Showing 36 to 40 of 106 blog articles.
AESHLovell

‘The Tribe Endangered’ No. 1. George 

Where’s George today?

Elder statesman of the tribe

Perhaps its long-lived Chief

George we’ve already introduced

In another verse, but here he is again

Unknowingly enjoying his fame

He lives his life on a beach

An Atoll called Cousins

At a giant tortoise pace 

Aldabra Giant Tortoise

Aldabrachelys Gigantea

Lumbering around

In his mobile helmet home

OK, because that’s what he is

And that’s what giant tortoises do

The same driving rules as us all

Hunger and passing on genes

Links in an unbroken chain

But his cousins had theirs broken

Eaten out of house and home

By historically hungry sailors 

Only Aldabras remain, like George

But what’s in a name ?

A being worthy of living a life

Left to his own devices

Doing what giant tortoises do

Looking at the sea and sky

Searching for today’s meal

Or a rather attractive slow-walking rock

Hiding away when it gets too hot

More than a hunk of a ‘living rock’

Who likes to break things*

Plodding around for longer than us

Living more than a hundred years

Some even two or longer

That’s George’s life

On his island paradise

His home long before they were known

As the Seychelles

(Now open again)

George and his kind

Are not strictly endangered

Just limited in numbers and range

George is safe when tourists are around

Contributing to upkeeping his home

On YouTube amusing some of them 

Going into battle with a rival table

Or a pretender barbecue

Upstart, to be upturned

Or was that just an amorous advance?

Either way, short-sighted at a glance

Visiting his island keeps him in home

He carries his own house

Then visitation dried up interminably

That story can’t be told in one line

Just now begins the trickle back

Only two threats now are known

Drip feeding of existential funding

Or any change to his home

Just this little change of climate thing

That threaten his shores, not alone

George may well outlive us

But right now he needs help directly

Your money is your proxy 

Keeping the conservation going

Until you can greet him personally

It’s up to the rest of us in our homes

To ensure his home remains

An Atoll

Above the sea

For George to keep doing his thing

Master and Commander of his islandship

Defender of the realm of living rocks

Legend in his Aldabran mind

So remember to mind your table!

 

A.E.(Anthony) Lovell

  4 years ago
Five Shooter



Five
Like fingers 
Each one different 
Distinct in purpose 
To hold, close your hand
Which one would you choose to lose
One less important than the other?
Big Five
Like fingers
All different, come together
Hold on for dear life
Which one would we choose to lose
One less important than the other?
Old Five
Like fingers
Hold a gun, one for a trigger
Squeeze off a round
One comes down
Which one did they choose to waste
One more prized than the other?
New Five
New hand dealt
Fingers come together
To hold a camera
One finger for a different trigger
To shoot yes, only to capture
No need to choose, shoot them all
Five shooter
All prized equally
Shoot as many times as you like
No harm will be done to any one
Finally a hand, a steady hand
Five fingers to capture the big five
Without making them captive
Only their powerful images
Capturing the brilliant truth 
The sentience of their existence
Their majesty in the wild
Their right to live and roam
In their home
Untouched plains and jungles
Mountains and ice flows
That’s the prize, the trophy shot
The New Big Five
Alive

Five Fingers - full hand
Point them out
One by one...follow the series

Lion - Index: Big cat royalty, Leo points the way...

Elephant - Middle: Tallest Pachyderm, largest animal who walks, centre hold...

Tiger - Third: Largest Panthera, star with stripes, lock-in ...

Polar Bear - Little: (Not that little!) Ursus of the sea, mighty white clamp...

Gorilla - Thumb: Misty mountain Primate, opposable grasp

Lion will lead the way...next

Feature photo from www.newbig5.com
Visit the site for some wonderful photos and thoughts.

A. E. Lovell
ae4e.me/blog





  4 years ago
The Fellowship of the Sentients



Part 1. It's Personal

I shed a tear
At the sight of this pic
Two in fact
The love of my life beside me 
Shared it too
What was the anatomy 
Of this emotive response?
One tear was for the sentient
Reaching out the hand of help
To a fellow
The fellowship of the sentients
The other eye's tear
The shame I feel for these noble beings
From human ignoble acts

