Ewaso Lions & Sasaab LodgeTake Warriors on Safari, adding another dimension to KKOS

November 25th 2010: Shivani Bhalla of Ewaso Lions, our Northern Kenya coordinator for KKOS, writes another page in helping local young men as well as kids to participate in wildlife education and conservation

Report by Shivani Bhalla of Ewaso Lions - http://www.ewasolions.org/

"Our warriors from the Warrior Watch programme have now been actively engaged in wildlife conservation since January. They are all doing really well and excited by their roles in conservation. As an incentive and also an evaluation of their wildlife knowledge to date, I arranged a day in Samburu National Reserve for the warriors. This would not have been possible without the generous support of Sasaab Lodge in Westgate Conservancy who lent us their vehicle and guide David for the day."

"The warriors all showed up in camp by 6 am and we all set off into the park. The warriors were equipped with binoculars and digital cameras thanks to our Kenyan Kids on Safari programme."

"We had a great day. Moses, the tourism warden for Samburu, gave them all a talk on the reserve, its importance and the wildlife in the area. We then set off on our game drive and saw tons of game; giraffe, kudu, Grevy’s zebra and much more. The warriors were so excited by everything and practiced the names of the animals in English and Swahili."

"We had an incredible elephant sighting with 2 resident families crossing the river right in front of us. The warriors said this was the first time they had been so close to elephants without the elephants charging at them or them running away. Most of them were desperate to see lions too. How could we not? With 7 Samburu warriors in the car, it would be hard not to find them. We found some tracks and sure enough about 10 minutes later, came across 6 lions."

                                                     Getting ready for the safari.

 



Lpuresi excited to see a greater kudu.

Lemeen was thrilled with the KKOS camera and took many photos of friends and wildlife.

 













Yesalai and Reria photograph and watch giraffe with KKOS cameras and binoculars.

Lentiyo watching elephants cross the Ewaso Nyiro.

 "This was the first time most of the warriors had been into Samburu National Reserve on a game drive, taking photos  with KKOS cameras and enjoying their experience as many tourists from around the world come to do.  We also dropped in at Save the Elephants where David, the head researcher, gave them a talk on elephants and the importance of their conservation."
"It was a super day. After a goat feast back at the Ewaso Lions Camp in Westgate, the warriors thrilled with their experience, wandered back slowly to their villages, excited by the day’s adventures and wildlife sightings. We hope to have many more warrior safaris in the reserves in the future."

"A special thanks to Paul Funston for accompanying us on this trip and taking some great photos, Sasaab Lodge, and Todd Cromwell from the Kenyan Kids on Safari programme for the donation of camera and binoculars."