The first gamedrive today found a lion in our compound (juvenile male), trying to get out past the electric fence. He was clearly agitated and skittish. It also looks like he hasn't eaten for a while - and there is very little to no food within the compound. The game wardens have been contacted, but getting the lion out safely will be a challenge. It turns out there is also a lion mother and cubs that are hiding out, too. After, our driver received a call and we raced to see a whole lion family, including a number of cubs - at least a couple of litters. While the adults lazed about and slept, the cubs ran in and out of the elephant-grass and wrestled.
A hippo went munching on land not too far from the road. These machines do little else but eat. We also spotted a number of herds of zebras, and learned from Aaron that the male will have darker stripes from his harem. The zebra herds are doing well, with a number of clearly pregnant females.
Late morning on the porch, I watched a woodpecker at a yellow acacia tree. A short time later, a black-faced monkey went for the sap from the same holes (the sap is sweet, and the monkeys really go for it).
The afternoon drive started with us asking a lion for directions to Observation Hill, a high-point in the park. The surrounding marshlands are full of various birds, including a flamboyance of flamingos both the lesser- and greater-flamingo varieties. which is one of the only places in the park where you are allowed to exit the vehicle. It is on the opposite side of the marshes, so there is not much game - because of this the lions stay away. From the peak, it is easy to see that the Amboseli region is in a basin, which is why water gathers here and why the animals are concentrated.
The ecosystem here is fragile. With the changes in climate and increased glacial melt on Mt Kilamanjaro, the water-table is rising in the basin. This is causing the trees in the lower elevations within the basin to rot, and is increasing the area of the marshes. If the glaciers ever do run out, the water supply will suddenly disappear and it will be a very hard situation for the animals of the region.
Tomorrow we will depart from Amboseli for Samburu.
Morning drive:
Hungry and frightened lion trapped on the wrong side of an electric fence (the side where our lodge was located)
Sunrise on the Amboseli plains
At least two mother lions and five cubs (you may need to expand the image)
In ten minutes of observation, the hippo never looked up from its grazing.
Expectant zebra
Male with darker stripes.
Afternoon on the porch.
Woodpecker just above the knot in the central tree, at left edge (may need to expand to see). It worked its way around this fork in the trunk.
Monkey sucking sap from the tree, where the woodpecker had been 20 minutes before.
Afternoon drive:
Lion sunning on signpost (a male mane-less lion). Very unusual to hang out here. It did not like the attention it was getting, and shortly moved to the grass.
A flamboyance of (lesser) flamingos.
Two greater flamingos in flight. Followed by a portion of the standing flock.
Christopher at the top of Observation Hill, observing.
The peak of Mt K glowing in the background.
Jana on the descent.
Ridge visible in background surrounds the Amboseli, forming the basin.
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