AFTER MANY YEARS OF ABSENCE, LIONS ARE BACK AT LAKE BOGORIA NATIONAL RESERVE

WHILE PHOTOGRAPHING FLAMINGOS EARLY IN THE MORNING AT THE FAMOUS HOT SPRINGS OF LAKE BOGORIA, WE CAME ACROSS OF THE UNMISTAKABLE FRESH PRINTS OF TWO LIONS.

HIDING IN THE BUSH FROM THE CROWD OF LOCAL TURIST DURING THE DAY, THEY ARE CERTAIN ROAMING THE SHORE AT NIGHT.

GOOD NEWS ABOUT THE CHICK. I MET HIM FLYING LOW ON THE GRASS PLAIN, NOT FAR AWAY FROM THE NEST SITE. HE IS LOOKING STRONG AND POWERFULL.  BEAUTIFUL IN HIS WHITE PLUMAGE.

FOR ME A VERY EMOTIONAL ENCOUNTER.

A MAGNIFICENT ANNULAR SOLAR ECLIPSE WAS THIS MORNING VISIBLE AT 8,30 AM.

THE SKY OF NAIROBI WAS CLOUDY, BUT SUDDENLY IT CLEARED, MAKING US THIS BEAUTIFUL PRESENT.

LESS THEN A MOUNT AFTER THE EXCEPTIONAL ENCOUNTER IN BOGORIA, WE MET A LARGE PACK OF WILD DOGS IN TSAVO WEST. VERY QUIET AND CONFIDENT, THEY SHARED THE EARLY MORNING HOURS WITH US.  THE BEST WAY TO START THE NEW YEAR.

MORE IMAGES IN THE PHOTOGALLERY: TSAVO WEST/NDAWE ESCARPMENT (CLICK HERE )

THANKS TO THIS PICTURE TAKEN BY A FRIEND OF MINE IMRAN RATTANSI TWO DAYS AGO, WE CAN SEE THAT THE CHICK IS SUCCESFULLY HUNTING BY HIMSELF.  GREAT SIGN OF INDEPENDENCE FROM HIS PARENTS.

THE UNASPECTED!

Early in the morning we were pleased by the company of a couple of Wild Dogs, very rarely seen before in this area. They were confident and unscared by us, so we followed them along the shore of the lake untill they climbed the hills, silently disappearing in the bush.

MORE PICTURES IN THE PHOTOGALLERY ” BARINGO & BOGORIA”. ( CLICK HERE )

THE SAME IMAGE OF THE NEW BORN ELEPHANT, PRIZED AT THE ITALIAN CHAMPIONSHIP LESS THAN A MOUNTH AGO, IS NOW BEEN INCLUDED IN THE PRESTIGIOUS BBC WILDLIFE CALENDAR 2010.

NOT AN EASY LIFE FOR THE CHICK. The green monkey are costantly harassing him. They know that very soon he will become a deadly enemy.

MORE AND MORE CONFIDENT ON HIS LONG AND POWERFUL WINGS, HE IS NOW CONTINOUSLY FLYING FROM ONE TREE TO ANOTHER, BUT NEVER TOO FAR FROM THE NEST.