A squirrel comes to dinner
The combined area of Tsavo East and West (see next entry) makes up the largest national park in Kenya. Located midway between Mombasa and Nairobi, Tsavo West was once covered in thick woodlands but was transformed to an area of open grass and bush by the large heards of Elephants which used to inhabit the park. With the reduction of the Elephant herds in more recent years the area is now reverting back to scrub woodlands. More than sixty major mammal species inhabit the park and the birdlife is varied and abundant.
During the journey to the park there seemed to be a Fiscal Shrike perched on every other bush and telegraph pole by the side of the road. I also spotted a Pale Chanting Goshawk, many Black Kites and a single Turaco from the mini-bus.
The first non-feathered creature we saw on entering the park was a bright green Chameleon. It was crossing the dirt road in front of the bus with a curious rocking gait which made it look as if it couldn't make up it's mind about whether it was going forwards or backwards. A little further on we saw a Puff Adder slithering across the road.
We stayed at Ngulia lodge where we saw Superb Starlings, White-necked Ravens, Rock Hyrax, many different species of lizards (including Red-headed Agama) and two Egyptian Geese at the water-hole. There was a squirrel in the restaurant and we watched a Mongoose drinking from a small pool of water in the top of a rock. I also watched an Augur Buzzard hovering just like a Kestrel outside our room. It spotted something, dropped into the long grass and flew off with a small rodent in it's talons.
It was dark when we returned to our room after an afternnon game drive. We heard a loud rustling in the grass outside and looked out from the balcony to see a large herd of water buffalo grazing in the darkness. Other animals seen from the room during our stay at the lodge included Elephants, Impala, Zebra, Giraffe, Marabou Stork, Jackal and Waterbuck.
While eating dinner later, a Hyena approached the lodge and a young Elephant came to the water-hole to drink.
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