SOLIO – rhinos in the morning

Sunday – Today is a visit to Solio Ranch – another area within a short distance of Rhino Watch where we are staying.  After another scrumptious breakfast it is time to gather cameras, batteries, water, etc, etc, etc and take off in our jeep.

The Solio Reserve is internationally recognised as the most successful private rhinoceros breeding reserve in Kenya and we are told that sightings of up to 40 rhinos at a time are not uncommon – I can hardly wait – I am wearing my lucky elephant so it is for sure we will see them.

The weather is wonderful with clear blue skies and the promise of warm temperatures and as we enter the park we are given a rousing welcome by a tawny eagle.

He is just sitting in a tree surveying his surrounds and wondering what is on the menu today. Isn’t he magnificent?  When you think of Africa you think of animals – but now I shall think of all the wonderful birds as well.  Maybe Natgeo should do more documentaries on the birds?  I think so and I am available to help out where needed!

After our short stop with Mr Feathers we come across some Defassa Waterbuck.  The family is enjoying the early morning shade and seem to be a bit on the touchy side although they are not good tasting so maybe it is us who is giving them the jitters especially as they have little ones.  Don’t you just want to go over and pat them?

A large antelope with a long, course, shaggy coat, this species is related to the common waterbuck – with the difference being the pattern on their rumps.

Around the corner we come to a sudden stop as there is a mother white rhino and her youngster.  She is also very wary and keeps one eye on us and the other on the baby.

This area seems to be a great place for families.  There is water and plenty of cover and they seem to be able to relax – that is until we come lumbering along.  After we have enough (?) photos it is time for us to move along and leave them in peace.

But just as we get a move on we spy some black faced ververt monkeys.  They are just the cutest things, just sitting in a dead tree enjoying the sun.

They are a common species and like to inhabit woodlands and areas of bush and scrub.  These monkeys have a well developed system of both visual and vocal communication but they do not seem to be able to find their voice with us lurking with cameras poised.

As we leave the wooded areas we find ourselves on a wide open space that seems to go on forever.  The sun is not in the best position for photos but that doesn’t stop me from snapping away at every opportunity.

These are black rhino – a relic of prehistoric times.  This rhino has what is called a prehensile upper lip and a narrow mouth – unlike the white that has a very wide mouth – see photos from Ol Pejeta.  The black rhino is also known for its bad temperament so we are all keeping our eyes out for sudden charges!

The lighting is really bad and no matter what we seem to do, I cannot get it right.  I will just have to click away and do some work in Lightroom.  There are loads of rhino here – and on closer examination there are plenty of white rhino so they seem to mix OK without too much huffing.

There are so many roaming around – and where we are parked, the sun is still not doing us any favours so we decide to move on after being assured that we will have plenty of opportunities for more rhino happy snaps.

A few bumps further down the track and always on the lookout, we come across my favourite animal – Cape Buffalo. It was pretty hard to miss him and didn’t take too much spotting.

I am not too sure why they are my favourite, maybe it’s their cute faces and beautiful eyes or their supreme strength, anyway there you go.  Hopefully we will get to see more of my beauties later on.

Next stop is another health and beauty spa.  Today it is open to everyone from little birds to dirty big buffalo and rhino.  There is not too much mud here but they still seem to enjoy the water.  The rhino just laze around the edges of the pool in the hot sun.  All they need is a tall, cool drink and sunglasses!

To just stand in the jeep and watch them is remarkable.  No words can explain how to tell you how I felt and no amount of photos will give you the feeling of being there.

The photo above left is another I have chosen for my Big 5 print.  To tell the truth it was Jess who brought my eye to the reflection and how to frame it.

So much to remember – but I am pleased with the result.

Our next photographic stop is with some black rhinos – –

They look as if they are deciding whether or not to come and have a closer look at us – so many flies hovering around them I don’t know how they cope with it.

There are not many trees around here so it is surprising to come across this one even though it is pint sized – and even more surprising – a giraffe trying to hide from our prying lenses!

Zoom in and have a close look at the thorns on that bugger.

We are now on our way back home – the heat has become quite tragic so we will recover back at Rhino Watch for a few hours and then head out again this afternoon for some more exciting adventures. But before we get back to the exits – you just never know what will turn up!

A herd of Beisa Oryx cross our path and then turn to look at us before the usual bum shots as they continue on their way.  There are about 20 in the group and they stand just over a metre at the shoulder and weigh 80kg.

These clever things are able to store water by raising their body temperatures so as to avoid perspiration.  They gather in herds of five to 40 animals, often with females moving at the front and a large male guarding from the rear.

Look at those horns – I sure wouldn’t want to be on the receiving end!

Getting closer to the gate and some more friendly souls cross our path – fist up one happy giraffe who is obviously on the lookout for a feed of yummy thorny bushes.

Competition time – fill in the gap – of course you all know that this is a __________ giraffe.  Tic, tic, tic, tic – forgotten already? It is a Reticulated Giraffe.  You miss out on the all expenses paid trip to Kenya.

He stops in the middle of the road and just looks at us – obviously he is no hurry to go anywhere and keeps smiling and chewing.

Maybe we should tell him that we would like some lunch as well and could he please get off the road!  Then again he is bigger than us and it is his home so we wait and snap and wait some more.

Our second happy snap time is a mother black rhino and her calf.  They just stare at us with a look on their faces of “shall we charge and give these lousy tourists some excitement? Nope, too hot – you can just take our photo but make sure it is a good one’.  The sun overhead is still in a bad spot but never mind I am happy.

All these rhino seem to have marks on the bodies that look like injuries and of course millions of flies hover above and around.

This is great for us as we do not have to experience the swarms but not too good for the rhino.

OK – morning bum shot time.  We have seen rhino bums and waterbuck bums and giraffe bums but the prize goes to the Oryx because you get to see those magnificent horns again!

Highlight of the morning – all those rhino!