Today we have one of Ewaso Lions’ interns, Lauren Ross, write about her experiences in Samburu. Lauren is working on the Warrior Watch data and will be with us for 4 weeks. You will hear more from her over the next month. Enjoy Lauren’s blog!
Jambo, Sopa and Hello from Westgate Community Conservancy! I’m Lauren Ross, a Biologist from Anaheim who’s taking a break from working in sunny Southern California to enjoy even sunnier Northern Kenya. I’m here following a dream to help conserve a piece of Africa while enjoying her beauty and splendor in a proactive way. It is my first time to this part of the world and my goal is to first help Shivani with her research, data collection and analysis, and then practice my photography with some of the best models a wildlife photographer could ask for!
When I packed my bags for the grueling flight out here I thought I was prepared, but quickly found out you can’t compare TV programmes on Animal Planet, National Geographic articles or countless daydreams to the real Kenyan Bush…up close and personal. On the day I arrived, my first sunset drive provided the quintessential African safari lesson: always expect the unexpected. As we drove past some thick Acacia trees and came around a bend in the road, the surprisingly silent yet enormous bull elephant became startled and spread his ears wide as he straightened himself, standing ready for our vehicle’s approach. Although nervous he didn’t charge, and I got my first close look at one of the reasons people fall in love with this wild paradise. It was an eye opening experience I’ll never forget, and the beginning of what I hope to be a long-lasting relationship with a place full of wildness and adventure around every corner.
With the Ewaso Lions team in Samburu
