July and August have been pretty hectic on Borana, loads of guests from all over the world having amazing experiences and its not only about wildlife.
One family from Belgium have just been out riding with us for a week and during their trip went on a fly camp to the Ngare Ndare River on the eastern boundary.
Sten sits down with a beautifully cold beer having just got off his horse after a six-hour ride. He tilts his head back and notices a distinct pattern in the bark on the tree………
Later, showered and fed and having completed another bottle of red wine, Sten picks up his camera and shoots the fire … oh my gosh there is a ghost in the fire!
Last weekend was the Eastern Unit competition for the Laikipia Unity Cup.
Eight teams mostly uncoached but full of enthusiasm played in the competition. The British Army in a camp set up at Gundua School hosted all team members.
Borana (in gold) were sadly the losers of the losers, but were able to witness the excitement and fun of taking part in such an event and we are hoping they are now inspired to hone their skills and perform better next time.
Kisima who won the event was a hugely popular team, as it was the local side. 4 Kisima employees and the rest came from the local community.
Before the final match between Kisima and Lewa there was a composite side The Eastern Grevys, chosen from all eight teams, by various scouts that played the Mathare Youth Team who had been brought up from Nairobi.
Michael being the Director of the Eastern Unit of the Laikipia Wildlife Forum was asked to speak at the close of the event and to hand out some of the prizes.
The four regional events of the Laikipia and Beyond Unity Cup 2010, sponsored by Safaricom and the Zeitz Foundation and organized in collaboration with Laikipia Wildlife Forum, are now completed and we are gearing up for the finals at Nanyuki Stadium, to be attended by the Patron of the LUC Samuel Eto’o, to take place on the 20-21st of July.
The regional events have been overwhelmingly successful in meeting the objectives of the tournament and we would like to share a few of the highlights with you before moving on to the finals:
- 4 x 3 day football events have taken place, bringing together thousands of people from every corner of Laikipia in peace and unity, including thousands from rural communities and towns. The local MPs (Hons, Kiunjuri, Muriithi, Ole Kaparo and Muriuki attended opening or closing ceremonies at events in their respective constituencies), chiefs, members of the provincial administration, KWS, BATUK, LWF and the Kenyan Air Force, as well as gaining support and involvement from Nairobi based Embassies – including South Africa, the UK, Germany, South Korea, Mexico and Brazil – and UNEP. These events were organised by Zeitz Foundation, Laikipia Wildlife Forum and BATUK, in collaboration with and hosted by Laurie Sessions and Segera/Zeitz Foundation in Central Unit; Anne and Gilfrid Powys in Western Unit; John Elias in Uaso Nyiro Unit; and Michael Dyer in Eastern Unit in their capacity as the respective LWF Unit Directors. Most of the Conservancy and ranch owners in Laikipia donated meat and Highlands Water donated over 1000 litres of water.
- 32 football teams have taken part in the competition, culminating in the selection of a regional ‘composite’ team (which includes the 20 best players from each region) that will represent their region in the semi-finals/finals on the 20-21 July. The winners of the regional events were:
Central Unit – Nanyuki Combined.
Western Unit – Sosian.
Uaso Nyiro Unit – Mpala.
Eastern Unit – Kisima.
- Over 12,000 people, mainly women and children, have received free medical attention from the 20 strong medical team present at each camp. These teams also provided HIV/aids and STD awareness sessions for all the players, as well as HIV testing and de-worming to all clients. The medical teams were from Nanyuki District Hospital and the Kenyan Air Force, led by Dr George Mochama. Medicines were donated by the Diplomatic Spouses Association, MACs pharmacy, Gertrudes Gardens Hospital and GSK.
- 1000’s of people in Laikipia were able to join in the excitement and spirit of the World Cup through the match screenings on giant screens at every event.
- Over 500 trees have been planted and thousands of people have taken part in many different environmental activities, ranging from local clean ups, to lectures on
conservation agriculture and sustainable water management, through to the construction of predator proof boma’s, to mention just a few.
- MYSA (Mathare Youth Sports Association) have held football clinics and environmental education sessions for 1000’s of children, whilst doing a great job of selecting players for the regional representative teams. They will also be providing coaching to these teams in advance of the finals. The visiting MYSA football teams played the regional teams in an exhibition match each weekend.
- A further aspect worth noting is that throughout the whole event there has not been a single unpleasant or disruptive incident either on or off the field despite almost a thousand young men and women being brought together and living in close proximity, with thousands of their supporters attending. The behaviour and spirit shown by all teams was exemplary and a credit to the communities and institutions they represent. People really have come together in a spirit of peace and unity and a willingness to collectively build a better future for Laikipia. There is now enormous enthusiasm for the Laikipia Unity Cup and a desire to see it become an annual event from every corner of the District and beyond.
The highlights at the finals on the 20 and 21st of July will see play-offs between the regional teams, a final between the winning regional teams, followed by a match between Mathare United and Laikipia United. The Laikipia United team will be selected from the best players from each region and will truly represent a United Laikipia.
Two days ago a male white rhino called Nasoit wandered onto Borana of his own accord. He was born on Lewa, moved to Enasoit Ranch and then Ol Pejeta. When the Northern White rhinos were brought to Ol Pejeta from the Congo he was moved back to Lewa. It seems like he may have had enough of being moved around and has decided that Borana maybe the peaceful option.
