The termite eater

The aardvark (Orycteropus afer), from  meaning "digging footed" is a medium-sized, burrowing, nocturnal mammal native to Africa. It is the only living species of the order Tubulidentata, The closest living relatives of the aardvark are the elephant shrews, along with the sirenians, hyraxes, tenrecs, and elephants. An aardvark's weight is typically between 40 and 65 kilograms (88 and 140 lb). 

An aardvark's length is usually between 1 and 1.3 metres (3.3 and 4.3 ft), and can reach lengths of 2.2 metres,  have a gestation period of  7 months,and a life span of about 23 years in captivity. The aardvark is pale yellowish-gray in colour and often stained reddish-brown by soil. The aardvark's coat is thin, and the animal's primary protection is its tough skin. Aardvarks live in sub-Saharan Africa, where there is suitable habitat for them to live, such as savannas, grasslands, woodlands and bushland, and available food. Aardvarks are mostly solitary and nocturnal, but sometimes will come out during the day to sun themselves. When aardvarks sleep, they block the entrance to their burrow, leaving only a very small opening at the top, and curl into a tight ball.

Especially during the rains, aardvarks may dig themselves new burrows almost nightly. Many animals, including ground squirrels, hares, civets, hyenas, jackals, porcupines, warthogs, monitor lizards, and birds use abandoned aardvark holes as shelter. When pursued, an aardvark will furiously dig itself a hole, and when attacked, may roll onto its back and defend itself with its large claws or use its thick tail to somersault away from its attackers. Aardvarks give birth to one offspring at a time. The pinkish, hairless newborn stays inside the burrow for about 2 weeks and then begins to follow its mother in her search for food. The young first eats solid food at 3 months of age and is suckled until 4 months. 

At about 6 months the young male becomes independent and goes off on its own, while the young female stays with the mother until after the next baby is born. The young female may then dig its own burrow a few yards away from its mother but still joins her to forage for termites. The adult aardvark's principal enemies are human (who sometimes kill it for meat), lions, hyenas and leopards; pythons also take the young. Aardvark flesh is relished by several African tribes and many parts of the aardvark body are used as charms: the teeth are believed to prevent illness and bad.

The aardvark has fewer teeth than most mammals. The teeth are columnar in shape, have no roots and do not grow simultaneously. Although not thought to be territorial, females seem to become attached to a particular place. The males wander more. Adult aardvarks are usually solitary, coming together only for mating.

JNK- Safaris in kenya

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Hope Mission Safaris

9 days kenya safari

Day 1 : Arrival :Nairobi
Meet with our representative for a safari briefing and transfer to your hotel for rest.Dinner and overnight at the hotel.

Day 2: Nairobi
Have a half day excursion to visit daphine shedrick an elephant orphanage,later proceed to giraffe centre a  rehab centre for the rare Rothschild giraffe,have lunch on your own account before ending your safari with a visit to Karen Blixen museum home to the famous “out of Africa “movie actress Karen.Return to your late afternoon and have rest.Dinner and overnight at your hotel.

Day 3: Nairobi – Amboseli National Park
Depart Nairobi in the morning and drive through the scenic Athi Plains and into the bush country of Amboseli National Park, home to the legendary Maasai tribesmen and famous for huge herds of Elephan to arrive in time for Lunch. Amboseli is big game country: Lion, Cheetah antelope, Zebra, Wildebeest, buffalo and giraffe. The afternoon game run is planned to introduce you to intense beauty and drama that fill each day here. Africa's highest mountain  –can be seen from your lodge on a clear day.Dinner and  overnight at the lodge or camp.

Day 4: Amboseli National Park – Nakuru
After an early morning game drive followed by breakfast at the lodge,depart for nakuru to arrive in the afternoon with lunch in Nairobi. You will proceed to the park for the days game drives and later check in at your lodge .You will be confronted with one of the worlds greatest ornithological spectacle as well as an abundance of wildlife within this small park. You will get a chance to spot the White rhino, the lion, the Hyaena, baboons, waterbucks among other wildlife. Dinner and  overnight at the lodge or camp.

