Giant Trevally on the Fly — Manda Bay

 

One of the FISH

Trevally on the fly

The latest news from Manda Bay:  Huge schools of sardines are now being seen just minutes from the lodge and fly fisherman who are looking for the thrill of catching giant trevally on a fly have been having some incredible mornings.

This species is known around the world for its power and the explosive hook up. However here at Manda we are sight fishing for them — sitting on the edge of a huge bait ball of sardines.   Small black tip reef sharks are ripping through, creating a chaotic atmosphere and an great opportunity to catch a variety of fish with every cast – (provided you don’t loose them to the sharks!)  Indo Pacific Mackerel, yellow tail trevally and giant trevally all patrol around the edge of the bait ball.

We are rigged with 8wt explorer rods and floating lines, casting small streamers.  We are casting along side these frenzies, proving to be very productive and often catching a different species with each hookup.

All this before most people have people have got up for breakfast!

Borana’s extraordinary efforts to save the African Rhino

Rhino stump    Rhino in the truck

Rhino relocation program, Borana Ranch, Kenya…

We are passionate about wildlife conservation – all around the world.  Perhaps nowhere in the world does wildlife hang in the balance more than in East Africa, as we see rapid population increases competing with endangered species for critical habitat.  Our friends and colleagues in Kenya are on the front lines and leading dramatic efforts to save endangered rhino and critical elephant corridors.

The story of the endangered rhino is particularly dramatic.  The recent demand for rhino horn and resurgence in poaching has reached catastrophic levels. In South Africa 650 rhino have been slaughtered this year alone. In proportion to its population, Kenya has lost even more.

The market price of rhino horn now rivals gold for value (approximately $65,000 a kilo) and it is estimated that the trade is worth over $17 billion a year. In the Far East, rhino horn is sold throughout Asia as traditional medicine. And we know that the illegal trade in rhino horn is fueling terrorist organizations, directly linked to the violence of al-Shabab.  The level of violence and slaughter has reached biblical proportions.

As a result, the pressure has mounted to extraordinary levels on both the national and private sectors involved with protecting this species. As the threat of poaching increases and becomes ever more sophisticated, so too has the determination and resources needed to protect rhino, as has the danger and the cost.

This past summer our friends and colleagues at the Borana Conservancy launched an intensive effort to re-introduce 21 black rhino to the property, opening up tens of thousands of acres of critical habitat.   The costs associated with protecting these extraordinary animals are enormous, the stress almost incapacitating.  Borana rangers have gone through rigorous training and the team has invested in extensive security systems to help keep these precious animals alive.  As part of the relocation process, the team goes so far as to remove the rhino’s horn (to hopefully remove the incentive for slaughter.)  Each night the team goes on high alert – and dreads the sound of gunshots.

We applaud the efforts of our friends at Borana and encourage you to get over there and see these incredible creatures.  40% of Kenya’s GDP is derived from tourism — it is their heritage and their identity.  Wildlife supports the economy of Kenya, and we are proud to be a small part of the effort to support it back.  We encourage you to learn more about Borana and their conservation efforts.  Borana owner Michael Dyer will be visiting the US in January, as we host him for a series of presentations and receptions – we will invite you to come meet Michael and learn about this incredible program.