Tear one returns
What a beautiful thing
This selfless act, recognisable to humans
This concern enacted, instinctive
We do this too
We see a fellow in some kind of peril
We don't stand back, come forward
Hands outstretched, lending
Pull them back in, rescue as needed
We do it compelled by connection
Ties of empathy bound into a rope
Pull them out of danger
Retrieve them from harm's way
Indeed, not just for other humans
We don't withhold from animals either
When imperilled 
So many videos attest
Humans as #therescuers 
A good fit

Tear two returns
The cloud descends, enshrouds
Obscures, hides the truth
A bad history of harm
Killing and exploitation
Orangutans in their own home
Still relatively minor skirmishes
Compared to the clear-felling for oil
The oil of the Palm, most effective threat
Evicting them from their home forests
And if they then encroach back, conflict
How many helping hands diminished
Turned instead into hands reaching out
For help, for release from a cage
From a chain around the neck
Imprisoned ‘pet’, even if illegal
From this existential crisis
This is the critical juncture
Instead extend our hands to help
Be a part of #therescuers
Just in time to return the favour

Which is the stronger emotion
Which tear will prevail
Which is the tale
We will tell to our descendants 
Which is the favour
To her descendants
In kind returned acts

This story is in first person 
It’s personal
What can one person do
To ensure, even remotely 
The Fellowship of the Sentients
Is spread far and wide
Promulgated

Part 2. A Gesture to Remember - A Capture to Applaud 

A hand
We understand
Extended in concern
A gesture, a reaching out
A triumph
A spirit, a human-like spirit
Extended beyond our own
A tragedy, in original Greek
Indeed brought on ourselves
Perpetrated on another
For their loss and ours
Ultimately, the pice is paid by all
She watched, concerned
Saw the man in deep water, snake-infested
Though that's what we was there for
To clear these hazards
She couldn’t know
She surveyed him as he surveyed
Then, seeming stuck in the mud
She ambled into action
Sat down on the edge
Compelled, as we initially comprehend
Though some might ascribe different intent
Reached out her hand
Across the species divide
Only in our mind
Her extended hand rejected
The gulf still wild
Syrhul (he) explained, comprehensibly
For reasons of protocol
We will never know, but can surmise
Why Anil (she) stretched out her hand
To someone known, seemingly in trouble
Fate that wanted to be recorded, intervened…

A moment 
Come and gone
A memory for one or two
And one not the same
Would have been lost
But for the photographer's art
Sense of importance and timing
Light needed just right, in position
A capture
An instant
An incident 
Of such import
For all time recorded, digitised
A marvel, a wonder
A tear-jerking image, dichotomatic 
One for celebrating 
One for conscience cleansing
A memory etched
A vision stretched
For all time
A lesson, a reminder
Relegate the past 
Time to be kinder
Launch remedial action
While the two tears flow
A conscience pricked
A consciousness elevated 
A distance erased
A gulf bridged
A mind amazed
A sentience shared
A recognition
A fellowship

Photo by @Anil T. Prabhakar
From his 2020 article: ‘The Guard kept searching for snakes and cleaning the river banks, though he seemed to struggle moving his legs on the muddy floor of the river, as far as I could perceive. He kept trying to pull out his legs and move further, and suddenly the female Orangutan who quietly remained a spectator got up and moved closer and extended one of her hands towards the Guard as if she was lending assistance to get out of the mud. This might have lasted three or four minutes. I was really amazed at this unexpected, sweet gesture from the orangutan. I managed to fix my camera and capture this heartwarming, unique moment and could get four frames of the event. Unfortunately the guard declined her kind gesture and managed to move away…’ (later explained as protocol for interactions with Orangutans)


  3 years ago
Chlorocebus pygerythrus

FUN FACTS FRIDAY- VERVET MONKEY 


1. They spend almost their entire life on the trees (arboreal animal). They are proficient climbers and jumpers.


2. They are omnivores (they eat both plants and meat). Their diet is based on leaves, buds, shoots, flowers, fruit, roots, insects, eggs, grubs and small birds.


3. They usually breed from April to June. Pregnancy in females lasts 165 days and ends with one baby.


4. They communicate through sounds and body language. A raising eyebrow is meant to be a threat to others in the troop. There are also vocalizations like crying and barking to signal different information. Wanting calls are used by mothers to attract infants while chattering signals irritation or aggression. 


5. During mating season the males testicles turn bright blue, a flamboyant show to suggest their suitability as a mate.

If you want to learn more about this animal,Contact Godfreytheguide for more information. 

