Kenya Olive Baboon

Olive Baboon in Kenya Safari

Scientific Name: Olive baboon (Papiocynocephalus anubis); yellow baboon (Papio ynocephalus cynocephalus).An omnivorous savannah and woodland primate dweller with ways about 50 kilogram's , with a gestation of 6 months and a lifespan of about 20-30 years .The baboon, of all the primates in East Africa, most frequently interacts with people. Apart from humans, baboons are the most adaptable of the ground-dwelling primates and live in a wide variety of habitats.

Intelligent and crafty, The two most common baboons occur in East Africa, the olive baboon and the yellow baboon. The larger and darker olive baboon is found in Uganda, west and central Kenya and northern Tanzania. Smaller, more slender and lighter in color, the yellow baboon inhabits southern and coastal Kenya and Tanzania. Both types are "dogfaced," but the yellow's nose turns up more than the olive's. Baboons are found in surprisingly varied habitats and are extremely adaptable.

The major requirements for any habitat seem to be water sources and safe sleeping places in either tall trees or on cliff faces. Baboons usually leave their sleeping places around 7 or 8 a.m. After coming down from the cliffs or trees, adults sit in small groups grooming each other while the juveniles play. They then form a cohesive unit that moves off in a column of two or three, walking until they begin feeding. Fanning out, they feed as they move along, often traveling five or six miles a day.

They forage for about three hours in the morning, rest during the heat of the day and then forage again in the afternoon before returning to their sleeping places by about 6 p.m. Baboons sleep, travel, feed and socialize together in groups of about 50 individuals, consisting of seven to eight males and approximately twice as many females plus their young.

Olive baboon, Kenya

These family units of females, juveniles and infants form the stable core of a troop, with a ranking system that elevates certain females as leaders.A troop's home range is well-defined but does not appear to have territorial borders. When they begin to mature, males leave their natal troops and move in and out of other troops. Frequent fights break out to determine dominance over access to females or meat.

The ranking of these males constantly changes during this period. Males are accepted into new troops slowly, usually by developing "friendships" with different females around the edge of a troop. Baboons are opportunistic omnivores and selective feeders. Grass makes up a large part of their diet, along with berries, seeds, pods, blossoms, leaves, roots, bark and sap from a variety of plants.

Baboons also eat insects and small quantities of meat, such as fish, shellfish, hares, birds, vervet monkeys, and small antelopes. Nearly one-half the size of adult males, females lack the male's ruff (long hairs around the neck), but otherwise they are similar in appearance. Baboons use over 30 vocalizations ranging from grunts to barks to screams. Nonvocal gestures include yawns, lip smacking and shoulder shrugging.

JBA - Kenya Safari

Kenya lesser bush baby

Lesser bush baby (Swahili: Komba )Scientific Name: (Galago senegalensis)is an omnivorous tree dweller , which ways about 5 kilogram's, have a gestation period of about 4 months and a life span of 14 years. The lesser galago, also called bush baby, is one of the smallest primates, about the size of a squirrel. Despite its size, it is exceptionally vocal, producing loud, shrill cries surprisingly like those of a human baby. It and its larger cousin, the greater galago (Galago crassicaudatus), are both arboreal and nocturnal in their habits.

Bush babies have large, round eyes for good night vision and batlike ears that enable them to track insect prey in the dark. Fast, agile and accurate, they catch some insects on the ground and snatch others from the air. As they jump through thorn bush or thick growth, they fold their delicate ears flat against their heads to protect them. The bush baby travels through the trees in literal leaps and bounds. In mid flight it tucks its arms and legs close to the body and as it lands, brings them forward, grabbing a branch with its hands and feet. The tail (longer than the length of the head and body) powers the leaps made to catch prey, escape from enemies or get around obstacles. The bush baby's other methods of locomotion are kangaroo like hops or simply walking or running on four legs. Bush babies are found throughout East Africa, as well as in woodlands and bush lands in sub-Saharan Africa.

They generally do not inhabit areas above altitudes of 6,500 feet. Bush babies prefer trees with little grass around them, probably as a precaution against wild fires. They will also shelter in man made beehives. Bush babies are usually found in small groups consisting of a mother and her offspring. They frequently mark their routes with urine. By following their own scent, they can jump onto exactly the same branches each time when they go to or from their nest. Males also urine-mark the boundaries of their territories and will sometimes become aggressive toward intruders. The young are suckled for 6 weeks and can feed themselves at 2 months.

