Capturing the Moment

  Rare encounter with a critically endangered black rhino. A lone baobob tree looks eerily out of place, while the typical red soil and mountain spines of Tsavo round out the scene. Tsavo National Park, located in southeastern Kenya, is a sprawling expanse of wilderness that beckons both nature enthusiasts and wildlife aficionados alike. Split into two sections, Tsavo East and Tsavo West, this national park is one of the largest in Kenya, covering an impressive 22,000 square kilometers. The park is renowned for its diverse landscapes, ranging from open plains and savannahs to dense woodlands and riverine ecosystems. The Athi and Tsavo rivers traverse the park, adding a vital water source that sustains the rich biodiversity within. It is always important to me to try and show as much diversity in landscapes and ecosystems as I can during my safaris. Not only does this give the guests a more complete understanding of the destinations, but it provides opportunities to find different a...

After two nights in East Tsavo National Park we packed up and drove for about an hour to the entrance of West Tsavo National Park. The terrain was almost immediately different, even though we were very close geographically. We entered near a riverine oasis with massive, thick palms that reminded me of the oasis in the Middle East. Dik diks, a tiny antelope peered out from behind the shrubs, and a lone palm nut vulture took off from the tree tops. We started climbing higher and higher until we made it through a mountain pass, only to find a massive hidden valley on the other side. This is where are lodge is and where many of the animals can be found here in Tsavo West.  The safari team's favorite table overlooking the waterhole    We stayed at the Serena Kilaguni Lodge. It has one of my favorite views from any lodge, looking out over the African plains towards distant hills. In the middle of the view is a very active waterhole. Here we saw herds of buffalo, elephant, and z...