Oltukai Conservancy

Category: Uncategorized | Date: Sep 22 2008 | By: oltukaiconservancy

The Thompson is among many creatures created by God. Is known as Swalatomi in swahili, but its scientific name is gazelle Thompsomii.  You can easily identify it by its colour. its colour is very unique because it has a black band along the flank which separates the  reddish back from the white belly.There is a white patch on the rumps borded by the black lines and the black tail ends in a tuft. The black strip normally extends from below the eye to the light coloured body. A Tompson weighs between 18-40kgs depending on sex. The males are larger than females. They have horns. They prefer grazing in open lands, along rivers and woodland areas.They prefer short grasses.

Thanks,

The team,

Boniface Ngimojino

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Category: education, general wildlife, predators | Date: Sep 16 2008 | By: oltukaiconservancy

New Sightings from Ol Tukai!

In the last few weeks many reports have come into the Ol Tukai Conservancy office from eye witness accounts and game scout accounts of Leopard, Cheetah and Hyena sightings within the Conservancy. This is great news to the team at Ol Tukai because sightings of leopards and cheetahs have been exceptionally rare here over the last several years.

Just last night, September 15th, another report was received from Sidan Lodge staff of a leopard strolling around the area. For those who don’t know, Sidan Tented Lodge is our newly constructed eco safari camp nestled in the heart of the Ol Tukai Conservancy.

At around 8:30 p.m. local time, the Ol Tukai game scouts and myself, looking through night vision goggles from the safety of one of the Sidan lodge tents, suddenly spotted the leopard casually meandering through the middle of camp. After a short time, the leopard went on his way, undisturbed by our presence.

In addition to sightings such as that of last night, there have been accounts of many other species of wildlife in the area. Within the immediate vicinity of Sidan Lodge, there are daily sightings of Thompson Gazelle, Giraffe, Reed Buck and other small species of antelope. Avian species found in camp include Ostrich, Yellow neck spur foul, Secretary birds, Kory Bustards, Lilac-Breasted Rollers and many others.

The frequency and diversity of recent wildlife sightings have given us hope that the construction of the lodge appears to have had little to no effect on the eco-system in and around the campsite and Conservancy at large. Needless to say, life is thriving in Ol Tukai!

More updates to come soon…

Thanks from the Ol Tukai Team.

-Patrick Fleming

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Category: Uncategorized, education, poaching | Date: Sep 16 2008 | By: oltukaiconservancy

   The Ol Tukai Anti-Poaching team needs desperate Help from Donors! In the last few weeks Cash for The Team has been particulary low and we need help paying for several things out at The Ol Tukai Conservancy.

   First, the Petrol for our Anti-Poaching 109 Land Rover has been all but used up and current petrol prices in Tanzania have effected our overall Budget per month for the conservancy. Also we are in need of money to help pay for a new clutch and a basic tune up from a professional Mechanic for the old Landy.

  Maintaining our vehicle is not the only trouble facing the Team at the moment. The conservancy needs help paying for our Anti poaching Salaries. Several Members of our team have needed help with medical expenses in the last few weeks, ailing from problems such as malaria to team members with very sick children, adding to an already heavy burden placed financially on the Conservancy and the families of the Anti-Poaching Team.

   Donations would be greatly appreciated by the Anti-poaching Team and The Ol Tukai Conservancy. Without your help, the team must cover a Huge area of over 60,000 Acres On foot, giving them a huge disadvantage to our Anti-Poaching Efforts. Now is the high season at Ol Tukai for Poaching! Thank you for any help you can provide.

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Category: Uncategorized | Date: Sep 16 2008 | By: oltukaiconservancy

Visitors access to the ecosystem(Ol Tukai) is either from the  paved section of the Arusha- Dodoma Road at the -off to Kwakuchinja area(wildlife corridor). A 6 km gravel road leads to the main entrance way through boundary of the neigbouring villages, lake Manyara and TLCT Manyara Ranch in the Eastern part.  In the Southern part boundary,  there is Tarangire game post. The number of tourists does not remain constant, but there is low and high season in the area, depending on the interest of the visitors each year.

Thank you for your co-operation.

 Boniface Ngimojino.

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Category: Uncategorized | Date: Sep 13 2008 | By: oltukaiconservancy

History records shows that, explorers and slave traders passed through this landscape. While few settled, Tsetseflies helped  keep most people and Livestock away. The area of the park was first a famous hunting ground  and then a game reserve. Research in the late 1950’s and early 1960’s showed the importance during the dry season.

Tarangire national park was established in 1970’s, then 5th national parks to be declared  since Tanzania’s Independence from British.

Thanks immensely for your co-operation.

Boniface Ngimojino.

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Category: Uncategorized | Date: Sep 12 2008 | By: oltukaiconservancy

The Ol Tukai river system is among the reliable sources of water for wildlife of the maasai steppe/ecosystem during dry season. The dry season  is usually from july to november.   Large mammals that dispersed throughtout the landscape ,return to the river as natural water holes outside the area, dries up. Wildlife viewing is easier during this time of the year, as many animals visits river and swamps for water at least once a day. Section of the river can dry up as the water disappers below the sand surface.

 Thank you for your cooperation.

Yours Boniface Ngimojino.

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Category: Uncategorized | Date: Sep 10 2008 | By: oltukaiconservancy

The potential offered by Eucalyptus, Baobab  and other species trees, particularly for production of honey and oil, has been little utilized in most places where these particular  trees are found. Many species of these trees flower over  long periods in the year, including in the dry season after the harvest of agricultural crops. several of these species are rich in both nectar and pollen.

These bee products(honey, wax, pollen, royal jelly and spropolis) can play a great sweetening  quality and therefore useful  in cooking various dishes. They are more digestible than normal sugar. Honey contain other things(vitamins, enzymes and a small amount of protein), which has a great nutritive values than sugar. These products are saleable/found in the markets, so as to supplement/boost the family incomes.

Thanking you in advance for your cooperation.

The team.

One response so far

Category: Uncategorized | Date: Sep 08 2008 | By: oltukaiconservancy

The  Tarangire- Manyara ecosystem extensive swamps are important water catchments.These swamps form an important dry season refuge in particularly for elephants and Buffaloes.The swamps are found in the Eastern and Southern parts of the area, they supply the water channels that flow to the North and west and then empties into lake Manyara.

This lovely ecosystem was established to protect these essential water sources for wildlife.

THANK YOU.

The team.

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Category: Uncategorized | Date: Sep 04 2008 | By: oltukaiconservancy

Many of the largest animals/mammals of the Tarangire- Manyara ecosystem move outside the area/park to some of the most productive range lands in world. With the onset of rains, vegetation inside and outside the park turns green, but better food is found outside the park than inside. This usually happens between november and june each year. The research suggest that, the grasses of maasai steppe have greater nutritional  value than inside the park.

Thanking you for your co-operation.

Boniface.

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