The light was beginning to fade. The trail weaved around small trees, through several dips, and into a grassy patch. This was our first afternoon in the wilds of Madagascar. That morning, we’d driven from Antananarivo into the eastern mountains. The forest smelled dry, and leaves crunched with each footstep, even though this was a … Read more
Madagascar is often called the eighth continent, underscoring its unique ecology and geography. Located approximately 250 miles off the east coast of Africa, the island is the fourth largest in the world. It boasts a landmass only somewhat less than the combined area of California and Oregon. The landscape is diverse, with high mountains rising … Read more
The bird looked over its shoulder and back at me. His black eye sent an arrow right into my chest, and I shivered. It was as if he was checking me out, assessing whether he could take me or how much of a fight I might put up. The wind twisted his tail back and … Read more
“Please find me a good seat, someplace where I can sit in the sun and watch the world go by. My happiness will soar.” We spotted this young male Olive Baboon crotched down, with its back to a thick trunk. He gazed out across the bush. One hand gripped the broken branch, and his eyes … Read more
Turacos live in equatorial Africa, and 23 living species occur in this family. Turacos are the only bird family found in the order Musophagidae. In graduate school, we studied all the orders (41) and many birds’ families, trying to build a broad ornithological knowledge in our education. Turacos are intensely colored, and their feathers contain … Read more
The Nubian giraffe is a subspecies of the northern giraffe and is the most endangered subspecies of this mammal. It is found in Uganda and Kenya. Habitat loss has decreased populations, and this subspecies, because of its unique coat, was highly prized by zoos. We hoped to see some in Lake Mburo National Park, where … Read more
Our problem was our fascination with everything from butterflies to elephants. It slowed us down everywhere as one or another of us would spot something to investigate. Our guide, Nelson, was a fantastic person. His knowledge is vast, his patience tremendous, and his ability to show us things impressive. He knew all the places to … Read more
The word “Olemut” came as a whisper from the front, like that uncontrolled response one has to the unexpected, so I whipped around instantly, for Robinson, our guide, had been spotting things all morning, and no doubt something lurked in the bush. He had brought us through the gates into Nairobi National Park four hours ago, … Read more
Three park rangers stood at the Y in the road, and our Landcruiser coasted to a stop. Our guide, Robinson, began talking with them in Swahili. The words were musical, crisp, and delightful to hear. I understood nothing. He handed them some papers, and I worried that something might be wrong. The one ranger stepped … Read more
A dark bullet-like object shot across the road, it hesitated, and then dropped into the wildflowers. On the other side of some acacias, Yellow-necked Francolins were giving their “ko-waarrk” calls; loud, raucous, chicken-like. The songs of longclaws drifted from some grasslands in the distance, and a light wind rustled the acacia leaves. The clouds had filtered the … Read more