Kenya gets some rain – At last

The dust before the storm. Rain has started to fall in parts of Kenya. Credit Maasailand Preservation Trust.

Courtesy of the Maasailand Preservation Trust

October 2009. Kenya has been in the grip of a devastating drought, it has not rained properly for two consecutive years, and many people are saying it is the worst drought in living memory. The long rains failed completely in April, and the wildlife and herders livestock have both been devastated due to the almost total lack of grazing. If the rains fail this autumn, wildlife and livestock will be decimated. However some rain has fallen in the last few days; not enough to turn the country green, but it is a start.

Courtesy of the Maasailand Preservation Trust - Conserving the Amboseli-Tsavo Ecosystem

On Sunday afternoon the Chyulu Hills recieved the first rain we've had in months. It was only 4.5mm but this afternoon's rain was more than had fallen in the previous 12 months! Unfortunately it was not nearly enough to undo the damage done by what has been described as the worst drought in living memory but at least it is a start.

Dust storm obscuring Mt Kilimanjaro. This was a spectacular sight and everyone was so awestruck watching it that before we knew it the cloud was upon us. Dust storms are a regular occurrence during the rains but this one was much larger than the norm. Courtesy of Maasailand Preservation Trust.

We had a beautiful and surreal view of this from the plains whilst we were out filming for a documentary being made on our Bloodhounds. It started as a big Cumulo Nimbus cloud built over the southern end of the Chyulu Range. The cloud started to flow off the hills and down to Oltiasika where we saw rain fall and thunder and lightning. This heavy storm created a massive dust storm as the strong wind blew off it.

Richard Bonham, Chairman and founder of Maasailand Preservation Trust, was up in his plane at the time and reported it reaching a high of 10,000 feet! Once the dust storm passed and we were safely back home we were treated to the most spectacular sky and shortly after this the rain started to fall. Let us hope that more rain comes soon.

More about the Maasailand Preservation Trust

And from the Milgis Trust - Conserving Northern Kenya

YES, IT POURED WITH RAIN YESTERDAY!!!!!...Every where within the Milgis Ecosystem..... Relief... RELief..... RELIEF!!!! All the Luggas have come down in full flood ... Every one has a smile on their face!... PHEW.. is all I can say, at this stage... The pressure that was building higher and higher is OFF... In a flash.. I am lost for words!!. Below is the Milgis Lugga. ore about the Milgis Trust