Migration or no migration – Serengeti Shall Not Die

January is the time of the year when the great migration is scattered on the plains of Ndutu. Millions of wildebeests and Zebras are grazing in the plains and woodlands here, quenching their thirst from the saline lakes of Ndutu and Masek. It is breeding season now.  They get to rest for a few months before they move again. Whilst many predators surround them, it is not as terrorizing, reminiscing the moments when they had to dare and cross the Mara River in the North of Serengeti. The crocs still have their bellies full.

No doubt both these spectacles, the crossing of the Mara & the breeding in Ndutu are moments of incredible sightings and memories, but there is lots of action still taking place in the Mara River even after the wildebeests have stormed through. Incredible numbers of antelopes (Topis, Elands, Gazelles, Oribis, Hartebeests, Impalas, Dikdiks etc.) are still carrying on with their normal lives. Territorial cats are still adapting to the habitats, always on the hunt for opportunistic meals. The elusive and aloof rhinoceroses still roam the savannah plains eating the leafy material it beholds. The social weaverbirds are still working harmonically in groups building their nests. The dung beetles are still busy rolling the dung balls for miles to be used as food sources or brooding chambers. The beautiful sunset still lights up the acacia trees in the horizon as if lit up like Christmas trees. Bernhard Grzimek very rightly said, ”Serengeti Shall Not Die” as it still is installed with magnanimous spectacles and beauty before & after the great migration every year.

During my recent visit to Northern Serengeti and my extremely pleasant visit at the Sayari Camp (Asilia), I firsthand witnessed “an action packed Serengeti”. Apart from the breathtaking game, the coffee was “sweet” and the wine “plenty”. This combination of brilliant game merged with a comfortable stay and excellent food would be anybody’s dream safari. You could always choose to have a nature walk with a chance to see elephants grazing, or hippos lazing around on the riverbanks, or choose to relax and unwind with a book or a cocktail by the pool, prepared by one of the friendly staff. Trust me, you will definitely want to get some recipes or two from the chef there!

You do not need to be a honeymooner or a frequent safari goer to enjoy it. There is a magical set-up altogether. You need to be there to feel it.

I need not say much more. These few pictures will speak the thousand words, which aren’t yet enough to brag about my unforgettable time in the Serengeti. What a start to 2014!

For more information on the camp please visit www.asiliaafrica.com

Akil Halai – 23.01.14

All Photos copyright @ Akil Halai

Interesting forest hikes!

What a start to December. I have been craving to get a decent picture of this bird! Walla!!!!. Finally i have the pleasure of sharing. Enjoy it. I thoroughly did after staking it for about an hour, deep in the forest with lots of rain.

The Narina Trogon (Apaloderma narina) is a medium-sized (up to 34 cm long), largely green forest bird in the Trogonidae family. It is the most widespread and catholic in habitat choice of three Apaloderma trogons. The species name is Khoikhoi in origin, believed to be named after Narina, the mistress of the French ornithologist François Le Vaillant.

Both sexes have vivid, gingery green upperpart plumage. The tail feathers have a metallic blue-green gloss. The outer three rectices on each side are tipped and fringed white, giving the undertail of perched birds a characteristic white appearance. The wing coverts are a grizzled grey, and remiges mostly colourless grey.
The male especially, has bright amaranth red underside plumage and bare, green gape and eye flanges. The female has brown face and chest plumage, blue skin orbiting the eyes and duller red plumage below. Immature birds resemble females, but have distinct white tips to the tertials (inner wing), and less distinct gape and eye flanges.

The diet consists mainly of insects and small invertebrates as well as rodents and small reptiles. The call is a grating, low repeated hoot, given by males only, in defending territory or attracting mates. The male's bare, blue-green throat patch is expanded when calling and both sexes may fluff out the breast feathers in display. They nest in a tree hollow in which both sexes incubate or brood.



PS: I have also shared photos of other friendly aviaries that posed for the camera and and joined the party.

All photographs copyright - Akil Halai. All rights reserved.

TSAVO West with toto's - Simply breath taking!

Taita Hills Wildlife Sanctuary, isn’t in the Taita Hills actually, but in the hill locked lowlands about 15km west of Mwatate on the Taveta road. It took us merely 4 and a half hours drive to  check-in at the Salt Lick game lodge from home (Arusha, Tanzania, including clearance at the border). Don’t ask me the speed I cruised at. Set up in 1973 by the Hilton hotel chain, the sanctuary is now owned and managed by Sarova Hotels, who successfully balance wildlife and human needs in an environment that, while not being fully natural, seems to work well for both.

For most of the year, the sanctuary is full of wildlife. There are more than fifty species of large mammals and three hundred species of birds here, and its small size means the rangers always have a good idea of where the key animals can be seen. It’s not uncommon to spot up to 20 different species of Mammals, among them lions, cheetahs, large herds of elephant and buffalo, and all the other southern plains grazers and up to 20 species of birds in a morning game drive. During the drier times of the year, when the animals are not dispersed, the water sources beneath Salt Lick Lodge, on the southern side of the sanctuary, provide waterhole game-viewing, including an excellent ground-level hide.

We, my son Mohamed and I were more interested in the birds here. Apart from the 100+ species of birds we managed to spot in 3 two hours morning drives (open vehicle – yay), I did manage to have a good sight of the Taita Falcon, Retz's Helmeted Shrike, Hartlaub’s Bustard, Barbary Falcon, Pangani Longclaw and the Taita Fiscal Shrike among many others. The Taita Thrush and White-eye are endemic and only found in the hills, which is of course for another time. I will surely be back.

The service was excellent and the food sumptuous. Not to forget the surprise anniversary cake the staff prepared for us. It brought a big smile on Umme's face. I highly recommend a visit to this sanctuary  I witnessed elephants first hand from as close as 1 metre. Spent hours learning how they behave. Truly loved every bit of it. My son Ebrahim would agree with me.

I attach some of the breath taking moments I managed to capture with my Canon pal.