Mara Expeditions

21/08/2024

The Shimba Hills National Reserve and Mwaluganje forest
One of Kenya's small parks at 320km². It is an equatorial rainforest with offshore breezes contributing to its cooler temperatures. It is only 33 km from Mombasa and 15 km from the south coast. It is the second largest coastal forest in East Africa after Arabuko-Sokoke Forest.
Shimba Hills is the home of Kenya's sable antelope. The reserve is rich in flora and fauna and hosts Kenya's highest density of African elephants. Other animal species found in the area are Sable antelope, elephant shrew, bushy-tailed mongoose and other small mammals like fruit bats. The forest is an important bird area endowed with forest birdlife while the grasslands hold localised species such as red-necked-Spur fowl, Croaking Cisticola and Zanzibar Red Bishop. Other points of interest include the scenic Sheldrick Falls and the dense Mwaluganje Forest.
North of the reserve, the Mwaluganje Elephant Sanctuary was established to provide a route for elephants to leave the park. The remainder of the park boundary is fenced to prevent the elephants from invading farmland.

19/08/2024

Lake Jipe is a small, shallow lake (30km² in area and an average depth of less than 3 metres). It is about 19 Km long and its width ranges from 4km to 6km wide. It is located on the Kenya-Tanzania border, immediately east of Tanzania's northern Pare Mountains (Mwanga district, Kilimanjaro region). Kenya has its share of 14km² while Tanzania has12km². Mt. Kilimanjaro dominates the horizon,
It lies in Taita Taveta County. Tsavo West National Park borders the southern part of the lake.
Lake Jipe gets most of its water from Mt. Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, by the River Lumi that flows through Kenya. Another feed comes from the Pare Mountains, River Muvulani. Additionally, some transient streams, mostly from the Pare Mountains, drain into the lake. The lake has one outlet, the River Ruvu, located in Tanzania south of the primary inflow, the River Lumi. The Pangani River Basin delivers water to hydroelectric units at Nyumba ya Mungu, Hale, and Pangani Falls to the Indian Ocean.

15/08/2024

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09/08/2024

What is the difference between the zebras – a plain/common and a Grevy Zebra?

Side-by-side comparison.

There are three species of zebra: Burchell's or the plains zebra, Grevy's zebra and the mountain zebra. Although each species looks similar, there are differences in appearance. Zebra of all species prefer to live in open grassland. Each zebra species has its own general stripe pattern, but more fascinatingly, every zebra has its own unique stripe pattern, in the way that a person has a unique set of fingerprints.
The plains zebra and the mountain zebra belong to the subgenus Hippotigris, but Grévy's zebra is the sole species of subgenus Dolichohippus. They have bold stripes Grevy's also are taller, have larger ears, and have narrower stripes than plains zebras. They are the largest of the zebra species.

09/08/2024

What is the difference between the waterbucks – a common and a Defassa waterbuck?

Side-by-side comparison.

The common waterbuck has a conspicuous white ring encircling a dark rump, while the defassa has wide white patches on either side of the rump

08/08/2024

What is the difference between the giraffes – a Masai, a Reticulated, and a Rothschild’s Giraffe?

Side-by-side comparison.

A Masai Giraffe has irregular patterns.

A Reticulated Giraffe has regular patterns with a bright chestnut colour and white spaces.

A Rothschild’s Giraffe has brown patterns with cream spaces.

04/08/2024

Zebra rock is a big volcanic rock set on the Marangu route, Kilimanjaro. The rocks have stripes that resemble the zebra.

The rocks have stripes that resemble the patterns found on zebras. It is one of the top places/attractions to visit when around Horombo Huts. Zebra rocks are primarily lava cliffs and were created when mineral-rich rainwater ran down on the rocks and partially turned them white or black in some areas.

31/07/2024

We braved the cold to stand on the rooftop of Africa for an amazing sunrise.

25/07/2024

Day 1 hiking completed successfully.

27/03/2024

Monitor lizards
Monitor lizards are lizards in Varanus, the only extant genus in the Varanidae family. They are native to Africa and Asia. The name may have been suggested by their occasional habit of standing on their two hind legs and appearing to "monitor." At least some species of monitors are known to be able to count. studies feeding rock monitors varying numbers of snails showed that they can distinguish numbers up to six. Nile monitors have been observed to cooperate when foraging; one animal lures the female crocodile away from her nest, while the other opens the nest to feed on the eggs. The decoy then returns to also feed on the eggs.
Monitor lizards are oviparous, laying from seven to 38 eggs, which they often cover with soil or protect in a hollow tree stump.

16/03/2024

Hartebeest {Kongoni}
It is a large antelope with an elongated forehand and peculiar-shaped horns. They have short and shiny coats, reddish to tawny in the upper parts. They have long legs, standing just over one metre at the shoulder. They weigh 100–200kg. Both sexes have horns, U-shaped from the front and Z-shaped from the sides, growing backwards at first and then forward, ending with a sharp backward turn.
They are mainly active during the daytime, they graze in the early morning and late afternoon and rest in shade around noon. Large numbers gather in places with abundant grass. While feeding, one individual stays on the lookout for danger, often standing on anthills to see farther.

