Spotted Hyenas
It’s my first view of Spotted Hyenas.
What strange animals. They have such short back legs and long front legs.
I’m sure we’ll get much closer views in better light in the next few days, but it’s a thrill to see them for the first time.
Their heads are wide and flat with a broad muzzle. Their feet are broad and flat and their tails are cute pom-poms.
Spotted Hyenas have complex societies, with social rank forming a dominance hierarchy, and using coalitions with allies rather than strength or violence.
I think we could learn a lot from them.
More adventures in Kenya
The double-jointed ankles of the African Harrier Hawk It's the tiny head which first strikes me; and then the bare face with the orange skin. It's an African… read more
Zebras at sunset and a vision of heaven My guide, Johnson, here at Governors' Camp in the Masai Mara, has been brilliant. He's responded to my every wish,… read more
The Village Weaver As we head back to camp, I can see birds bathing in the pools of water left by the ruts… read more
Go on, bat those eyelashes at me I love how playful and how brown and fluffy the young Zebras are here in the Masai Mara. They're still… read more
Lion’s mane Isn't this big male Lion's mane fabulous? Lionesses prefer male Lions which have a dark bushy main. It's a sign… read more
Cheetahs in the Masai Mara Gladys is driving us towards a pair of Cheetahs. "Oh yes! There". We're an excited group of four. A pair… read more
Black-Backed Jackals Those cunning tricksters, the Black-Backed Jackals are back. Their ears are so pointy, and so are their noses. What a… read more
Pied Kingfisher This is my first view of a Pied Kingfisher. They are massive compared with the Common Kingfishers we see in… read more
Topi There's a fast antelope called a Topi here. They often like to stand on hillocks, looking like sentinels. The only… read more
African Wattled Plover No sweat. That's the problem with being a bird. Humans have sweat gland which act to produce water which cools… read more
Plunge pools, Superb Starlings and sundowners Here at Mara Ngenche Safari Camp the luxury is embarrassing. A beautiful two-room tent with outside shower and private plunge… read more
Close to Lionesses I've already had the experience of a male Lion getting uncomfortably close to me on this safari. This time it's… read more