This Week at Angama #305

Kimana Sanctuary serves as a vital refuge for large elephant bulls in the southern part of Kenya, acting as a crucial link between Amboseli National Park to the east, and Tsavo West and Chyulu Hills to the west. Angama's efforts in securing this portion of land have ensured its preservation as an open space for the diverse wildlife that calls it home. This week, Craig, the second-oldest Super Tusker bull according to the Amboseli Trust for Elephants (ATE), was spotted in the Kuku area next door and has since moved back into the Sanctuary, adding a personal and intriguing aspect to the conservation narrative.

In partnership with the ATE, we are gaining a deeper understanding of the giants within this habitat —employing techniques to identify individual elephants and learning their names, ages and family structures. Over the past few days, we've successfully identified some notable individuals, including the unmistakable Craig, Tawi, Eldoret, Per and others. This collaborative effort between Angama and ATE not only enhances our knowledge of these magnificent creatures but also helps to recognise the unique traits that distinguish each of them.

Within Kimana Sanctuary, night safaris present a unique opportunity to observe nocturnal animals that often elude daylight encounters. Although night safaris require patience and endurance, they offer the chance to spot unusual sightings. Lucky participants might come across elusive creatures such as civets, genets, spring hares, porcupines and even the rare aardvark during these nocturnal excursions. The challenge and thrill of night safaris add a different dimension to wildlife exploration in the Sanctuary. -Robert Sayialel

Lions are territorial animals and their dynamics can be dramatic at times. The Angama lioness is still doing well with her two remaining cubs, a relief as she has occasionally been spotted with the 'The Cub Killer' and another younger male accomplice. You might remember him from earlier this year; he came into the Triangle, causing mayhem by killing cubs from two different prides. If the Bila Shaka Boys come back to reinstate their authority, we hope that the cubs who have been fathered by The Killer will have grown old and strong enough to escape from the danger they could be facing.

Leopards are one of the most elusive cats, they move like ghosts across the savannah — rosette jewels fading in and out of the grass. They are regarded as the perfect predator and I could not agree more. I sighted the Salt Lick female with an impala kill in a sausage tree and we watched as she effortlessly brought it down and quickly vanished into the long grass. 

Primarily active during the day, cheetahs are known for their ability to pounce on prey with lightning speed. We bumped into the two brothers, Ruka and Rafiki, not far from the Mara River. They were stalking zebra who appeared to have crossed from the other side. We didn't think they would go for one of the zebra, especially a fully grown stallion, which is much bigger than them as they mostly go for smaller prey. These boys have a strong liking for impala so they decided to rather move off, leaving the zebra in peace. -Joseph Njenga