Getting ready to starting fieldwork + visiting Baraka

We spent the first few days at Ol Pejeta getting organized and testing out our equipment. During that time, we also drove to the nearest town, Nanyuki, for some supplies. On that drive, we stopped at Morani Information Center on Ol Pejeta, which is named a tame black rhino that used to live next to it. Both Fire and I visited Morani several times over the years we've done research here in the past. It has a nice educational display - see the photos below.

It also has a nice visitor shop that features Ol Pejeta gear, including t-shirts that honor Sudan, who was the last living male northern white rhino and finished out his days on Ol Pejeta.

While Morani sadly passed away several years ago, you can now visit Baraka, a semi-tame blind rhino - and even feed him! So we did.

Toby astride the metal rhino outside the information center

Ella entertaining Toby in the parking lot

Toby reading the sign about Baraka

A view of Baraka from the platform where visitors can view and feed him

A demonstration of how to feed Baraka sugarcane

Toby feeding Baraka

Ella feeding and petting Baraka

Me petting Baraka

Fun times with rhinos

Fire with Baraka

Baraka sniffing around for more sugarcane

Baraka settling back into the shade after our visit

One of the most enjoyable things about being back here is seeing the staff members and guards we've worked with in the past. One of them, Solomon, who was our armed guard for a lot of the time Fire and I were here in 2011, is now stationed at the Morani Information Center. We really enjoyed seeing him.

Me, Solomon, and Fire

Basically every drive here, to go anywhere, is inevitably a game drive - here are a few of the animals we've seen so far! I'm just using my iPhone to take photos so they aren't great quality, but it's at least something.