Earthwatch Kenya
Plane to Wamba
Our little plane!
Wamba plane & me
I was nervous at the idea of getting on this little plane, but it was fun!
Inside the plane
Michelle, Pete, and Liz during our flight.
Cheryl as co-pilot
Cheryl got to sit in the cockpit for the flight to Wamba.
plane view
plane view
plane view
plane view
plane view
plane view
15 plane view.jpg
15 plane view.jpg 2006-07-12
plane view
plane view
plane view
plane view
plane view
plane view
plane view of a manyatta
plane view near Wamba
plane view near Wamba
landing in Wamba
Herd at the airstrip
Samburu herders with their livestock near the airstrip.
airstrip
main street of Wamba
Roadside in Wamba
Vervet monkey
These little guys didn't sit still long for pictures, so this is a little blurry!
Room in Wamba
My bed in the room I shared with Liz and Cheryl.
Skull
This skull hung on the main building at the compound.
Ant hill
I thought this was big, but found much bigger ones later!
Main building
This building had the kitchen, dining room, and 3 bedrooms (including mine).
Porch at the compound
I loved sitting here to read or write in my journal.
African Royal Starlings
These birds are especially gorgeous when the sun glints off their wings.
African Royal Starlings
These were at the compound, but we saw them everywhere.
Tree in the compound
Me & Cheryl on a hike
Our first evening in Wamba, we took a short hike to stretch out our muscles.
Group shot on our hike
Most of the group, minus a few researchers.
1st day hike
1st day hike
1st day hike
1st day hike
1st day hike
Sam showing GPS
We got a few instructions before we went into the field, including about the GPS
Ant hill #2
These big ant hills were EVERYWHERE!
Manyatta
The walls are made of acacia, so they can be hard to spot.
1st research day picnic lunch
We pulled off the road to eat our sandwiches, eggs, and sausages here.
Pete at lunch
We hiked up the rocks and took a look at the surrounding countryside.
Mountain views
One of the views from the top of the rocks.
Beetle
I was told that recently circumsized boys where these as earrings.
Ngutuk Ongiron sign
We spent a lot of time in this section of the Ngutuk Ongiron group ranch.
Donkey
For lack of other wildlife, I took pictures of donkeys while we were stopped.
Donkeys
We stopped to help a broken down car when I took these pictures.
Lagga
A lagga is a dry riverbed. The water will flow when it rains.
Ostrich
A male ostrich.
Ostrich
Another view of a male ostrich.
Carnivore team data sheet
We used this data sheet to record info about the number of animals we saw in 20km
Road in Ngaroni, Samburu
We were driving on this bridge when we got a flat tire.
1st flat tire
Little did we know that this would be the first of many!
Flat Tire Bridge lagga
An eroded section of the old road lies under the current bridge.
Plant
I can't remember the name of this pretty plant.
Flat Tire Bridge lagga
Salt lick
Sam told us this was a natural salt lick for the animals.
Kori bustard
We saw a lot of these birds during our two weeks.
Kori bustard
James & Pete going to see zebras
Our ranger guide James took Pete out to see a herd of zebras.
Rock hyrax
These little animals were all over this rocky hill.
68 Ewaso Ngiro.jpg
68 Ewaso Ngiro.jpg 2006-07-14
Murran & goats
Murran & his goats crossing the Ewaso Ngiro.
Mountain
This was a landmark we all used to get a sense of where we were.
Nomadic preschool
An abandoned preschool; preschool is like kindergarten in the US.
Nomadic preschool
We were told that the students in the area have all moved on to primary school.
Ant hill
Carol with gerenuk bone
Carol found a gerenuk bone (with hoof) at lunch one day.
Another picnic lunch
Mountains in distance
Sam giving instructions
Sam drew out the layout of a manyatta before we started conducting interviews.
Me and a really big anthill
bone
I think this was a donkey pelvis bone.
Samburu wedding: Bull slaughter
We were able to attend a Samburu wedding in the neighborhood.
Groom & best man
The bridegroom is on the left.
wedding
The murrans led the groom & best man into the manyatta for the bull slaughter.
wedding
wedding
The groom & best man remove their sandals before entering the manyatta.
wedding
Groom & best man approaching bride's parents' house.
Murrans at wedding
Cows at manyatta
Wedding bull slaughter
The bull slaughter is what really seals the marriage contract.
Wedding bull slaughter
The bull is well guarded before the wedding so that no one else can kill it.
Wedding bull slaughter
Draining bull's blood onto the blood of the manyatta.
