Manguo Swamp is a wetland on the Nairobi-Naivasha Road, only 40 minutes from Nairobi’s Central Business District. Manguo is a local lingo that translates into hippo; however, the hippos must have fled some decades ago as the surroundings become more urban
Manguo Swamp is a wetland on the Nairobi-Naivasha Road, only 40 minutes from Nairobi’s Central Business District. Manguo is a local lingo that translates into hippopotamus; however, the hippos must have fled some decades ago as the surroundings become more urban. It’s an amazing swamp, a wetland that is seasonal and instrumental in regulating water thus controlling flooding, water flows through the ground to refill the ground. Its freshwater is a magnet for birds and other creatures that would not survive in saltwater. While it offers a laid-back morning enjoying the tranquility and the beauty of an array of birds, the swamp is home to freshwater birds and a localized duck, Maccoa Duck. The beautiful chestnut-colored males and the duller grey females keep to their edge of the swamp. Maccoa ducks have in recent times been listed as ‘near threatened’ on the I.U.C.N red list. These are the only African stiff-tail ducks. They rarely leave the water because their legs are set far back making waddling on land uncomfortable. Large numbers of resident and migrant ducks congregate in Manguo between October and November, such as Gadwall and Ferruginous, Pintail, and Northern Shoveler
Grey-crowned Cranes were once so common in African wetlands. It’s listed by the I.U.C.N as Critically endangered. Studies show that in the last two decades in Kenya and Uganda, Grey-crowned crane populations have spiraled down by 80 percent with an alarming decline of nests due to human-wildlife conflict around nesting sites.
A full-day birding in the famous Ol Pejeta Conservancy offers a wealth of possibilities, the park hosts exciting bird species and special animals. Ol Pejeta exhibits such a versatile geography, endowed with endless rolling plains, rivers, marshes, and wetlands which are responsible for the great variety and abundance of birds and mammals. There is a lot to see here- fabulous birds, endless splendid wildlife sightings including the alarmingly rare Northern White Rhino. The climate is mostly cool, dry and enjoyable throughout the year.