 Day 5: Lake Nakuru National Park-Lake Naivasha

You will have an early breakfast then depart to Lake Naivasha.You will arrive at Lake Naivasha in time for Lunch. Freshen up, then relax at your Lodge or proceed for  a walk at hells gate national park where you enjoy a walk with wild animals such as buffaloes, giraffes,impalas and warthogs,later go down to the gorge returning in the late evening to your lodge . Dinner and  overnight at the lodge or camp.

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 Day 6: Lake Naivasha-Masai Mara.

After breakfast you will depart Lake Naivasha for Masai Mara. Enjoy the plains enroute. You will arrive at your lodge in Masai Mara in time for Lunch. Freshen up after lunch and proceed for an evening game drive. Dinner and overnight at Mara Sopa Lodge.Full board.

 Day 7 : Masai Mara

You will spend the day viewing game in the Mara where all the Big Five as well as a variety of antelopes and lesser kudu may be observed. The big cats, lions are found in large prides everywhere.Cheetahs and leopards are harder to spot but are still fairly common. Other common animals include Maasai giraffes, baboons, Warthogs, bat-eared foxes, grey jackals, and matriarchal clans of spotted Hyenas. You also have an option of visiting the  Maasai Village or a balloon Safari at an extra cost.Dinner and  overnight at the lodge or camp.

Day 8:  Maasai Mara.

You will take packed meals and venture further into the reserve towards Masai Mara river in search of the big cats, hippo pools, giant crocodiles and off course the world famous crossing point for the wildebeests, among other wildlife that this park has in store for you. Dinner and  overnight at the lodge or camp.

Day 9: Masai Mara- Nairobi

After breakfast depart the Masai Mara for Nairobi. Stop for panoramic views of the Great Rift Valley en-route. Arrive in Nairobi in the afternoon. Transfer to the airport in time for your flight back home or further arrangements.

The aberdare bongos

Scientific Name: (Boocercus euryceros )is a herbivorous browser which weighs from 500-900 lbs(250-450 kgs),can reache a height upto 50 inches at the shoulder,have a gestation period of about 9 months and have a life span of 19 years in captivity.The bongo is the largest and heaviest forest antelope. The large ears are believed to sharpen hearing, and the distinctive coloration may help bongos identify one another in their dark forest habitats. Bongos have no special secretion glands and so rely less on scent to find one another than do other similar antelopes. 

Both males and females have spiraled lyre-shaped horns that resemble those of the related antelope species of nyalas, sitatungas, bushbucks, kudus and elands. They have a hunched posture, with the head held up and the horns extended along the back.Bongos are found in rain forest with dense undergrowth. Specifically they are found in the Lowland Rain Forest of West Africa and the Congo Basin to the Central African Republic and Southern Sudan and kenya . Bongos are mostly nocturnal. Male bongos are solitary, seeking out females only during mating season. Timid and easily frightened, bongos will move away after a scare, running at considerable speed, even through dense undergrowth. 

Adult males of similar size or age seem to try to avoid one another, but occasionally they will meet and spar with their horns in a ritualized manner. Sometimes serious fights will take place, but they are usually discouraged by visual displays, in which the males bulge their necks, roll their eyes and hold their horns in a vertical position while slowly pacing back and forth in front of the other male. They seek out females only at mating time; when they are with a herd of females, males do not coerce them or try to restrict their movements as do some other antelopes. Although bongos are mostly nocturnal, they are occasionally active during the day. When in distress the bongo emits a bleat. It uses a limited number of vocalizations, mostly grunts and snorts. The females have a weak, mooing contact call for their young. 

Females prefer to use traditional calving grounds restricted to certain areas. The newborn calf lies out in hiding for a week or more, receiving short visits by the mother to suckle it. The calves grow rapidly and can soon accompany their mothers in the nursery herds. Their horns also grow rapidly and begin to show in 31/2 months.Bongos are susceptible to disease such as rinderpest but various predators also take their toll. The young are vulnerable to pythons, leopards and hyenas. Lions have also been reported to kill bongos, but today the most serious predators are people living near forests, who often hunt bongos with dogs and set snares for them. Bongos are shy animals. They often are solitary, but sometimes accompany one another in pairs. Females and their young form small groups.

JNK- Kenya safari

Hope Mission Tours Team