The track to Boma la Megi is lined with Psiadia arabica, a bushy shrub with yellow flowers, which often grows on cleared land. En route a large flat topped acacia, Acacia abyssinica, can be seen. This tree has fissured brown bark and a spreading crown and is commonly found at the edges of highland forests.

Photo Credit: Thomson Safaris

Giraffes are common here and in the Momela area of the Park. In other parts of East Africa they traditionally feed on acacia trees but in Arusha National Park giraffes have adapted their diet and eat a wide variety of leaves. The species of giraffe occurring in Arusha is the Maasai giraffe which has irregular star shaped markings which cover almost the entire body. The sight of several long necks emerging out of the bushes is very typical of this Park.

For all its great length the giraffe's neck has only seven vertebrae, the same as man. A male giraffe weighs about 500 to 800 kilograms (1,101 to 1,762 pounds) and stands about five meters (16 feet) tall. The female is about one meter shorter and correspondingly lighter. Males can be distinguished from females by their sturdier horns, which are not true horns but thickened bone. In the female the horns are more slender and often topped with a tuft of hair.

If you watch giraffes walk you will notice that they have a characteristic gait which brings both limbs on the same side forward together. Amongst the males there is a strong dominance hierarchy and it is fairly easy to observe the displacement of one male by another. Males frequently spar in a particular manner known as"necking". They stand shoulder to shoulder and swing their heads at each other in such a way that their necks sometimes entwine. The impact is often loud enough to be heard.

The name Boma la Megi is of Maasai origin and means the land belonging to Megi. After a short climb from the track, as you survey the wonderful view from this point, it is easy to see why the site was chosen. Mt. Kilimanjaro is visible if it is clear, the pattern of the Momela Lakes stands out against the surrounding area and the Sanya Plains can be seen in the far distance.

After you return to the road the drive towards the Momela Lakes takes you through a small area of forest composed mostly of brown olive trees, a spreading tree with many branches and Diospyros abyssinica. Blue monkeys, bluish-black in color can sometimes be seen here and because of the sparse undergrowth it is one of the best places to get good views of duikers.

The road continues past Lake El Kekhotoito, which means "dead wood" in the Maasai language, and Lake Kusare. These are fresh water lakes, and provide drinking water for many animals. The route leads on through gentle rolling hills of red-oat grassland, Themeda triandra, down to the Momela Lakes.

Special Thanks to Thomson Safaris and Tanzania National Parks for contributing Tanzanian information.

Move on to Momela Lakes

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