Surprised by Hope Blog: nature and wildlife

Showing posts with label nature and wildlife. Show all posts

Tuesday, January 8, 2019

Mount Kilimanjaro

On my recent trip to Amboseli National Park in Kenya, I was blessed by the breathtaking view of this mountain. She stood before us in all her glory and majesty, peeking through the clouds that surrounded her. I stood in awe at the sheer beauty and splendor of God’s masterpiece.

Because my adventures included stunning views of Mount Kilimanjaro, I decided to do a little research about her and share some of what I found with you.

Mount Kilimanjaro is located in the northern portion of Tanzania in East Africa near the border of Kenya, not far south of the equator within the Kilimanjaro National Park.
Kilimanjaro is the tallest freestanding mountain (not part of a mountain range) in the world and rises 4,877 meters (16,000 feet) above the surrounding plains. It is made up of three volcanic cones and is itself a dormant volcanic mountain last erupting 200 years ago.
Approximately 35,000 people attempt climbing Kilimanjaro each year, with only about two thirds being successful. It is estimated that 3 to 7 people die trying to climb Kilimanjaro each year. The causes vary from altitude related sickness, to accidental falls, to hypothermia.
Mount Kilimanjaro boasts nearly every kind of ecological system: cultivated land, rain forest, heath, moorland, alpine desert, and an arctic summit.
Africa’s tallest tree was discovered on Mount Kilimanjaro in 2016 measuring an astounding 267 feet in height. It is suspected the tree could be up to 600 years old!

What a blessing to witness God's creation up close.

Guest blog writer: Cindy Faber

Boabob--Africa's Tree of Life

Another post from guest author, Cindy Faber.

The majestic baobab tree is an icon of the African continent and lies at the heart of traditional African folklore. Baobab trees grow in some of the driest, remotest and poorest parts of rural Africa. There is no such thing as a baobab plantation; every tree is community or family owned and wild-harvested.

They can live for up to 5,000 years and can grow to a huge 50 meters (approximately 164ft.) in circumference and the trunk can hold up to 4500 liters (approximately 1188 gallons) of fresh water, which is enough for 100 showers or 10,000 glasses of water.

The baobab is an intrinsic part of the culture for many African nations. Legend has it that a mighty god had a baobab within his gardens in paradise. He grew annoyed with the baobab arrogantly displaying its beautiful foliage and flung it from paradise to the earth below. It landed upside down, with its roots jutting into the sky and its beautiful foliage buried beneath the earth. This taught the tree and those who witnessed it humility, and this is why it’s also known as the upside down tree.[i]

While many people know of the baobab tree, not many people know that it has a fruit. Baobab is the only fruit in the world that dries naturally on its branch. Instead of dropping and spoiling, it stays on the branch and bakes in the sun for 6 months - transforming its green velvety coating into a hard coconut-like shell.

[i] https://www.treeaid.org.uk/baobab-tree-life/?gclid=Cj0KCQiA05zhBRCMARIsACKDWjd29m0_EsZ1r7Oop5IZKtG6QmHTzrOPwAaDLft--3vqfLXYKjKkv8caAjHlEALw_wcB

Bugs and Pests of 2017

I hesitate to post now, lest there be more between now and 2018. But here is a collection made just for you. Welcome to coast.

This green mamba slithered out from the branches of
the tree in front of my house. Where he went after that
nobody knows.

Something supped on me in about 20 places just like this.

One of about 20 frogs found in my bathtub throughout the year.

All kind of bugs, many of which I killed before I took a picture.

A giant slug. How on earth do these things get inside.

This is an ant straw. Inside are thousands of little eggs.

Perhaps the most disgusting. The ants found a space under a food box,
another time under the printer (which they ate up and no longer works),
yet another under a duffel bag, and lastly under a storage box.
Four times this year. Just beyond YUK! This is what boys were made for, I'm quite sure.

He was my welcoming party. How he got into the fridge, I'll never know.

Giraffe Center and Elephant Orphanage

Guest blog writer, Cindy Faber, shares about her experience at the Giraffe Center and Elephant Orphanage in Karen, Kenya.

One of my favorite animals is the Giraffe. Perhaps it's because they are so tall and graceful, yet awkward. Whatever the reason, I'm totally in love with them. Especially after visiting the Giraffe Center in Nairobi where we had the chance to get up close and personal with Eddie and a couple others.

Eddie is the Alpha male Rothschild giraffe we got to feed while at the Center. Unlike the female, Daisy, he was gentle and patient. Daisy on the other hand, was a bit of a brat. Don't turn your back to her or you will get a head-butt from her. She only wants the food you have, not your affection.

The Rothschild species are considered one of the tallest giraffes. They can be 20 feet in height and can weight about 2,500 pounds. They are also one of the most endangered with only a few hundred left in the wild. All of those living in the wild are in protected areas in Kenya and Uganda.

Besides being an educational center, the Giraffe Center acts as a breeding program for the Rothschild giraffe with the goal of enlarging the population of wild giraffe in Kenya.

Elephant Orphanage

My other favorite animal is the Elephant. I love that they are family oriented. They live in family groups led by the matriarch (the oldest female). Touch is extremely important to elephants. Young calves and mothers will often be seen touching one another – expressions of reassurance and fondness and there appears to be a very real expression of affection – even love.

The Orphans’ Project exists to offer hope for the future of Kenya’s threatened elephant populations as they struggle against the threat of poaching for their ivory, and the loss of habitat due to human conflict, deforestation and drought.

For more information on the Elephant Orphanage, please visit http://www.sheldrickwildlifetrust.org/index.asp.

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Nairobi National Park

Our morning at Nairobi National Park was cool and beautiful. What an honor to experience such a place filled with wild animals with the bustling Nairobi city around all sides.

Rachel & Chrystina's Nile Adventure

Apparently we are "The Rest of the World"

A kiss for Gandhi

A view of the actual source, where Lake Victoria enters the Nile River

Rachel & Chrystina's Island Adventure

I must caption this photo. The first time we prepared to board the small boat,
the coxswain swept Rachel up so she didn't have to get her feet wet.
She quickly looked at me, perhaps wondering if she was going to be dunked.
Wish I'da had my camera out the first time. So cute. The guy was very happy
to put the girls in the boat but for me they just waited. They're strong,
but not that strong.