Wedding bull slaughter
Wedding bull slaughter
Draining blood from neck
Stirring bull's blood
The blood was collected and stirred to remove the parts that make it coagulate.
Daniel & Eric at wedding
2 local boys; Eric is the son of the day guard at the compound.
Mercy at wedding
Mercy is the camp manager in Wamba.
Wedding bull slaughter
Wedding bull slaughter
Eric & Daniel
Cheryl & Melanie at wedding
me with Daniel, Eric, & William
Melanie with boys
The kids really liked to look at their pictures on our cameras.
Kids
We met these 2 on our way back from the wedding.
Earthwatch sign
Dikdik
These were cute at first, but we soon got sick of them. They were everywhere!
Camel
Camels are livestock in the Samburu region, and may be used for food.
Elephant dung
We were excited to see any sign of elephants in our first days in Samburu.
Scenery
Scenery
Scenery
Scenery
Scenery
Scenery
Measuring a manyatta
One part of the interview was measuring the wall of the manyatta.
Measuring manyatta
Pete & I check the thickness of a manyatta wall.
Group picture as Carnivore team
Asst. chief, Nduhiu, me, Pete, Michelle, James, Jordana, Carol
Jordana opening soda bottle
We all wanted to learn the trick of opening a bottle with another bottle!
Skola & Angelina at wedding.
The little boy on the left held my hand for hours. Angelina is Eric's sister.
Kids at wedding
All of the kids really wanted us to take their pictures!
Kids at wedding
Murrans at wedding
We got to see the murrans dancing when we went back to the wedding.
Me and kids at wedding
I was surrounded by kids the whole time we were there.
Murrans & women dancing
A lot of the dancing was jumping, but there was also this line dance.
Murrans & women dancing
Murrans & women dancing
Murrans & women dancing
Kids at wedding
Cheryl dancing
Cheryl & I both tried to join the dancing at the wedding.
Liz & kids at wedding
kids at wedding
kids at wedding
kids at wedding
Wedding gift goats
We each chipped in 150 shillings to buy goats for the bride & groom.
wedding gift goats
139 wedding gift goats.jpg 2006-04-17
Melanie & Michelle with goats
Melanie & Michelle presented the goats to the bride and groom.
Bride & groom with goats
The best man, the bride, and the groom with the goats.
Volunteers w/ bride & groom
We posed for a picture with the bride & groom and goats.
Elephant statue
This statue was down the road from the compound.
Petro and his kids
Petro is the day guard at the compound. These are 2 of his kids with him.
Male Grevy's zebra
Male Grevy's zebra
Male Grevy's zebra
Male Grevy's zebra
Den hike
One day, we went on a hike to find various carnivore dens.
James & Fred on our den hike
These 2 rangers helped keep us safe.
Den hike
Den hike
Den hike
Den hike
Tortoise shell
Fred found this to show to us.
Porcupine quill
Fred also found this porcupine quill.
Pete on the den hike
Sam & James on the den hike
Michelle on the den hike
Pete, Fred, & Nduhiu on den hike
Den hike
The chief us some traditional medicinal plants while we hiked.
Hyena Rock
Our den hike included a stop here to look for hyena dens.
Den hike Michelle & Sam
Sam shows Michelle a jaw bone
Jaw bone close up
den hike
The assistant chief on our den hike.
Den Hike Leopard Kill
This dessicated goat was once a leopard's kill.
Hyena den
Sam photographing hyena den
Den hike
Nduhiu collecting scat
Scat was collected to be analyzed for hair content.
Me collecting scat
Researchers can tell what has been eaten from the hairs in the scat.
171 scat collection.jpg
171 scat collection.jpg 2006-04-18
baboon footprint
172 baboon footprint.jpg 2006-04-18
den hike
Hyena Rock from another angle
Buying necklaces
When we dropped James off at his manyatta, we bought necklaces from the women.
den hike
Den hike: remains of a kill
This was once a sheep
Borehole
Boreholes like this are drilled to give access to water. This one was donated.
Borehole
Unfortunately, there was water nearby, which will be drained by the borehole.
Water near borehole
Pete & Michelle near the borehole
Market
Market
Impala herd
We saw 8 male impala by the side of the road near Inglai West.
impala herd
This was a "bachelor herd" near Inglai West.
2nd flat tire on carnivore team
Inglai West preschool
We drove by while the kids were here; it looked like they were having fun.
Inglai West preschool
Inglai West preschool
We couldn't resist playing with the playground equipment!
Inglai West preschool
Inglai West preschool
Inglai West preschool
This appeared to be the cafeteria; there was a fire pit inside for cooking.
female ostrich
Michelle in the hot seat
Michelle trying to hide from the hot sun glaring on her seat.