They grow rapidly, causing the mother to walk slowly and awkwardly as she transports them. The bush baby's diet changes according to the seasons. Most of its diet is made up of what is most abundant at that time of the year, including insects, leaves and fruit. Bush babies hide during the day in order to avoid contact with predators such as eagles and large snakes. Since they are easily captured on ground they mostly stay in trees and rely on their extraordinary jumping capabilities. A prodigious leaper, the bush baby pushes off with its powerful hind legs and holds its arms up, leaping more than 20 feet.In both variety and abundance, the bush baby is one of the most successful primitive primates in Africa. They live a long time as long as 14 years in captivity.

JBA- Kenya Safari

African Elephant

African elephants (Ndovu in Swahili) (loxodonta Africana) are the species of elephants in the genus Loxodonta derived from a Greek word meaning ‘oblique-sided tooth’. African elephants are bigger than Asian Elephants with males weighs about 4,700–6,048 kg (10,000–13,330 lb) while a female weighs about 2,160–3,232 kg (4,800–7,130 lb).

Elephants have four molars; each weighs about 5 kg (11 lb) and measures about 30 cm (12 in) long. As the front pair wears down and drops out in pieces, the back pair shifts forward, and two new molars emerge in the back of the mouth. Elephants replace their teeth six times. At about 40 to 60 years of age, the elephant no longer has teeth and will likely die of starvation, a common cause of death.

African Elephant

Their tusks are teeth; the second set of incisors becomes the tusks. They are used for digging for roots and stripping the bark off trees for food, for fighting each other during mating season, and for defending themselves against predators. The tusks weigh from 23–45 kg (51–99 lb) and can be from 1.5–2.4 m (5–8 ft) long. Elephants are gregarious and form small family groups consisting of an older matriarch and several generations of relatives.

These family groups are often visited by mature males, who check for females in estrus. Several interrelated family groups may inhabit an area and know each other well. When they meet at watering holes and feeding places, they greet each other affectionately.Smell is the most highly developed sense, but sound deep growling or rumbling noises is the principle means of communication. Some researchers think that each individual has its signature growl by which it can be distinguished.

Sometimes elephants communicate with an ear-splitting blast when in danger or alarmed, causing others to form a protective circle around the younger members of the family group. Elephants make low-frequency calls, many of which, though loud, are too low for humans to hear. These sounds allow elephants to communicate with one another at distances of five or six miles.

Some African elephant facts;

African Elephant,Samburu

• The elephant is distinguished by its high level of intelligence, interesting behavior, methods of communication and complex social structure, as they share a trait also shared by humans, apes and certain dolphin species.
• Elephants seem to be fascinated with the tusks and bones of dead elephants, fondling and examining them. The myth that they carry them to secret "elephant burial grounds," however, has no factual base.
• Elephants are very social, frequently touching and caressing one another and entwining their trunks.
• Elephants demonstrate concern for members of their families they take care of weak or injured members and appear to grieve over a dead companion.
  
  JBA- 2 days kenya safari

Mombasa Safari

The Kenyan coastline is approximately 536km fronting the Indian Ocean, with some of the most beautiful beaches in the worlds. The long white sandy beaches are home to some of the most diverse marine life in the oceans, with the abundance of beautiful bright corals, dolphins, butterfly fish, sharks and turtles, complimented by the large numbers of yellow and red tuna and snappers.

Mombasa City Tour

The Kenya coast is also rich in history, dating back over one thousand years, epitomized by the Vasco da Gama pillar and Fort Jesus. It’s very diverse culture has been influenced by a mixture of Swahili, Portuguese and European cultures.The region comprises five sub regions, namely the city of Mombasa, the North Coast, the South Coast Malindi and Lamu, each with unique features and tourist attractions.

Sunrise in Mombasa

Kenyan coast welcomes an enchanting power of nature which blends in with the exotic style of the Indo-Arab buildings to offer you a mesmerizing charm, which in Swahili is called Bembeleza”. Sit in the Balinese sun loungers on your room terrace and listen to the sound of the wind rustling the palm trees, enjoy the music of the waves and let your heart dance in silence, where your dream of total relaxation has finally come true.Choose to dine on the open –air terrace, facing the sea and swimming pool or inside the air conditioned restaurants with the same view. Enjoy a cuisine of Mediterranean touch with a selection of fresh fish and seafood, pasta meat, fish, vegetarian dishes, among other indigenous cuisines.

Spice your holiday in Mombasa by visiting some of the historical places in Mombasa which includes Fort Jesus, Vasco da Gama, Mwalugange elephant sanctuary, Arabuko sokoke for birders, gede ruins, among other Mombasa safari.

JBA- Kenya Safaris

Kenya Walking Safari

Kenya Walking Safari

Birding in Kenya

5 days birding in kenya