Buffalos and baboons!!

Our resident buffalo does love to have a good scratch against our fledging fruit trees which often don’t survive an encounter with several tons of itchy beast. The answer to this problem is that our orchard (for want of a better word) looks a bit like it is covered in holding pens - each tree having a buffalo high fence around it. This innovation does not, however, protect the crop from the marauding baboons who come through at regular intervals. We do sometimes get warning, sighting them in the trees by the river or hearing them calling to each other, we know they will be visiting the next day. When they do, it is all hands on deck, including the dogs!

 

The first time I experienced a baboon invasion, although I had been living in Kenya for 7 years, I was not quite prepared for how daring they could be. A quiet Saturday afternoon reading on the terrace was interrupted by their noisy chatter and it was too late when I realised the back kitchen door was wide open – we did not have potatoes for dinner that night! So now, unless someone is in the kitchen the door and windows are closed tight.

Trying to protect our precious crop of mulberries and figs has been a fight that the baboons win every time. Just when I think we might be able to have enough for a few pots of jam, it disappears.

Our vegetable garden is totally enclosed and we have successfully raised enough to feed ourselves. Although the irregular seasons still throw me – when exactly is spring or autumn? We are so close to the equator and traditionally have two rainy seasons each year. The elevation of around 6,000 feet means we don’t experience the traditional tropical climate, however, it still never seems hot enough for growing tomatoes to me.

The citrus fruit seems not to be that attractive to baboons and in defiance I picked the mangoes green. Consequently we have enough mango chutney to last a few years to come. Protecting the herb garden is not so easy as I love having it to hand just outside the kitchen door. Who would have thought that baboons were partial to lemon grass or dill but these are the plants they always go for, if the buffalo has not trampled them on his way through. To counteract the disappointment that comes with each encounter I have to reminding myself how lucky we are to live here. To share our lives with amazing wildlife and still have all the conveniences of living close to the city.