WhatsApp/ call - +256773127086

  3 years ago
GORILLA TRACKING UGANDA VS RWANDA

So you want to go mountain gorilla trekking ! It’s an awesome idea! We’ve been, and we can tell you that it’s definitely, absolutely, positively worth it. It's one of Our favorite things to do in Uganda . Standing just a few feet from these gentle giants in their forest habitat and seeing them munch on fruits and plants, play with or groom one another, and idly look at the curious bipeds looking at them – these are magical moments that stay with you for a lifetime. But to get to be in that special place, you first must decide where to go to see them. Do you want to go gorilla trekking in Rwanda? Or do you want to go gorilla trekking in Uganda? Well, answering that question is what this blog post is all about.

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An adorable infant gorilla snacking on a shoot

Trekkers visit habituated mountain gorillas

The mountain gorillas that visitors trek to see are those that have become habituated to the presence of humans. The process of habituating them to humans takes about 2 (two) to 5 (five) years. But even though they become used to the presence of humans, there are still strict rules in place to ensure we interfere as little as possible with their habitat and way of life.

For starters, only one group of eight people is allowed to visit each gorilla troop per day, and then only for one hour. Other rules, as discussed in 20 things to worth knowing about mountain Gorilla Trekking include not making loud noises or sudden movements while in their presence. 

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Where can I go gorilla trekking?

All of the world's mountain gorillas live in the Virunga Mountains of Central and East Africa. The two main countries for gorilla trekking are Rwanda and Uganda. In Rwanda you can trek to see mountain gorillas in Volcanoes National Park. In Uganda, you can visit mountain gorillas in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park or Mgahinga National Park. The gorilla population in Mgahinga isn’t as large and steady as that of Bwindi, making the latter the better and more popular option. 

The decision to go gorilla trekking in Rwanda or Uganda usually rests on factors like cost and accessibility. You also want to consider what else you’ll do on your trip to the country, as the cost and effort of a gorilla trek means you’ll likely only be seeing gorillas on one day. We discuss all these matters in just a moment, but first, let’s answer a very important question .

The mountain gorillas of Rwanda

Rwanda is a small and mountainous East African country with a population of around 14 million people. It’s sometimes called the pays des mille collines, which is French for ‘land of a thousand hills’. The main language in the country is Kinyarwanda, spoken by most citizens. English, French and Swahili are also official languages. 

Rwanda is a phoenix of the twenty-first century, having risen out of the ashes of its tragic 1994 genocide to become one of Africa’s great success stories. It’s capital city of Kigali is well-known for its beauty and cleanliness. In fact, did you know that’s illegal to buy, use or sell plastic bags in Rwanda?  

Volcanoes National Park

Tourism has played a major role in helping Rwanda to rebuild itself, and mountain gorillas are at the heart of its tourism trade. As mentioned, Rwanda’s mountain gorillas live in Volcanoes National Park. There are about 56 mountain gorilla troops in the park.  

As Rwanda is a small country, getting to Volcanoes National Park is a relatively easy affair. Visitors simply fly into Kigali International Airport and then it’s a short drive of about two and a half hours northwest to arrive at the doorstep of Volcanoes National Park. Even though the drive is short, it’s always advisable to travel with a reputable tour operator who knows the region and roads well. The proximity of Volcanoes National Park to an international airport is a major draw for Rwanda’s mountain gorilla tourism industry.

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Gorillas are social animals who live in troops their whole lives

The mountain gorillas of Uganda

Uganda is a landlocked country consisting of massive plains, volcanoes, snow-capped mountains, thick forests, savannah, immense lakes, diverse wildlife and more. The population of about 45 million is extremely diverse, and speak more than 50 languages. Ugandans are known for their warmth and friendliness. It’s also important to note that Uganda is considered to be the best English speaking country in the whole of Africa, which is very helpful for tourists.


Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

Most of Uganda’s mountain gorillas live in Bwindi Impenetrable National park. Bwindi is an alpine forest that sits between 1,160 m meters and 2,607 meters above the sea level. As the name suggests, the Bwindi Impenetrable National Park encompasses a thickly forested area. Given the density of vegetation, it can be pretty dark in the forest. It’s a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and rightly so. 

If you look at the map of Uganda below, you can see that Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is in the extreme southwest corner of Uganda. This places it decently far from the capital city of Kampala and Entebbe International Airport, both of which are in south central Uganda. Moreover, the roads connecting the two aren’t smooth, open highway. So the drive takes about nine hours. It’s advisable that you travel with someone who knows the region rather than road tripping on your own. 

