BRITISH EAST AFRICA 



one hundred and sixty lions have been shot there. One 

 sportsman was lucky enough to kill twenty-one in two 

 weeks, and not less than six in one single day, including 

 three half-grown cubs ! 



These healthy, game-filled plains, lying at an altitude 

 of over five thousand feet, are most easily reached by 

 taking the train to Kijabe station, about three hours north- 

 west of Nairobi, and either marching from there through 

 the Rift Valley over the Mau escarpment, here more than 

 eight thousand feet high, then across the Guaso Nyiro 

 South on to the plains, or using hired South African ox 

 wagons from Kijabe, which must be arranged for in 

 advance through one of the Nairobi firms. 



If the start is made from Kijabe during or right after 

 the big rainy season, or, say, about the end of April or 

 beginning of May, it is easy to reach these wonderful 

 plains by regular marches with the caravan. But during 

 the dry season this is impossible, as then all the little 

 streams and water holes between Kijabe and the next large 

 stream, on the western slopes of the Mau escarpment, are 

 dry, and for from two to three days no water can be 

 found. On one of my safaris the whole caravan of one 

 hundred and seventeen men almost perished from thirst, 

 when we were trying to penetrate to the Guaso Nyiro 

 South during the dry season. But if ox wagons are se- 

 cured, they are loaded up with enough water for men and 

 beasts, until the last-named river is reached. On the plains 

 themselves there are, fortunately, a few springs and water 

 holes that never dry up, and it is often around these that 

 the hunter secures a great deal of game of various kinds. 

 He may bag lion, wildebeest, hartebeest, zebra, rhino, 



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