28/02/2024

We had a fruitful day sharing with the “future”. As part of our CSR, together with our partners we managed to donate 40 lockers to the Kanyonga primary school near Mwea national reserve. It was a budgetary relief to the parents and a great privilege to the pupils. We have lined up more to come.
We also had an opportunity to talk about conservation matters.
Mara Expeditions Kenya Wildlife Service ASD Around The WOD

27/02/2024

More exploration to Kenya’s hidden gems.

23/02/2024

Sites from Mt Kenya, Chogoria route.

22/02/2024

Kenya is indeed a wildlife haven. A real experience in their natural habitat.

16/02/2024

Valour!!

14/02/2024

Guess location.
The far end is a lake.

21/01/2024

18/01/2024

The hamerkop (Scopus umbretta)
The wading bird known as the hamerkop (Scopus umbretta) is of medium size. Its nearest relatives are believed to be shoebills and pelicans. This species got its name from the Afrikaans word for hammerhead because of the resemblance of its head shape, which has a large beak and crest at the back, like a hammer. It is a brown-plumed, medium-sized aquatic bird. It inhabits a wide range of wetlands, including estuaries, lakesides, fish ponds, riverbanks, and rocky beaches, and is found in Africa, Madagascar, and Arabia. The hamerkop is a sedentary (not migratory) bird that frequently moves locally. The hamerkop consumes a variety of food items, primarily fish and amphibians, but it also occasionally consumes prawns, insects, and rodents. The species is adaptive and will eat any kind of prey, however, it mostly hunts in shallow water by touch or sight. The species is well known for its massive nests, many of which are constructed during the mating season. The nest features an inside nesting chamber where the eggs are laid, which is unusual for a wading bird. The eggs are incubated by both parents, who also rear the chicks.

14/01/2024

TNC
Tharaka-Nithi Attractions

Gaketha Elephant Maternity.
Gaketha could be a major tourist location in Tharaka-Nithi, as locals and worldwide travellers would visit the place in large numbers during the two wet seasons to witness this astonishing exercise. During the year, the area is like any other standard part of the forest. It is during July and December that the largest land mammals gather for one of nature’s rarest spectacles. The pregnant jumbos from the entire Mt. Kenya forest and the neighbouring Laikipia plains converge to give birth, hence the name “Elephant maternity”.
The choice of this location is not wholly understood, but we can sum up some observations. It is on the windward side, receiving enough rainfall. The vegetation is evergreen, with plenty of undergrowth foliage for the babies. There are pockets of clear open fields for assembly. The area is relatively levelled and the ground is soft and tender with clay-like soil, which can be smeared over the babies to keep away parasites like tsetse flies and crawling insects.
From the myths, it is said that the elephants used to have their maternity at Kajogu Cliff, which is translated to “a small elephant”. It is believed that a mother in labour pains slipped and fell off the cliff. The wailing, groaning, and moaning set the others on the run. Given that the elephants keep memories for a long time, they pass the information on to later generations. They have avoided Kajogu till today.
Within the vicinity are the Maumau caves at the edge of the forest, which were used as the arsenal for Mau Mau war veterans during the struggle for independence. The sacred Urumandi natural footbridge on the Nithi River, which the locals believe is a ‘holy place’ and ‘ritually unclean people’ fear to utilise.

15/12/2023

04/12/2023

Goliath heron.
This is the world's largest living heron The height of the goliath heron is 120–152 cm, the wingspan is 185–230 cm, and the weight is 4–5 kg. In flight, it has a slow and rather ponderous look, and, unlike some other herons, its legs are not held horizontally. Male and female look similar, with an overall covering of slate grey and chestnut feathers. Juveniles look similar to adults but are paler. The only heron with somewhat similarly colourful plumage characteristics. Due to their large size, this species is sometimes referred to as the "giant herons".

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27/10/2023

A baby of a leopard tortoise (Stigmochelys pardalis) It is a large and attractively marked tortoise found in the savannas of eastern and southern Africa. This tortoise is a grazing species that favors semiarid, thorny to grassland habitats. The leopard tortoise does not dig other than to make nests in which to lay eggs. Given its propensity for grassland habitats, it grazes extensively upon mixed grasses. It also favors succulents and thistles.

03/10/2023

We hike Lesatima, visit Chania falls, Magura falls and Queen’s cave. Lastly, done with Karuru falls.

01/10/2023

21/09/2023

Expriences

21/09/2023

Experiences

20/09/2023

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Mara Expeditions is a reputable tour company that organises and leads exceptional adventure tours and expeditions, stunning mountain climbing trips, wildlife safaris, desert expeditions, scenic…

08/08/2023

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Mara Expeditions is a reputable tour company that specializes in organizing and leading exceptional adventure tours and expeditions, stunning mountain climbing trips, wildlife safaris, desert expediti