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Map showing tourist attractions in Uganda

While you can take a short flight from Entebbe to Bwindi, driving is a cheaper option, especially as part of a tour group. Some who want to go to Bwindi for gorilla trekking actually choose to fly into Kigali, Rwanda’s capital city, and drive north across the border, as this is a shorter drive that lasts about four hours. 

It takes longer to reach Uganda's Bwindi Impenetrable National Park than it does to reach Rwanda's Volcanoes National Park.

Get your free Uganda guide!

Everything you need to know about Uganda . 

Trekking prices in Rwanda and Uganda

The first major difference is the price of the gorilla trekking permits in Uganda and Rwanda. Rwanda chose to implement a low tourist policy with high impact, so they charge $1,500 for a gorilla trekking permit. Uganda on the other hand chose to set its permit price at $700 for a gorilla trekking permit. This makes trekking to see the Mountain gorillas in Uganda much cheaper. There are many more luxury lodge options in Rwanda than Uganda, but there are a range of mid-range and luxury accommodations in Uganda too.

Accessibility of gorilla parks in Rwanda and Uganda

Given the relatively close proximity of Volcanoes National Park to Kigali Airport, Rwanda is the better country for visitors who only have time for a brief stopover to go gorilla trekking, and nothing else. This is more likely to be the case for those in transit to somewhere else, or travelling in from a nearby country.

For most foreign travellers, however, the time and expense put into getting to East Africa means they want to do more activities while in the region, like go on safari or climb Kilimanjaro. For such travellers, Uganda is the better option as it has more to offer. But more on that in a moment. 

Trek conditions in Uganda and Rwanda

Trekking routes in Rwanda are considered a bit more open and not as steep and slippery compared to Bwindi In Uganda. That said, Volcanoes National Park is at a much higher altitude than Bwindi and this can also make the trek more challenging.

Uganda has more habituated mountain gorilla troops

Note too that while it’s easier to reach Rwanda’s mountain gorillas, Uganda has more habituated mountain gorillas and so admits more trekkers per day. About 80 people a day are allowed to visit Uganda’s gorillas. In Rwanda, the number of daily visitors is about 56. This makes obtaining a gorilla trekking permit in Uganda a little easier than obtaining one in Rwanda, especially if you aren't booking very far in advance. Read about our http://interiorsafarisea.com/experiences/ 

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Trekkers get close enough to look into the eyes of the mountain gorillas

“I just came back from an amazing 14-days trip to Uganda with Follow Alice, and I strongly recommend them. This was my second experience with Follow Alice, and just like the first trip, everything was flawless.


Gorilla habituation permits in Uganda

Something on offer only in Uganda is the gorilla habituation permit. This permit allows the visitor to spend fourhours with a mountain gorilla troop in the south of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. The habituation permits costs $1,500, which is the same price as the one-hour gorilla trekking permit in Rwanda. 

The habituation permit was introduced only recently in response to visitors’ desire to spend more time with the mountain gorillas. Only two gorilla troops have been set aside for these habituation experiences. This means about eight habituation permits are issued per day, so you have to book well in advance if you want one. 

Visitors who do the four-hour gorilla trek get to take part in habituation activities, like making calls, collecting specimens, and even sometimes naming the individual gorillas. It’s a truly special, once-in-a-lifetime adventure.


Gorilla trekking with Interior Safaris East Africa. 

For all the reasons discussed above, we at Interior Safaris East Africa recommend gorilla trekking in Uganda rather than Rwanda. Check out our suggested http://interiorsafarisea.com/package/10-days-uganda-gorilla-wildlife-safari/  

which of course includes gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. You can also read through the reviews to see what our past clients thought of the experience. Please note this is a flexible itinerary – we're happy to lengthen or shorten it. We can also switch things up to suit your preferences and needs. We also find that some clients like to bundle a Tanzania safari or Kilimanjaro climb with their gorilla trekking adventure while they're in the region.

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"Godfrey exudes positivity, confidence, and really was the reason we fell for this colourful, emerging location. He made us feel safe and has a passion for animals. And he loves his country and has interesting insights on its current affairs.”

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Godfrey is our passionate, energetic and knowledgeable local guide

Ready to take the plunge?

If you're ready to explore Uganda Rwanda Tanzania and go gorilla trekking, or you just have some questions you'd like answered, press that pink button below and let's start chatting! http://interiorsafarisea.com/contact/ 

  3 years ago