Team F. Suzy, Holden & Jana

Our first activity in the morning was another birdathon, this time around our camp in Masai Mara. Some highlights were the white-rumped shrike, purple grenadier, and barbet.

In comparison to Kakamega forest which was a humid tropical rain forest, the ecosystems here are very different. There are large landscapes of grass plains with scattered groups of acacia trees scattered throughout. It was interesting to see how these differences translated to the different bird species we saw here.

Fun fact: “Maasai Mara” means “Maasai spotted land” in the Maa language, referring to the landscape dotted with acacia trees and wildlife.

Diana had a display of handmade souvenirs and beads waiting for us after our bird-watching exercise. We joined her in making some beaded bracelets and small gifts for our loved ones. We spent some time working on them, as we also wanted to create a few tokens of appreciation for Dr. Steve, Dr. Wang, Carol, and Cletus to thank them for such a wonderful and enlightening trip so far.

After lunch, Dr. Lougheed gave a lecture on how environmental DNA (eDNA), which enables non-invasive biodiversity monitoring by analyzing genetic material from water, soil, or air samples. It is an efficient tool for assessing species presence and ecosystem composition in otherwise hard-to-survey environments.

We also had two debates left to cover today, so at some point, we had to rush back from beading to ensure all our final preparations were in order. We started with Group D, who explored the topic of international treaties and their effectiveness in mitigating illegal trade. We enjoyed their debate, as it highlighted nuances we hadn’t previously discussed, expanding our understanding of such a relevant and controversial issue.

We (Group F) also did our debate in the afternoon. The proposition for the debate was that national parks and reserves are the most effective ways to conserve a country’s natural heritage and to meet a nation’s obligations under the Montreal Agreement for conserving 30% of lands and waters by 2030. It was interesting to learn from both sides that there are pros and cons to national parks for example the benefit they provide to the environment and national economies but at the same time, local communities and indigenous peoples are often overlooked.

Just after our debate ended, Timothy – a local Maasai- offered to take us on a short hike to a nearby hill which turned into an unforgettable journey. We quickly pulled out our cameras for a spontaneous photo session with the beautiful landscapes and scenery.

As if that wasn’t enough, we soon spotted a herd of zebras grazing nearby, the evening light casting long shadows across the savanna. We ended the hike by climbing a tree for a group photo and taught Cletus how to take a 0.5 selfie.

It was the perfect warm-up to tomorrow’ game driving in Maasai Mara and we can’t wait to see what’s next!

After returning from the hike, we had a short time to freshen up and work on our field books before dinner. As usual, the food was excellent, and we even had some guests join us. We met Dr. Kariuki Kirigia, an Assistant Professor in the School of Environment at the University of Toronto, as well as Maddy and Mo, two masters students visiting Kenya for their research. We had a pleasant time meeting them and learning more about their work and experiences in Kenya. Mo also mentioned a course she had taken during her undergraduate studies with Dr. Steve that inspired her current thesis on Maasai women in conservation (Tropica Biodiversity & Conservation).

As we all gathered under the mess tent, we came to truly appreciate the opportunity to meet everyone and learn from their diverse backgrounds. To top it all off, we saw a hyena grab some goat intestines and walk away peacefully—an unexpected and fascinating moment that made everyone pause.

Finally, we called it a day, said goodbye to our guests, and went to sleep, knowing we had an early and exciting day ahead.