Theatre of life played out amongst Acacia trees

Grevy's Zebra ((Left) & Common Zebra (Right)

The dawn mist curtains lifted gradually to reveal each actor, playing out its part on the dusty plains.  Zebra stood still twitching in the cool morning air grateful that they had survived and had not been attacked and eaten by a predator during yet another terrifying night.  Grevy's zebra in their elegant "pin-stripe" suits, dressed ready for work in London's financial district, showed off to their brasher "common" zebras draped in wider stripes.

Antelope ballet

Tiny deer "dik-dik", no bigger than a cat, tiptoed on their needle-like legs nervously herding together while stealing quick little nibbles at small acacia shoots. 

Larger antelope with svelte long legs performed ballet in groups, pirouetting left in sweeping arcs to bigger acacia bushes then swaying to the right, following the lead male with magnificient horns.

Long-necked gerenuk stretched elegantly, elongating their limbs to snip at the highest juicy leaves from the bushes.

Entwined Giraffes

Giraffe stood tall with their towering necks entwined as they stooped down to graze on the lofty tops of the acacia trees.

Witnessing so many animals feeding at different heights at the acacia trees we wondered how the poor acacias managed to survive under such relentless attack.  We learnt that this hardy tree has natural defences that includes large thorns, chemically unpleasant alkaloids and under some conditions the leaves can produce posionous cyanides that can poison animals if too much of it is eaten.  Acacia trees are used across the world for gum (e.g. chewing gum), food, medicine, paint, tannin, perfume, land reclamation, wood and fuel... truely the ancient Egyptians' "Tree of Life".

Delicate and Inquisitive Jackal

As we pondered the usefullness of the acacia trees, a delicate but curious little jackal loped up to our safari van and with its intent stare, silently investigated us as we paused along the dusty track to admire its beautiful, large and alert ears. Then as silently as this beauty had appeared, it quietly slipped away into the bush saving its voice for dusk for more worthy purposes such as contacting its mate, family and friends.

It was only afternoon and we headed back to the safari lodge for lunch with great anticipation of what the late afternoon and dusk would have in store for us and then there was a flurry of excitement as some one had spotted some big game on the side of the river so off we headed down to the riverside. 

What we spotted made our morning safari all the more worthwhile...

Monkeying about at dawn

Dawn mist at Samburu Safari Park

A mantle of mist and dust still snuggled around the acacia trees at dawn as the chorus of birds fell silent and we set out on our safari early after a hearty breakfast at the Samburu Game Lodge.  It was too early for the staff that man the entrance gate between Samburu and Buffalo Springs safari parks so the little gate house was overrun by monkeys, who took full adantage of the situation, and were having a wild party by sliding down its sloped corrugated iron roof and tumbling over one another.


Monkeying about at dawn, Samburu gatehouse

Our guide explained the story behind the painting of a lioness walking alongside a deer on the gate compound wall.  Many believe that the lioness depicted was none other than Elsa, the cub that was looked after by Joy Adamson in Born Free and set free near the Samburu park when old enough to fend for herself.  It is said that the adult Elsa befriended a deer and were seen on many an occasion in each others' company for many years after, giving rise to the unusual legend of the lioness and the deer who were friends.


Observing each other

Intelligence just shines through the eyes of these michevious primates.  Looking closely at their perfectly formed fingers, toes and eyes one can't help but make comparisions and search the dim and distant past and when our species were probably more closely related.  Theories abound about why their species went their way and we ours, but at that brief moment we shared the sheer inventiveness, laughter and fun in their gay abandonment of life's worries while they played on that sloping gate-house roof.


Safari look out

We rattled on in our safari van over the bumpy tracks through the park looking out for more animals at home in their habitat.  All the safari vehicles were equipped with radio transcievers so that they could contact each and direct guides to areas where animal had been spotted.

John, our guide, with his uncannily sharp eyes kept his trusty binoculars by his side and would head off towards where he spotted something interesting raising our anticipattion of seeing some of the beautiful residents of the park in their Hidden Places by Karunesh

Look and find for they'll be gone in the swiftness of time

Samburu Game Lodge Dinner by Candlelight

As we sat in the Samburu Safari Lodge bar by the dry river bank and looked down the river towards evening time, a large troop of baboons loomed in the distance, spanning the river and approached slowly but menacingly towards the lodge.  Fortunately all it took to disperse them into the trees on the opposite bank was the appearance of a Samburu warrior who shooed them away with some blood curdling yells.


Subdued lighting at Samburu Game Lodge



As dusk fell and we supped by candlelight at the lodge, the rustling and chatter from the monkeys in the trees grew louder as they squabbled for roosting places for the night.  This was punctuated with the occasional shriek and thrashing of leaves as they chased each other away from their favourite perch.  Slowly but surely they settled down for the night and then silence settled around like a fog.  Now and then a shadowy, mysterious form slinked by along the river as we strained our eyes to see through the quiet gloom.  After a last few drinks we also decided to call it a night.  Feeling thoroughly spooked we decided to avail of the hotel service in which staff with torches  accompanied guests down the dimly lit path to the cabin rooms.



Full moon amongst Samburu trees

Our curtains were still left a little open so we could peek out to attribute some rustling sounds to deer or buffalo stealthily browsing by as the full moon rose.   Sleep finally came as stillness descended outside and memories of the sounds, sights and experiences of our first night in the safari park lingered on my subconcious mind accompanied by the half-remembered words to the strains of These are the days of our lives by Queen.