Jordana climbing a tree
another ostrich
Sunrise in Samburu
We got to see this beautiful sunrise on the way to the Samburu National Reserve.
Reserve entrance
West Gate entrance of the Samburu National Reserve
Water buck
male water buck in the Samburu National Reserve
Water buck
Dikdik in reserve
elephants in reserve
Not the first elephants we saw, but the first that we could easily photograph.
Female impalas in reserve
female impalas
male water buck in reserve
This one looked like a rock when it was lying down.
male impala in the reserve
female water bucks in reserve
female water bucks in reserve
male impala in reserve
Water bucks in reserve
elephant in reserve
This was one of a pair of elephants we saw very close up.
elephant in reserve
elephant in reserve
elephant in reserve
baboons in reserve
There were a lot of baboons hanging around a camping area in the reserve.
young baboon in reserve
bee eater nests in reserve
lioness in reserve
We finally saw a lion! She was resting very close to some impalas & gazelles.
lioness in reserve
Grant's gazelles & impalas
Grant's gazelles in reserve
lioness in reserve
young greater kudu in reserve
impala & greater kudu in reserve
young greater kudu in reserve
greater kudus in reserve
I thought these animals were pretty funny looking. They have odd stripes.
reticulated giraffe in reserve
elephant in reserve
elephant in reserve
reticulated giraffe in reserve
This is one of my favorite pictures!
reticulated giraffe in reserve
Ewaso Ngiro in reserve
After checking the area for elephants & leopards, we had lunch by the river.
Ewaso Ngiro in reserve
elephant-rubbed tree in reserve
This picture didn't come out as I'd hoped, but it was rubbed by an elephant.
Pete, me & Michelle in reserve
If you look carefully, you can see the elephants across the river from us.
elephants in reserve
safari viewing
We put the roof up on the van so that we could take better pictures.
reticulated giraffe in reserve
Grevy's zebras in reserve
We had hoped to see common zebras, but we only saw more Grevy's.
Grevy's zebras in reserve
Grevy's are bigger than common zebras and have thinner stripes.
Grevy's zebras in reserve
Beisa oryx in reserve
young oryx in reserve
Fountain at Samburu Lodge
We stopped at the lodge gift shop for some souvenir shopping.
Samburu Lodge sign
Check out the latitude and longitude!
Elephants in reserve
We came across this large herd near the road as we were leaving.
Elephants in reserve
Look at the little babies in these pictures!
Elephants in reserve
elephants in reserve
elephants in reserve
elephants in reserve
elephants in reserve
elephants in reserve
We were so close!
elephants in reserve
elephants in reserve
elephants in reserve
Sunset in Samburu
Out of order: Sunset on the way home. Look carefully for the Samburu herd.
Elephants through windshield
We were right behind them on the road!
Samburu sunset
The sunset on the way home was great.
Sunset in Samburu
We had to rush home to beat the dark, but it was a great day!
World Cup sign in Wamba
female ostriches
Ewaso Ngiro water sampling
Our first day on the water project. We sampled water at the Ewaso Ngiro river.
Ewaso Ngiro water sampling
Ewaso Ngiro water sampling
Ewaso Ngiro water sampling
Jordana getting water to test.
Ewaso Ngiro water sampling
Learning how to get the UTM coordinates from the GPS.
Ewaso Ngiro water sampling
Kip demonstrating how to test for conductivity, salinity, pH, and temperature.
goat visitor
This goat came to visit us at lunch; Steve tried to feed it Coke.
goat visitor & Pete
Pete seemed to be the goat's favorite!
Water testing in lagga well
People did wells in the sand of the lagga to reach the water underneath.
surface water in lagga
This water was covered with some sort of algae.
Well in lagga
Acacia branches were piled around the well to keep out animals.
Well in lagga
Sampling water from well
Steve collecting water to test.
Sampling water from well
Alkalinity test
We did 2 tests on the water samples we brought back to camp.
Dissolved oxygen test
The scientist also tested for things like bacteria in the water.
Wall of cows
These cows surrounded me one day while we were conducting a census at a well.
Scenery in Sarara
I just liked how the mountains looked that day.
well
This well was very deep.
Sunset in Wamba
Another of my favorite pictures; this was the best sunset we saw at the compound
Acacias in the evening
Acacias in the evening
Buying tire shoes
Almost everyone in Samburu wears sandals made from old tires. Mine cost 100 KSh.
Buying tire shoes
Michelle bought shoes for these little girls when they stopped to watch us.
