Versatile adventures is an initiative aimed at creating awareness on the fast depletion of our wildlife, culture, tourism products and conservation in an interesting way of using photography. Photography In The Wild(PITW) is a project that happens in every month at Nairobi National Park where we explore the park, teach our clients on wildlife behavior and conservation ,teaching basic photography skills plus give them a chance to meet with different people in the tourism industry and network as they learn more.
Nairobi National park covers 170 square Kilometers and it is fenced on the eastern, western and northern parts while the southern part is left open leading to other conservancies.
Our day started up early in the morning and got lucky enough to capture landscape pictures with our city Nairobi in our background. The view was so breathtaking that we could not stop taking pictures besides the chilly weather.
Later in the day we were lucky enough to find lions doing justice to the hunted prey. We very surprised to discover that they feed together but fight over that food only the fittest get a piece thus survival for the fittest. We also noted that they leak their piece and the reason is so interesting because it is a way of feeding as their back tongue is very rough thus tears the flesh.
At the National park we also have both the black and white Rhino. The most significant difference besides the body size and horns is the shape of the mouth. A white rhino has a very broad, flat and wide lip which make it easier for this animal to feed as it is grazer and requires a mouth designed for this. The broad muscular lips are ideal for gripping and tearing up grass and it quite noisily smacks its lips together as it feeds. In effect these large lips act as a non mechanized lawnmower. The black rhino on the other hand is a browser and feeds on leaves, shoots and branches. As a result it has a prehensile and pointed lip which it uses to grab hold of often very spiky trees.
It was interesting to see the young calves of a Buffalo who looked so different from their parents they are hairy and with small straight horns. We also noticed that the mother does not leave the calf alone. The calf walks closely behind the mother even in the big herd of Buffalos. Buffalos mate during the cold season and give birth during the rainy season when there’s plenty of grass and water.The more the horns are curved, the older the Buffalo
There are three species of giraffe besides the Masai giraffe we have the Rothschild’s giraffes and the Reticulated Giraffes clearly distinguished by their body patterns. The Masai Giraffes also known as the common giraffe are in the park too. The difference between the male and female giraffe is that the male giraffe has a middle horn while the female does not have. Giraffes life is very unique and interesting as they give birth and sleep while standing.
An interesting fact about birds to distinguish the gender is the most colourful or beautiful is the male. A male ostrich is black in colour with a white tail and wing patches while a female is greyish or brownish in colour. Ostriches have internal fertilization and lay eggs which hatch to young ones. They mate same way as chicken. Here is a best shot by David Macharia of a male ostrich at the Park.
It was a very amazing experience with lots of fun plus learning. Everyone who attended gained more knowledge on wildlife behavior and conservation as well as boosted photography skills. Photography In The Wild is an experience you wouldn’t want to miss. Join us next month on 7th as we do this again! Arts Transforming Lives
