 2013 it was estimated that Manno was about four years old. At that time the info shows: "Manno has had a grueling start to life; wrenched from his mother as a baby; he was trafficked by profit-hungry organized criminals across continents, and has survived at least two war zones.
Since 2013, the young chimpanzee had been resident at a private zoo in Dojuk, in the Kurdish region of northern Iraq, just a few miles from war-river Mosul, surviving on a diet of fruit, caffeinated drinks, and even the occasional cigarette."
Eventually, through the efforts of many different people, Manno arrived at the Jane Goodall Sweetwaters Sanctuary where he lives today.

As our guide was escorting us toward the departure gate, it seemed that a larger group of people had arrived and with it, a larger group of chimps had assembled. We wanted to start over our tour, but that was not allowed.

We continued on for our early evening game drive, spotting these beautiful zebras with striped bellies, known as "common zebras".

AND THEN WE SPOTTED THE RHINOCEROS

One large male, (about 2 tons) the apparent leader of his herd, was standing about 20 feet from our van. He seemed to want to challenge the van, and backed up and positioned himself to charge. At that point Amos began to back the van away from his planned route of attack, stopping the van some distance away. Then the Rhino male proceeded to follow and begin the process again. At that point, Amos backed away again and we departed before he made contact.