Buying tire shoes
We had lots of time to shop while the tire on the van was being fixed.
Jump rope made of tire
The tire shop also made ropes from tires, so Mercy got us all playing jump rope.
Green place
This was one of the greenest places we'd seen. We came here to take samples.
Lucky or holy rock
We were told that large rocks like this are considered lucky or holy.
Nagorworu Primary School
We visited this school one day after collecting some water samples.
Nagorworu Primary School
Nagorworu Primary School
Exam schedule.
Nagorworu Primary School
Parade ground at the school
Nagorworu Primary School
Nagorworu Primary School
Nagorworu Primary School
I posed with some students in one of the classes.
Nagorworu Primary School
Pete showed students some of his pictures of them and of animals.
Nagoroworu Primary School choir
Some of the students got together to sing us 2 songs. They were good!
Nagorworu Primary School
Carol was asked to present the headmaster with a gift from a past volunteer.
Nagorworu Primary School
The gift was a box of pencils for the students.
Nagorworu Primary School
Nagorworu Primary School
One of the 2 classroom buildings.
Nagorworu Primary School
The other classroom building.
Water hike
We hiked into the Mathews Range to take water samples at this spring.
Water hike
Measuring width and depth of the spring. It was a really beautiful place!
Water hike
Measuring velocity by timing how fast the duckie moved.
Water hike
With elephants in the area, Petro gave Pete his hiking stick & got a bigger one.
Baboons
This troop of baboons seemed as curious to watch us as we were to watch them.
Water hike elephants
We were within a few hundred meters of 5 elephants as we walked! Scary!
Water hike elephants
And yes, it was also pretty cool too. But elephants can be very dangerous...
Lagga well with animals watering
We did a water use census at this well on our last field day.
Free day hike
Our last day in Wamba was a free day, so some of us hiked in the morning.
Free day hike
Water hike elephants
Whoops...out of order!
Our guards for the day
Our day guard and a ranger both came armed in case we saw more elephants.
Free day hike
This tree's roots are good for stomach aches, so the men collected some.
Free day hike
Ntepes Primary School
We also visited this school, in Wamba, on our free day.
Ntepes Primary School
Class 7. Classes were much bigger than at the other school
Ntepes Primary School class 2
Angelina and her classmates
Ntepes Primary School
Ntepes Primary School
Soila & Nasieku, 2 class 8 students with whom I chatted.
Me & Petro
A photo with our day guard on our last morning in Wamba.
Mercy & me
Posing with Mercy, the camp manager, on our last morning in Wamba.
Nairobi
Maasai Market in Nairobi
This was a crazy place, but there were some good souvenirs. Bargaining was key!
Maasai Market in Nairobi
Maasai Market
Crossing the street was difficult until the policeman helped!
Carnivore Restaurant
A server bring crocodile to Nicole's mom.
Carnivore Restaurant
I think this was ostrich, but it might have been camel. Both were good!
Maasai giraffe in park
Pete and I spent the last morning in Nairobi at Nairobi National Park.
Maasai giraffe in park
Maasai giraffe in park
Common zebra in park
We finally saw a common zebra & could see how it differed from the Grevy's.
Black rhino in park
We got a treat when we saw an endangered black rhino.
Black rhino
Black rhino
Maasai giraffe in park
Maasai giraffe in park
Maasai giraffes in park
Maasai giraffes in park
Maasai giraffes in park
Baboon in park
Common zebras in park
Common zebras in park
Kongoni & common zebras in park
I really like that you can see how close the city is behind these animals.
Elands in park
Lioness in park
We heard about 4 lions in this areas, but we only found 1.
Lioness in park
She was sitting half in the road when we found her, then she walked past the car.
Lioness in park
She put up with us slowly following her down the road for some time.
Lioness in park
We watched her until another car scared her off.
Lioness in park
She disappeared into the grass really well when she wanted to hide.
Lioness in park
Lioness in park
She seemed to be catching the scent of a nearby herd of kongoni.
Maasai giraffe in park
Monitor lizard in park
Our driver and some KWS rangers had never seen one of these before!
Langatta Giraffe Center
Rothschild giraffe at the center.
Langatta Giraffe Center
Langatta Giraffe Center
Jordana feeding one of the giraffes.
Langatta Giraffe Center
Me feeding the younger giraffe.
Langatta Giraffe Center
Feeding the younger giraffe.
Langatta Giraffe Center
From the porch you could feed and pet the giraffes and face level.
Langatta Giraffe Center
Pete feeding a giraffe.
Langatta Giraffe Center
Look at that tongue! It was very slimy with saliva!