The red headed rock agama

Red headed rock agama(agama  agama)A big ,rock dweling lizard ,the males are vividly coloured,with bright orange heads and blue bodies.The head is large and triangular;males have a small crest on the nape.The eye is fairly large;and the ear opening is obvious.the body is depressed,legs strong and mascular toes long and thin . the tail is laterlly compressed ,tapering smoothly ,roughly 60% of total length.

Displaying males havea vivid red-orange or orange –yellow head;the chin may be orange or pink.the body is blue  ,often with a pale vertabal stripe that tapers posteriorly.Non displaying male look dull brown, with faint darker crossbars and green /yellow head speckles.Female and juveniles are brown , with green head speckling ,vague dark crossbars and vertebral stripe of irregular subrectangular markings;there is often a striking  bright red or orange patch where the upper limb s touch  the flank.wide speard in coastal thickets and woodland moist and dry savannah and semi desert from sea level to 2200 m altitude ,although most common below 1500 m .absent in areas without rock outcrops or big trees.

A diurnal, rock dwelling lizard, also lives on big trees, utilises buildings and walls, where dense colonies may form due to the abundance of suitable site and refuge, and lives in structured colonies with a dominant male, which will bask in a prominent spot. The female lay eggs, and mostly lays them at the start of the rainy season but may also lay to coincide with unexpected storms. The eggs are buried in a suitable hole or loose soil which are incubated about 50-60 days. 

The diet includes a wide range of insects; they are very fond of ants and may spend long hours beside ant trails, licking up the passing insects. They also take plant materials; grass, flowers and fruits .Mongoose have been seen digging up eggs clutches; the adults are often taken by small birds of pray and snakes; predation on this species by red spitting cobra has been seen in Ethiopia.

JNK- kenya safari 

Hope Mission Safaris

Kenya snakes

The first of the big five is the COBRA. Kenya has 4 species, the Black Necked Spitting Cobra, the Red Spitting Cobra, Egyptian and Forest Cobra. Cobras are often found under thick undergrowth, rocks or in piles of dead vegetation- in a variety of habitats. Catching Cobras is not easy- the Egyptian cobra is extremely aggressive when cornered, while Spitting cobras respond to a direct threat by spitting venom- with remarkable accuracy, into the eyes.

Snake Safari staff use grab sticks and wear protective goggles while catching cobras- but it is still a tense procedure. A large aggressive cobra is a magnificent sight to behold. Their spread hoods and loud threatening hiss are a very effective deterrent to coming any closer. Next up is the PYTHON, a non-venomous constricting snake. The African Rock Python is often caught sunning itself on rocks or in vegetation. They feed mostly on rabbits, spring hares and in some cases small antelopes. These snakes can grow to be very large and Snake Safaris often encounter 9 foot and longer specimens.

At Kigio, the Snake Safari takes to the water in small inflatable rafts along the Malewa River. Guests are rowed along calm stretches of the river, while the catching team float alongside in inner tubes, searching the reeds for Pythons, which often live along river banks. At times diversions have to be made to make way for hippos.
Pythons are often caught in the water, and while the snakes are harmless, a large Python can make a formidable wrestling opponent. Catching pythons on land is a much easier proposition, and they are often found sunning themselves outside their lairs.

The third member of the big five is the PUFF ADDER, undoubtedly one of the most dangerous snakes in Kenya. The problem with these large sluggish vipers is their speed. Lying on warm patches of earth, they are slow to move out of the path of an approaching human, but fast to strike- with a pair of massive fangs that are hinged into the mouth like retractable airplane wheels.While these venomous snakes are dangerous, and pack a heavy dose of venom, they do play an important role in their eco-systems, and Snake Safaris will move these snakes away from inhabited areas and release them into thick isolated bush. They also teach their guests and local people how to avoid encountering dangerous snakes and what to do in the event of a bite.

The next snake is the BOOMSLANG, or other back fanged snakes- such as the TWIG SNAKE. These snakes are venomous but present less of a threat due to their fangs being located in the rear of their mouths.The Boomslang is a tree snake, the males a bright iridescent green and the female a dull brown. Twig Snakes are small, narrow creatures who take their name from their highly effective cammoflage, which makes them virtually indistinguishable from twigs and sticks.

On the coast, the search for these snakes usually takes guests into patches of forest and dense undergrowth. Twig Snakes are very fond of bats, so caves are often excellent hunting grounds.Snake Safaris visit Jimba Cave, one of the coasts best kept secrets. Hidden within the forest, Jimba is a sacred site for the Giriama people, and is still in use by witchdoctors as a place of sacrifice and ritual. Local people visit the cave at night to consult witchdoctors on village problems, always leaving an offering behind.

With its narrow twisting passages leading to massive vaulted ceilings, rock bridges and deep rock fissures filled with bats and swarms of wild bees, Jimba is a place of strange and eerie beauty. At the heart of the cave is a single massive mahogany tree rising from the floor, its ghostly white trunk glowing in the dark. The tree is believed to have sprouted hundreds of years ago when the cave was used as shelter by slave caravans, after a slave dropped a seed from the central African forests.After searching the cave for Twig Snakes and chameleons, guests always pay respect to Giriama tradition by leaving a small offering for the witchdoctors.

The last of the Big Five is the infamous MAMBA. Black and Green Mambas have become the stuff of legends, known worldwide as terrifying and deadly snakes. Snake Safaris effectively separate the myths from the facts- and introduce their guests to the real Mamba.While it is true that the Mamba carries extremely toxic venom- they are elusive snakes that spend most of their lives hidden in trees in thick bushland, hunting birds. Encountering a Mamba is extremely unusual and rare- and an attack even less likely. They will make every possible attempt to avoid such an encounter.

