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.

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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.

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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.

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The legend of Kenya heritage

Nairobi National Museum is located at the Museum Hill, approximately 10 minutes drive from the Nairobi city centre. It is the flagship museum of NMK, housing some of the most celebrated collections of history, culture and art from Kenya and East Africa. The museum aims to interpret heritage of Kenya to stimulate appreciation and learning. This museum is open daily (including public holidays) from 0830hrs -17300hrs.

The Museum was initiated in 1910 by the then East Africa and Uganda Natural History Society [currently the East African Natural History Society (EANHS)].

The group consisted mainly of colonial settlers and naturalists who needed a place to keep and preserve their collections of various specimens. Its first site was at the present Nyayo House in the Nairobi city centre. The site soon became small and a larger building was put up in 1922 where the Nairobi Serena Hotel now stands.

In 1929, the colonial government set aside land at the Museum Hill and construction work started at the current site. It was officially opened in Sept. 22 1930 and named Coryndon Museum in honour of Sir Robert Coryndon, one time Governor of Kenya and a staunch supporter of Uganda Natural History Society. On the attainment of independence in 1963, it was re-named the National Museum of Kenya (NMK).

On October 15th 2005, previous Nairobi Museum closed its doors to the public for an extensive modernization and expansion project that is now complete.  The outcome is impressive; the Nairobi Museum has been transformed into a magnificent piece of architecture that puts it in competition with other world class museums.

The artworks,  the materials used in the fabrication of outdoor sculptures, the landscaping and the botanic gardens, link to the three pillars of Kenya’s national heritage i.e. nature, culture and history. A welcoming ambience of harmony between the galleries, the non gallery spaces, the museum landscape and its entrances, make museum visits more exciting.

The galleries have been reorganized to interpret the heritage of Kenya to stimulate appreciation and learning. To capture the feel of diversity and interactivity, there are mixed galleries to show the personality of the new museum. Under the nature pillar, there are 5 exhibitions. These are Human origins, Mammalian Radiation, Ecology of Kenya, Natural Diversity and Geology. Under Culture, the exhibitions include Cycles of Life, Cultural Dynamism and Creativity. The history pillar has two exhibitions: Kenya Before 1850 and History of Kenya.
 

This is the first time that the Nairobi Museum has undergone a major development that has witnessed its closure intensive refurbishment and expansion of its facilities.

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The Cheetah’s most appetizing meal

Thomson Gazelle Gazella thomsonii: named after explorer Joseph Thomson. Thomson gazelle weighs up to 18-27 kilogram’s (35-55) pounds and reaches a height of about 22 to 26 inches at the shoulder is a browser and mostly inhabits the open plains and grassland, Thomson gazelle have a gestation period of about 6 months and  have a longestivity of 11 years in wild. One of the most common gazelles in Africa's savannas and grassland habitats, particularly the Serengeti region of Kenya and Tanzania, the graceful "tommie" is distinguished from the similarly colored.


Grant's gazelle by the dark stripe that runs from the shoulder to the flank and the white patch on the rump as well as its smaller size. Male tommies are larger than females and have strongly ridged horns that curve backwards with the tips curving forward. Female tommies have short, smooth, pencil-slim horns or none at all. The face is accented by a black stripe running down from the eye, a dark marking on the nose and a light patch on the forehead.The strongest tommie males set up territories in home ranges using an exaggerated display posture and marking boundaries with scent gland secretions. 

The females and their immature offspring form groups of 5 to 50 that wander through male territories. A male gazelle will follow a female and sniff their urine to find out if she is in estrous, a process known as flehmen.
If so, he will continue to court and mount her. Female Thomson's gazelles will leave the herd to give birth to single fawns after a 5–6 month gestation period. The relatively silent tommies rely on visual awareness of one another to stay in contact. Tommies breed twice a year. Although births occur throughout the year, they peak right after rainy seasons. After giving birth the mother hides the newborn in the grass, returning several times a day to nurse it. 

With their tawny coloring and ability to remain motionless for long periods, the young are surprisingly invisible when hidden in open country. Tommies congregate with Grant's gazelle and with larger ungulates such as wildebeest and zebra and even cattle, which trample and graze on tall grass, making it easier for the tommie to feed on short grass. Although grasses make up about 90% of the tommie's diet in dry season, it also eats seeds and browses on shrubs. When the tiny new green shoots of grass begin to grow in areas that have been burned, tommies often gather in large numbers to feed. 

