A herd of more than fifty Impala joining us for breakfast

Anne and I have returned to the Lewa Conservancy in northern Kenya. After a long and uneventful flight, we landed in Nairobi, passed through a quick and efficient immigration and customs procedure, picked up our six bags and headed to the UpperHill Country Lodge to spend the night.

The next morning, Sunday, we gathered up our luggage and a mountain bike that Tom Gleason had generously left for us, climbed into our Land Cruiser with our driver, John, and made the four hour, 240 kilometer drive to Lewa Conservancy. Despite it being dry season, we had an afternoon downpour during the drive.

Hopefully, that ends the boring bits of the post.

Entering the conservancy we were immediately struck by how different it looked from the last time we were here. At that time the rainy season had just ended and everything was lush and green. The wildlife was scattered everywhere. Now the grass was shorter, brown and dry looking. We saw few animals in the arid countryside. This time of year the animals tend to stay closer to the swamps, streams and waterholes and are not as wide spread. As the dry season goes on, we are told, that tendency will increase.

The Lewa offices are located on the edge of a small swamp. There we were greeted by impalas, water bucks, elephants, rhinos, warthogs, zebras, and monkeys. Well not greeted exactly, everything except the monkeys pretty much ignored us. Yes, this was the conservancy.

Monday morning we woke bright and early. It was quite chilly, so I threw on a jacket and Anne grabbed a Pashmina as we sat down to breakfast outside on the terrace of Ngiri House. The usual monkeys were playing in the yard (and plotting to poach food from our table) but they had been joined by a herd of over 50 impala, and a zebra. We ate as we watched baby impala butt heads, prance across the grass and occasionally approach a monkey out of curiosity. The more sedate adults kept watch over the fawns and grazed quietly. The zebra stayed with the impala herd. I think it was confused and thought it was an impala. Eventually a couple of intrepid monkeys made a dash for our fruit plate and made off with pieces of watermelon. It was priceless.

The Zebra as well, note the monkeys on the lawn and impala in the brush

After breakfast we hopped into our car and drove the 1 kilometer to the office (one is still not allowed to walk here). I am both excited and worried about getting to work. Excited about being in Kenya for a year; meeting new, different, and interesting people; and helping with the educational strategic planning. I am worried about … being in Kenya for a year; meeting new, different, and interesting people; and helping with the educational strategic planning.

But one thing I am sure of is that we have a great place to work. Check out the entrance to the office complex.

Anne entering the Lewa/NRT office complex.

I’m heading into the office as well.