For Borana this means that we are getting into Rhino Conservation sooner than we had planned although we have been making good progress with developing our conservation management plan. Nasoit electing to take up residence here has pushed this to the top of the agenda. Everyone here is very excited and rearing to go.
In discussion with Lewa we have decided to let him settle in and this morning Richard Moller and the KWS resident vet came across and fitted a transmitter into his horn so we can find him quickly. KWS will obviously need to endorse this decision and I will meet with Ben Okita (chief Rhino Coordinator KWS) next week to discuss the overall plan with him. Meanwhile LWC have deployed two armed rangers to compliment our team on the ground and training of our rangers is ongoing.
Just coming through the low season on Borana and all is just so beautiful – so much game and grass!!
Thought you all might like to have a look at the tree climbing lion on Borana – one of our collared lionesses who is helping out with all the research done to try and curtail human wildlife conflict.
Thanks to Johnnie Harries for the photos.
Board meeting for the Safari and Conservation Company
On the 6th May we had the most amazing flight up to Sibaloi, Lake Turkana flying along the eastern side of the Mathews and Ndoto mountain ranges. The Saiya and Milgis luggas were flowing and the country looked fresh and vibrant with colour. We flew over a big ceremony perhaps change of age group or a wedding. The lake was stunning and having flown over South Island we followed the shoreline all the way to where Willy had set up his desert camp in the park. Flying low over huge herds of Tiang and Zebra in wonderful evening light we made it into camp at dusk. That night fresh serviche and delicious fresh perch was served for dinner with plenty of Safari and Conservation conversation long into the night. The fishing was fantastic with big 110 lbs perch teased to the surface. Fossils are just lying on the ground almost anywhere you look. Hyena visited the camp at night which made for a bit of excitement. The final drive to the airstrip was an excitement for us all as we found a Heuglin’s bastard – now a rare sight in the world. This is an amazing expedition made easy and comfortable.
Thank you to everyone who came to see us at Badminton this year. Despite the cold, wet weather, the election buzz and the disruptions caused by the unpronounceable volcano in Iceland, we set up a great stand with all our movies and slides giving a good impression of what horse safaris in Africa are all about. The stand seemed to be always busy. Many came by to have a drink with us and hopefully we drummed up a bit of business as well.
Just a couple of photos to see what riding on Borana during April and May is all about. Always our quietest season but actually more than usual our most beautiful. There can be the odd shower for sure but all the wild flowers come out, the wildlife is fat and happy and the garden of Eden comes to life!!
Dear Michael,
Cameron and I wanted to say an enormous thank you for your incredible hospitality and generosity during our stay at Borana with Crispin and Juju. We had the most amazing time.
The lodge is simply out of this world, and we were treated like kings. Our evening game drive with Alex was wonderful, and sundowners and canapes on the hillside proved a sensational start to our stay at Borana. Our accommodation was incredibly luxurious, with breathtaking views over the dam where we saw elephant every morning. We loved the small touches – finding the fire roaring when we returned from safari in the early evening, and snuggling up with our hot water bottles every night.
Our meals were truly delicious, and particular mention must go to the awesome pizza oven, which provided us with great alfresco entertainment and the most wonderful homemade pizza! The highlight of our trip was the horseback safari. We saw such a vast array of game, with giraffe, zebra, impala and elephant exhibiting an unconcerned acceptance of our close presence – what an experience! We also saw a striped hyena with her two cubs. Your horses are beautiful – they are so well cared for and behaved impeccably. We enjoyed a truly liberating gallop on Fin and Glenda across Borana, and had an idyllic bush breakfast during the morning ride with fresh fruit, sizzling bacon, toast and homemade preserves, overlooking the incredible African landscape. We really could not have asked for more.
Please thank all of your team at Borana, particularly Sam and Flick who made us feel so welcome. They were wonderful hosts, and we wish them all the very best with their season at Borana.
We were blown away at Borana, and with everything Kenya has to offer. We cannot wait to return, and will certainly be spreading the word about your sensational lodge back in the UK.
Hoping to catch up with you again next time we visit your incredible country - with any luck it will be in the not too distant future!
Wishing you all the very best for 2010,
Cameron and Faye Kennedy
We left Hide and Sheep with childlike glee, our arms filled with beaded slippers. We were starting off on a game drive with Nicky Dyer. To our right a large elephant bull was silhouetted on a hill. We all snapped away competing for the best creative shot. More ele were in front of us. More pics were taken. We moved on, they were all around us. We slowly made our way through loads of ele towards the water hole, happy snapping away! Our jaws dropped. There were over 200 elephant of all shapes and sizes coming and going with some sense of order. Juveniles jostling, play-fighting. Matriarchs sorting out unruly youngsters. Silly young boys dipping and diving like ducks. Babies desperately trying to keep up with their mothers, their barely manageable trunks being used as snorkels. A seething mass of elephant enjoying the relief of the water. Hundreds of them. Eventually our trigger-happy fingers couldn’t keep up with the photo opportunities; instead we just sat and watched this wonderful natural theatre.
Lois Kuhle. Borana Ranch. 20th April 2010
