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Dear Reader;
Welcome to this issue of the Menengai Holidays Travel
Bulletin
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Publisher: Menengai Holidays Ltd
Editor: Daniel Njaga
Feedback:
bulletin@menengaiholidays.com
Website: http://www.menengaiholidays.com
Quest for Adventure? Karibu!
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The Menengai Holidays Travel Bulletin is a newsletter on
topical travel highlights, events and titbits to keep our
clients and potential clients updated on travel, environmental
and social landscape in Kenya and the rest of East Africa.
In this edition we focus on the great migration in
Maasai Mara; we believe 1 million wildebeests cannot be wrong!
Should you, for any reason, not wish to receive further editions
of this informative bulletin, kindly follow the unsubscribe
details at the end. However, we hope you will remain in the list
of our subscribers and get in touch with us to make your travel
and holiday programs more informed.
We wish you an enlightened and fulfilling travel always.
In the words of our clients:
“… we arrived safely back home…We really enjoyed our
African safari and thank you very much for organising it for
us…”
George and Suzanne, USA; July 2005
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In this edition:
(i)
1 million wrong wildebeests?
(ii)
Elephant translocation: A mammoth “tusk” and titanic
debate;
(iii)
Eco-tourism: Kenya the leading destination
(iv)
Power play: Wangari Maathai among the mighty
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(i)
1 million wrong wildebeests?
Often touted as the Mara “madness”, the spectacle is unfolding
yet again in Maasai Mara and will continue to the rest of the
year. During this time, hundreds of visitors from around the
world will savour Kenyan hospitality as they thrill in the sight
of the most fabulous wildlife event in the world: migration of
wildlife from Tanzania’s Serengeti National Park to Kenya’s
Maasai Mara Game Reserve.
As of last week hundreds of wildebeests were recorded streaming
into Maasai Mara and the areas around Sand and Mara rivers were
recording large herds of this highly migratory mammal (see
picture on our home page at
http://www.menengaiholidays.com).
The Maasai Mara and adjoining Loita Plains form the northernmost
part of the Serengeti-Mara ecosystem. This is a vast 25,000
square kilometre area that hosts majority of the wildebeest
herds. The wildebeest population can reach up to 1 million and ,
together with associated herds of zebra and gazelles, they form
a vast assemblage of mammals whose annual movements through the
sprawling landscape constitutes the migration movement, a
pattern that continues to fascinate the world.
The animal herds congregate during the wettest parts of the year
in the short grass plains of Serengeti where they feed and give
birth. Early in the dry season, the wildebeest stream en
masse through the longer grass plains towards the Mara
following the same general pattern year in year out.
The first arrivals in Mara are usually recorded between in June
and July and mostly remain there until late October and early
November, slowly at first then with increasing momentum. The
incoming momentum is slowly building as of last week and is
expected to peak in September.
Why you must see it
1 million wildebeests cannot be wrong!! If that is not
convincing, rest assured that besides watching this wildlife
spectacle, you will also be on call to see other unique animals
that Kenya is renowned for. The large Mara herbivores are a
paradise for predators and you will have the chance to see the
large cats; the lions and cheetahs. Also waiting to grace your
game drive are the numerous crocodiles at the Mara River and the
spotted hyena that are now sharpening their hunting “tools”.
Of course such a huge “caravan” of wild game will leave many
casualties on the way and in their wake are numerous birds of
prey and scavengers like vultures that abound in this savannah
and are now having a field day. Maasai Mara is simply
irresistible for nature lovers.
And the best way to witness all these is to visit Mara. Contact
us at
http://www.menengaiholidays.com/contact_us.php for more
details on how we can arrange for your great Mara travel to
witness current and next year’s migration.
Cheetahs and wild dogs
Should you have special conservation needs in Maasai Mara; other
activities that may interest you here include a cheetah research
project. From this project you will get to know why the cheetah
numbers are diminishing, what is being done about them; and what
you can do to contribute to their conservation.
There are also studies by Kenya Wildlife Service on the wild dog
which would also interest an academic traveller.
Cultural visit
For the culturally inclined, we conduct enlightening visits to
the Maasai manyattas where one can get an insight into
the fascinating world of this populous community.
Where to stay
Maasai Mara has something for everyone; from basic camping to
5-star lodging facilities in nice settings and excellent
services. We also have pricey and comfortable tented camps that
are ideal for business, honeymoon and academic sojourns. Some
facilities in Mara have won prestigious regional and
international awards for diverse attributes.
Other activities for you while in Mara include balloon safaris,
night game drives and cultural visits.
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Eco bits
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v
Did you know Mara is Maasai word for “spotted?” This is in
reference to the patchy mosaic of bushes and trees on the
plains that characterise the expansive Maasai Mara Game
Reserve;
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Guess why the wildebeest is often called by zoologists as a
collection of “spare parts?” Its design is said to be the
least original: the head resembles a cow’s; the tail and
hind quarters resemble that of a horse; while the body gait
is like that of a hyena!!
