Blazing Mount Kenya

Vast efforts are underway to control the furnace of fires on Mount Kenya. Trained fire fighters are on the ground and making commendable progress, but in these dry and windy conditions the scorching flames are hard to control, and threaten precious biodiversity. Tropic Air helis are supporting with water-dousing on the impossible fire fronts where manpower cannot reach.

The entire effort is being coordinated by Mount Kenya Trust together with Rhino Ark Kenya Charitable Trust, with huge support from countless organisations and individuals.

This is an enormously costly but vital response, and fund raising efforts are underway.

Photos: Andrey Josephs, March 2022

It’s about involvement!

How proud we are of this team! 5 young Kenyans from Laikipia whom we sponsored to enter the 10to4 Mountain Bike Challenge. An off-road race, through wild landscapes, mostly downhill starting at 10,000 feet. They all did exceptionally well despite a few mechanical letdowns. The two girls placed 1st and 2nd in the ‘Rush’ – a 57km race with intense competition. The 3 men entered the two hardest races, and one secured an astounding 4th in the 2-day 135km ‘Extreme’ race, against elite athletes.

The 10to4 is an amazing annual event that raises vital funds and awareness for conservation within the Mount Kenya ecosystem, coordinated through the Mount Kenya Trust. Money raised goes towards forest conservation and community development. This is the event’s 21st year, and Tropic Air is the TITLE SPONSOR for the 5th year running.

During the 3 day event, Tropic Air also provides helicopter support, incase of casevac requirements, and as a platform for filming and tracking the cyclists.

Thank you to our media guru Andrey Josephs for documenting the action.

February 2022

Cathedral Rock

Lake Logipi’s calm waters reflecting the sky!  Shallow (only a foot deep) and very alkali, it presents great contrast to neighboring Lake Turkana.  The two are separated by a series of cones and volcanoes, called the ‘Barrier’.

Lake Logipi, despite being so rich in sodium bicarbonate, is full of life (much microscopic) including algae which the flamingo feed on.  Golden jackals are sometimes spotted hunting the water birds!  An incredible place – hot, remote and inhospitable to man!

The iconic feature in the lake’s centre is known as ‘Cathedral Rock’ – and you can see why! It’s magnificent!

Magadi Red!

Lake Magadi at its best! A algae bloom on the surface has turned the soda waters bright red, and its a spectacular sight!

Deep in the heart of Maasai land set against the beautiful Nguruman Escarpment, lies the 100 square kilometre Lake Magadi. Surrounded by hot plains, the caustic soda waters host thousands of migratory flamingo that descend on the lake each year to nest on elevated mud mounds. The lake’s shores have freshwater springs that attract a host of other birds and wildlife.