Rotarian Susan Byrd on Safari in Kenya and Tanzania

Rotarian Susan Byrd (also Mayor of Marlin) presented photographs and an illustration of “Kenya and Tanzania Today” to the Rotary Club of Marlin on Oct. 11. Ms. Byrd traveled to Kenya and Tanzania in February 2023. 

In the broadest sense, to go on safari is simply to travel. More specifically, a safari is a journey that involves going into nature to watch wild animals.

Susan Byrd went on a safari and brought back a presentation focused on the beauty and strength of the animals in the wild and sanctuaries, amidst the disparity of drought that continues to plague Kenya and Nigeria. 

The Republic of Kenya lies in the equatorial zone of the eastern part of the African continent. This was her first stop, the Aberdare National Park.

There, kept in sanctuary, was a tower of Rothschild’s giraffes which are the rarest of giraffes in Africa. The greatest threat to the Rothschild’s giraffe is the uncontrolled poaching. While this is the greatest danger the Rothschild’s giraffes face, they are also susceptible to predators. Crocodiles, leopards, lions, and hyenas all view the giraffe as prey. These giraffes, like many other beasts, have become the victim to degradation of their habitat, leading to their decline.

Susan’s vision fell on Kenya’s major higher plant diversity. Because of the wide geographic distribution, diverse climatic conditions and soil types, Kenya displays a great medley of plants. There were poinsettias, bougainvillea, and hibiscus bushes, some growing as tall as short trees. The Aberdare Range in Kenya features one of two most species-rich areas, with at least 774 species, subspecies and varieties of vascular plants. 

Embarking on an unforgettable African safari meant seeing, framed by an open window, the open African horizon and an elephant emerging from a thicket of plants to drink from a pond. This was the Aberdare National Park in Kenya. This is a habitat for the animal species such as elephants, spotted hyenas, olive baboons, black and white colobus monkeys, buffalos, warthogs, bushbucks, and others. 

Travelling to the Abersoli National Park, there were the Grant’s zebras, the smallest of six subspecies of the plains zebras. Comical fact is that it is extremely difficult to capture a front-face photograph of a zebra; it almost instinctively turns about, providing an immodest rear view for the photographer. Rotarian Susan saw two leopards sitting amongst the shrubs. She saw a leopard busily hoisting its victim, a grazing beast, up unto a tree limb to enjoy later. There were cheetahs, and when asked if she had seen any black panthers, Rotarian Susan explained, “It would have been extremely unlikely to see one as they are nocturnal wanderers.” 

But Tanzania’s Lake Amboseli and Amboseli National Park is home to over 1500 hippos and 400 different species of bird, and Rotarian Susan captured a photograph of a hippopotamus. Here also were huge bull elephants to the cutest baby elephants, one having just been birthed. 

Sadly, the once-robust populations of wildlife have diminished in Kenya and Tanzania. The majestic presence of the African wilderness has been affected by the absence of both rainfall and snow atop Mount Kilimanjaro. These two factors visibly affected migration of wildlife, and many lay where they were unable to continue. 

“What this trip did for me was to emphasize how important it is to locate and maintain water resources,” explained Rotarian Susan Byrd.

Drought in Kenya and Tanzania has affected the environment in many other different ways. Immediate drought impacts are visibly dry vegetation and lower water levels in lakes and reservoirs. Some lakes are dry, non-existent. Water was transported great distances. 

The lack of water devastated crops, dried out forests, increased the likelihood of wildfires, reduced food and water available for wildlife and livestock, restricted recreational activities, and stressed businesses and the economies in Kenya and further in Tanzania.

Kenya and Tanzania’s severe water crisis is due to multiple causes, including droughts, forest degradation, a lack of water supply management, the contamination of water, and population growth. The absence of consistent rainfall affected people’s health and safety, because of the resultant minimal and poor water source for drinking. Drought impacts air quality, sanitation and hygiene, and food and nutrition. It can cause an increase in disease in wild animals, because of reduced food and water supplies. Several animal and plant species are subject to disappearing in the drought prone region.

“It was an experience like no other to see different kinds of animals freely roaming. I was told that where one sees a lion, there, too, will be a huddle of trucks and watchers!” laughed Rotarian Susan. You see, safari today refers to an adventure or expedition into the wilds of Africa - with no hunting involved. African safari travel typically provides revenue for local conservation projects and game parks, helping to protect habitats and wildlife, rather than taking them out. African safaris also play an important role in creating awareness about wildlife conservation, as well as benefiting local communities.

On her return from a safari to Kenya and Tanzania, Rotarian and Mayor Susan Byrd remarked, “I’ve come back, moved to revitalize the water issues (in Marlin).” 

“Oh, I did see a 30-foot python!” she added.

Rotarian Susan Byrd received the  distinguished Rotary pen and pad in appreciation of her presentation.

Photograph L-R: Melissa Mahoney (creator of photograph presentation), Rotary Club President Letitia Estep, Rotarian and Mayor Susan Byrd