Next time you see a wildebeest, examine it closely and
confirm this anatomical derision. Send us your comments at:
bulletin@menengaiholidys.com
Note:
Should you have any technical interest or queries on
migration, wildebeest, Maasai Mara, or anything else about
wildlife and ecology in East Africa, do not hesitate to
contact us. We shall be more than happy to be of help. |
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(ii)
Elephant Translocation: The mammoth undertaking
The Kenya Wildlife Service is geared for the biggest elephant
translocation ever recorded in conservation history in the
world. This will involve movement of 200 elephants from Shimba
Hills National Reserve in Kwale District to Tsavo East National
Park.
The exercise is set to start by end of August and run through to
September 2005 and is aimed at relieving pressure from Shimba
Hills, currently believed to hold more than 400 elephants
against its carrying capacity estimated to be just half this
number. The overpopulation is blamed for persistent famine in
neighbouring farmlands due to crop destruction. This is a big
source of human-elephant conflict which does not augur well for
conservation. High elephant populations in forested ecosystems
are also known to exert adverse ecological pressure due to
habitat destruction. The Tsavo ecosystem is the biggest
protected area in Kenya and currently hosting the largest
elephant population estimated at more than 12000.
The debate
This translocation though is not without serious debate and
controversy. The first line of debate is based on the protest by
leaders in the areas bordering Tsavo Park; who oppose the
government move which, they fear, will amount to translocation
of the problem from Kwale to their people. The government and
Kenya Wildlife Service are undertaking community sensitization
campaign to ease the anxiety caused by the proposal.
Another line of debate is taking place within conservation and
academic fraternity as some pundits claim the 3.5million dollars
ear marked for the exercise would be better off utilised in
community development projects rather than elephant movement. To
this school of debate, elephant translocation is too expensive
to be justified in the face of poverty and misery in the local
population. They argue that elephant culling is the only
sustainable management approach and call on the authorities to
bite the bullet and implement it now.
Pro translocation debaters, however argue that elephant culling
would be too crude, “inhumane” and also an equally expensive
undertaking. Over and above, it is argued, the elephant
population is still relatively low and all efforts are called
for to ensure full recovery of the national population even if
it means expensive translocations. Furthermore, elephants are
said to earn their keep through tourism since they are among the
chief attractions in any national park such that killing them
“in cold blood” in the name of management would earn the country
a bad name internationally. Whichever way the debate rages, it’s
no doubt that it wont fizzle out soon since conservation is too
complex to have simple and straight forward answers and
solutions.
Want to see live translocation of elephants?
Menengai Holidays offers a chance to participate in wildlife
activities in Kenya by keeping live diary and booking you close
to where the action is. We can arrange for you to witness this
great wildlife exercise by booking and offering travel services
to either Shimba Hills at the point of capture or Tsavo at the
point of release.
What our clients say of Shimba Hills:
“… the morning sunrise at the Sable Banda in Shimba Hills
was just awesome..! Rita and friends fondly reminisce on that
trek to Sheldrick Fall’s and we look forward to coming back to
Kenya.”
Janet and Friends, Vienna; March 2005
Water birds
Other interesting wildlife activities which you can participate
through us include the regular census of water birds in all
Kenyan wetlands. This is an annual event organised by the
National Museums of Kenya and offers participants a chance to
learn more about birds and their natural history. This is
besides the chance to meet many other bird lovers and
discovering some of Kenya’s most beautiful wetlands.
You can book participation in this and future wildlife
translocations and other interesting conservation activities by
contacting us at:
http://www.menengaiholidays.com/contact_us.php
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(iii)
Eco-tourism: Kenya Tops the World
Recent poll by a UK’s online travel agent voted Kenya as the
second leading eco-tourism destination in the world.
According to the poll, tourists who wanted to get up “close and
personal: with nature preferred Kenya as their travel
destination after Egypt, while Tanzania was ranked third.
To support ecotourism excellence in Kenya we assist our clients
in choosing the top ranked eco-tourism facilities, which are
spread all over the country. We also encourage you to include
some of the best rated ecotourism facilities in your travel
program in support of sustainable tourism practice.
Contact us
to book your stay at the best eco-tourism facilities in the
region.
Other details on eco-tourism activities in Kenya can be obtained
from the Eco-tourism Society of Kenya; website:
http://www.esok.org
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(iv)
Last Word
Women Power
Kenya’s Nobel Laureate, Prof. Wangari Maathai, is ranked 68
among the world’s 100 most powerful women. This is according to
research findings published in Forbes magazine, which
says Wangari now ranks alongside women who are changing
societies and role of women in power.
Wangari’s is perhaps a case study in the power of humility. Good
girl, Prof!
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Who we are
Menengai Holidays Ltd is a tours and safaris firm with
headquarters in Nairobi offering general and specialised
“academic” or “study tours” packages to the increasing number of
East African visitors with specific travel needs.
To view our different packages, go to:
http://www.menengaiholidys.com/packages
We also offer booking services for hotels, car rentals and
flights for all your destinations in East Africa.
In the words of our clients:
“You are the best to travel with...”
Loay Alkabbanni, Saudi Arabia; May 2005
In our words:
Karibu, Karibu…
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Share the word
We encourage you to share our bulletin with your friends who may
find it useful. We also wish you a safe and wonderful travel in
our beautiful country and elsewhere. Always choose Kenya
as your first choice travel destination and let us show you the
rest.
Note:
Comments on this bulletin most welcome. Send them to:
bulletin@menengaiholidays.com
Copyright 2005 Menengai Holidays
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