Animal Crossing

Hi!  Animal Crossing is totally a game, right?  It's also what happens whenever you drive anywhere here.  We usually don't stop, so I can never get any pictures, but I got a few this week. 

Elephant crossing the road on the way into Nanyuki.
(There were a whole bunch of other elephants just to the left out of view of this picture, including some adorable little ones)

Giraffes crossing behind us during the game drive on Saturday

This was another busy field week.  Monday and Tuesday, we finished the last Barleria treatment.  Tuesday afternoon and Wednesday, we worked on some termite mound stuff for Rob.  We couldn't do the next stuff we needed to do until we had envelopes, so Tyler and I went into Nanyuki on Thursday morning and then we were back in the field in the afternoon.  We're collecting leaves (from a few Acacia species, three Barleria species, and Solanum plants) and fruits (just from the Solanum) to be sent to a lab and analyzed.  That also kept us busy on Friday and Saturday morning.  The best thing about going out into the field on Saturday was that Alex was finally able to come out with us (she's wanted to for a while, but our schedules haven't worked out together yet).  So she got to experience the wonderful spines of Barleria for herself, and the fact that pretty much everything out in the field is trying to hurt you (with its spines, or thorns, or leaves...).  

Saturday afternoon was busy as well.  Jackson took us for a game drive (the last game drive for most people in the car).  We saw buffaloes, jackals and hyenas (with cubs!) all up close, which was awesome.  There were some young buffalo with the group that we saw, which meant that the males were not at all happy that we were there.  I've been told that buffaloes are the most dangerous animal you can encounter out here.  Which was interesting knowledge to have as Jackson kept driving closer and closer to the clearly agitated animals so that we could get a better look at the babies.  But we were totally fine, and it was really cool to be that close up in the safety of the car.  

He kind of looks like he has a mustache on top of his head, doesn't he? 

Jackal!

Spotted hyenas.  Such a cute little one.

We also saw a really cool huge bird, which we later had help identifying as a bateleur.  The adult is on the left, and a juvenile is on the right. 

Shake shake shake!

There was one point during the game drive that felt (especially) unreal.  There were plains zebras to the right, and Grevy's zebras to the left.  We were surrounded by giraffes, and there were impala off in the distance.  After we drove for another minute or so, we came across some more buffaloes and elephants.  

Notice the birds hanging out on the middle giraffe's neck

Plains zebras

 We also saw a baby hare, which was really cute.  Jackson asked if he could catch it, to which Alex replied, "Can you?"  While we were busy taking a selfie in the car, Jackson went off and did indeed catch it.  I didn't quite believe that he'd be able to.  He brought it to the car so we could see it closer for a few minutes, and then let it go.

 We ended our game drive by going to a sundowner at Eagle Scout Point, which we had some trouble finding.  But it was worth it when we got there.  It was a bunch of rocks that overlooked the savanna and the river, and you could see the ranch house below you.  It was beautiful.  As it was their last night here, Alex and Kathy and I laid out by the dining hall last night and just watched the stars for a while.  You can see so many more stars here than at home, and you can see the Milky Way really clearly.  We also saw several shooting stars.  It was incredible.

Ten people, including Alex, Kathy, Anchal and Annelies (all of whom have been staying at the center) headed home today.  Which was very sad.  But I'll see everyone again in the fall.  Which is happy :)

I believe that we'll be changing it up a little this week, and likely heading out into the field with Renata to help her with her work.  So we'll see. Hope everything's going well at home!

Kathy, me and Alex

The group