Catching a Mamba, however, is a different proposition altogether. The best Mamba country is in coastal forests and mangroves, and around the dry river beds of Kenya’s arid North East.Royjan and Francis, a long term employee of the Bio Ken snake farm are extremely experienced Mamba catchers. The first required skill is being able to spot one in the dense undergrowth- and the capture is a difficult and risky process, often having to be done while climbing into the unsteady branches of a tree. The snake then has to be lowered to the ground and restrained.

his is no easy feat- particularly with the highly aggressive black Mamba. These are extremely long (often exceeding 10 feet) and agile tree snakes that can easily double their bodies back on themselves and strike high and fast. Black Mambas are truly awe inspiring animals, powerful and tense, and not black- but a gun-metal olive. When threatened they raise their bodies high into the air and present a wide open mouth- and reveal just how they got their name- the inside of their mouth is jet black.It has now been proven that these much maligned snakes may have an even greater value to humankind. Research has discovered that their venom could be a vital ingredient in drugs used to regenerate damaged nerves in amputated limbs that have been reattached through micro-surgery.

The trip ends with a stay on the beach at Watamu, and a visit to Bio-Ken for milking demonstrations and a tour of the laboratory and East Africa’s largest collection of Snakes.Kenya Snake Safaris is the only operation of its kind in Kenya, and are fully and professionally trained with a wealth of experience, equipment and full anti-venom back up. It should be noted that under no circumstances should any untrained person attempt to catch or handle any snake in Kenya.

Most visitors to Kenya want to see the world famous wildlife, living free in its natural habitat. But not many are interested in seeing snakes, or actually make every attempt to see them. Being blinded by fear prevents some people from seeing these rare, beautiful creatures that are no more dangerous than the lions or elephants that they come to see. For the guests on a Snake safari, this is a real learning experience as well as an adventure. Even guests who previously had a snake phobia have found themselves relaxed and confident enough to hold and release the non-venomous snakes caught along the way.

One client had previously believed the old adage that “the only good snake is a dead snake” and used to suffer from nightmares about them. After his Snake Safari- he reported that he still dreamed about snakes- but that they were pleasant dreams, free from fear.

JNK- Kenya Safari

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.

.

 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

The Dung Beetles

Beetles make up the largest order in the whole animal kingdom, approximately 300,000 species have been discovered. Dung beetle belongs to the family scarabaeidae together with rhino beetles. In Africa there are about 2000 species of dung beetles. Dung beetles were associated with resurrection in ancient Egypt, due to their behavior of burying dung and themselves and reemerging a couple of months later. Symbols of dung beetle were therefore placed in tombs in the belief that the deceased will be resurrected. Males carry horns, which serve the function of impressing females. 

The front part of the tooth is toothless; this serrated edge is used to cut out dung. The front arms are toothed and used as digging instruments. The thorax is well developed to aid in flying and digging. Dung beetle have antennae, which are covered with sensory organs, these are fanned out are used by beetle to smell the air for dung. The mount parts are highly adapted to feeding on dung, they act like a filtering brush when feeding, discarding the unwanted bits. The hind legs are bowed and longer for ball rolling.

Males usually initiate ball rolling in the ball rolling type. After cutting the ball away, he moves away from the pile of dung and secrets a pheromone to attract the female. once a female have been attracted by the scent ,she will make some adjustments to the dung ball and then either follow the  follow the male, or perch on top of the ball.  In doing so the female, conserves much needed energy for the brood stage .a suitable site is located, often under a bush and the dung ball is buried. At this stage, mating takes places over  a period of two to three days. 

The male then abandons the brood and then returns to normal activities. The females takes the ball apart and removes the sticks ,stones ,etc and rebuilds it, leaving  a chimney in the top of the ball vents for the larvae, which digs down into the ball and breathe through  the event .larvae emerges and remain  in the dung ball for four to five months until the dung beetle finally emerges.

The females feeds on fungus growing on the dung ball, this serves to clean the ball. The larvae do not defecate in the ball, they store their feaces in a fermentation chamber and use the fermented dung to plaster their ball as it begins to show signs of weakness. Dung beetles are divided in four main types namely; telecoprids , paracoprids, endocoprids and kleptocoprids.The rollers (telecoprids) make up only 10%of dung beetles found In Africa. They get balls of dung away from the dung heap as quickly as possible to avoid the competition, sometimes it takes only thirty seconds to cut out a suitable ball. Some of these balls roll a food ball and a separate and lager brood ball. Most roll backward, some forwards.

The tunnellers (paracoprids)are active during the early evening and night. They emerge from the ground  and can measure light intensity, once the desired conditions are present and the beetle emerges like a rocket and searches for food. Once located it tunnels under the dung  and constructs a series  of tunnels under heap into  which it rounded balls of dung  are stored and used. The dwellers (endocoprids) live in the dung heap itself and also cut out balls of dung. These species are well adapted to cold, dry conditions where the ground is hard. kleptocoprids steal other dung beetles balls and roll them as their own.

Dung beetles are of great significance since they constructs tunnels network underground, this aerates the ground .They fertilize the ground by spreading the dung out and burying it. They also prevent flies and maggots and other parasites from breeding  in the dung, in vast numbers by dispersing it within a couple of hours, thus preventing the spread of deadly diseases. They also control human feaces where about 40,000 tons of waste are buried by dung beetles. Livestock also dependent  on dung beetles, which protect them against flies ,parasites like worms ,and against ticks.

JNK- Camping in Kenya

Hope Mission Tours