Wednesday, April 8, 2015

Ol Pejeta Conservancy

I’ve just finished a couple days in the Ol Pejeta Conservancy near Nanyuki in Northern Kenya. Ol Pejeta is a privately owned conservancy and covers an area al large as some National Parks. It straddles the Equator, you zigzag back and forth across it numerous times in a day. It has the largest population of Rhinos in Kenya. Both Black and White Rhinos are present in addition to 3 of the last 5 remaining Northern White Rhinos. If you want to see Rhinos, Ol Pejeta is definitely the place to go. I saw in around 15 each day (lost count). The park also has Reticulated Giraffe and several other uncommon species. When its clear (not often this time of year), you have a stunning view of Mount Kenya, the second tallest mountain in Africa, looming over the park. I had two extra special experiences on my last afternoon. We found 2 male and 2 female Lions with a kill (a Baboon). We also saw the newest addition to the Rhino population. He was born about 3 weeks ago, but his mother has been keeping him back in the bush out of view. Today, she had him out on the plains for the first time.

The very first scene I filmed in Ol Pejeta was this Rhino. Lots more followed
FirstScene

This is a shot of the park’s newest baby Rhino and his mother with the peak of mount Kenya in the background:
NewestRhino

The bird in the foreground is a Bustard. It’s the largest flying bird. The pair of White Rhinos in the background, however, cannot fly at all.
Bustard

This is a weaver bird working on its nest at the top of an Acacia tree:
Weaver

These weaver birds have colonized a cell tower. They don’t seem to have an adverse effect on phone reception, but I wonder how many of their eggs get microwaved:
TeleWeavers

A bridge in the park requests Elephants to only cross to cross two at a time. I’m not sure if they comply, but the bridge is still standing…
ElephantWarning

A couple Warthogs Tussling:
WartyTussle

Lions fighting over the last bits of a Baboon. The left male is making off with the face:
FoodFight

In the last five weeks I’ve filmed several species of big Cats, but this is the biggest:
DifferentBreed

An interesting bit of early morning sky and a silhouette of Mount Kenya:
KenyaSky

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