The Thomson gazelle is exceptionally alert to sounds and movements, and its fine senses of hearing, sight and smell balance its vulnerability on the open plains.Males vigorously defend their territories. If challenged, the defending male and his rival clash horns with the winner claiming the territory. Tommies are often found on ranches and farmlands after many animals have left, subsisting on the short grasses exposed by the cattle. There, they are often shot or snared for the pot. with the most predators being lions, cheetahs, baboons, leopard, hunting dog and hyenas.

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The tallest animal on earth

The giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis) is an African even-toed ungulate mammal, the tallest of all extant land-living animal species, and the largest ruminant. The average mass for an adult male giraffe is 1,200 kilograms (2,600 lb) while the average mass for an adult female is 830 kilograms (1,800 lb).It is approximately 4.3 metres (14 ft) to 5.2 metres (17 ft) tall, Giraffe gestation lasts between 400 and 460 days (13-15 months). 

The giraffe is related to other even-toed ungulates, such as deer and cattle, but is placed in a separate family, the Giraffidae, consisting of only the giraffe and its closest relative, the okapi, and their extinct relatives. Both sexes have prominent horns, formed from ossified cartilage, and known as ossicones. The appearance of horns is a reliable method of identifying the sex of giraffes, with the females displaying tufts of hair on the top of the horns, whereas males' horns are larger and tend to be bald on top — the hairs worn away due to necking in combat. Males sometimes develop calcium deposits which form bumps on their skull as they age, which can give the appearance of up to three additional horns. 

Giraffes also have slightly elongated forelegs, about 10% longer than their hind legs, and can reach a sprint speed of up to 60 km/h (37 mph)The giraffe is briefly airborne when running.A single well-placed kick from an adult giraffe can kill a predator. Lions are the only predators which pose a serious threat to an adult giraffe. Most attacks on giraffes occur at watering holes, when the bent-over animals are at their most vulnerable and least attentive. Giraffes usually sleep standing up but do lie down occasionally. Giraffes also have slightly elongated forelegs, about 10% longer than their hind legs, and can reach a sprint speed of up to 60 km/h (37 mph)

The giraffe is briefly airborne when running.A single well-placed kick from an adult giraffe can kill a predator. Lions are the only predators which pose a serious threat to an adult giraffe. Most attacks on giraffes occur at watering holes, when the bent-over animals are at their most vulnerable and least attentive. Giraffes usually sleep standing up but do lie down occasionally. While giraffes are usually found in groups, the composition of these groups is more fluid than in other social ungulates. They are a largely transient species with few strong social bonds and aggregations usually disband every few hours, although calving groups can last weeks to months. Giraffe groups can range from over 40 individuals to only a few individuals with the latter being more common. Female giraffes associate in groups of a dozen or so members, occasionally including a few younger males. 

Calves and sub-adults are rarely alone. Giraffe groups with young tend to feed in more open areas, presumably to provide better visibility to detect predators. This may reduce their feeding efficiency. Reproduction is broadly polygamous, with a few older males impregnating the fertile females. Male giraffes determine female fertility by tasting the female's urine in order to detect estrus, in a multi-step process known as the Flehmen response. During courtship, dominant males will displace subordinates from the presence of the females, by staring and walking towards them. Thus the female prolongs the courtship process for as long as possible so only the most dominant male remains and copulation will follow. Although generally quiet and non-vocal, giraffes have been heard to communicate with various sounds. Courting males will emit loud coughs. Females will call their young by whistling or bellowing. Calves will bleat, moo, or make mewing sounds. In addition, giraffes will grunt, snort, hiss, or make strange flute-like sounds. The giraffe has one of the shortest sleep requirements of any mammal, which averages 4.5 or 4.6 hours per 24 hours. Giraffes browse on the twigs of trees, preferring trees of the genera Acacia, Commiphora and Terminalia, and also eat grass and fruit. The tongue, lips and palate are tough, which allows them to feed on trees with sharp thorns.Despite its long neck, the giraffe has only seven vertebrae, exactly the same number as man and most other mammals. Even though giraffes are often seen together in groups, they do not form the complex social groups of many plains species. Theirs are loose associations, constantly changing in make-up.

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