Drought Ordeal In Amboseli National Park

Amboseli National Park is no doubt one of the best  places in Africa to view elephants in large numbers -and all under the watchful eye of the Majestic, snow-capped Mount Kilimanjaro. It is the highest mountain in Africa which dominates the landscape of the East Africa savannah.Mt.Kilimanjaro has lofty, towering summits that consist of three extinct volcanoes: Kibo 19,340 feet(5,895 metres), Mawezi 16,896 feet(5,149 metres), and Shira 13,000feet (3,962 metres).

In 2009, the National Park endured what the local Maasai elders described as ‘the most severe drought since 1961'- a truly devastating year when they lost nearly all their cattle. For about 3 years and almost none in the year 2009, the rain gods finally answered the prayers of millions and November brought the arrival of heavy and widespread rain to soak the parched plains of Amboseli. This was most welcome since the Park was bouncing back to its former glory, and it under went a magical transformation. This however, is no longer the position since the rainfall this year has been poor and has seen the elep.........

LARGE HERDS

Well known for its large elephant herds, Amboseli has lost hundreds of calves and matriarchs during the devastating drought, leaving the surviving animals distraught and confused. Exacerbating the situation further, some older males also died, not from drought, but at the hands of poachers killing them for their tusks.

The average life expectancy of an elephant is 50 to 60 years; but it is the younger elephants that are most affected by the shortage of rain. Young calves die because the mothers do not have enough milk, while the older, weaned infants are unable to find enough vegetation to sustain them.........

CASUALTIES

Elephants are not the only victims caused by lack of rainfall. The knock-on effects lead to casualties among all wildlife of Amboseli and other Parks and their populations of Zebras, Wildebeests, Buffalo, Lion and Hippo etc are greatly diminished.

The poor rainfall has also impacted negatively on the farming community. Herders have lost up to 80 per cent of their livestock and crop production is minimal.

Fortunately, when the drought breaks in Africa, it does so in full measure and it is our hope that the expected short rains will mitigate the situation. Ironically, some areas and roads in the parks are usually hit by floods when rain falls. Amboseli is particularly susceptible to flooding because of its dry soda lake beds, which absorb little water.

Overall, the rains bring green and flourishing vegetation to   the parks and in particular to Amboseli and the fractured ecosystem gradually begin to recover. To help restore the parks, a large animal relocation project is always under way and wildlife rangers gradually restock the areas.

ACTIVITIES

Major activities available in the Amboseli park include game drives, nature walks, bush dinners and guest lectures. One can also visit nature rooms within the camps and lodges which have wildlife information. Maasai dancers entertain in the evenings.

AMBOSELI NATIONAL PARK-FACT FILE

• Altitude: 1,200 to 1,400 metres
• Area: 392 sq km
• Elephant population: about 900
• Opened: April 1948
• Distance from Nairobi:260 km
• In the foothills of Mount Kilimanjaro, Africa's highest peak