Behind-the-scenes: "This is Africa" Lake Nakuru Part 2

The next stop on my African adventure was Lake Nakuru National Park. I had no idea what to expect. I had never heard of Lake Nakuru nor was it ever mentioned that we would be visiting. Before I go on though, I have to mention that I have very few photos of the park- my sole purpose was to film. (Which you can watch at the bottom of this page.) So to give you some sort of visual to accompany my journal excerpts, I'll be including some photos taken by friends who accompanied me along the journey. Hope you enjoy!

September 1st

It is so crazy not having a sense of time here in Africa. I always wake up during the night and look outside my window to make sure the sun isn't rising quickly over the lake. My awesome intuition told me to get up, shower, and get ready for the day...So I did. Once that was done, I decided to sit outside on my porch and catch up writing. I couldn't believe it was still dark, so I grabbed a flashlight and proceeded to catch up. 45 minutes later and it was still dark. I decided to lay down. 2 hours later I would hear Munir pounding on my door trying to get me up. Apparently, I had gotten up at 2 or 3 in the morning! 

I had no idea what to expect. I thought it would be similar to Lake Naivasha. I figured we would take a boat out on the water and observe wildlife on the banks. WRONG! What I originally thought could not be further from the truth. The park is located about an hour and a half from Lake Naivasha...

Nakuru turned out to be the fifth largest city in Kenya. We were only a few miles away from the park and we still were in poverty-stricken areas. I couldn't believe it. How could Lake Nakuru National Park be teeming with wildlife so close to these areas? Africa is like nothing else on this planet...

As we passed the first gate into the park, the landscape completely changed. One advantage of this park was that it was completely fenced all the way around: A closed environment to keep the poachers out. Down the fence line, you could see as far as the eye, homes nestled right up to the fence. Without the fence, the animals would be doomed. The park is extremely green. The dirt road leading to the main gate is lined with tall Acacia Trees. Their yellow-bark glistening in the sun....

There were baboons everywhere! Troops of them, walking around like they owned the place! I walked so close to them, it was unreal! We departed through the main gate and stopped as as we entered to prepare our camera equipment. Seconds later, a female baboon with a baby gripping her underside, jumped through Munir's window and hopped in the backseat next to Liz. I was standing in shock. Liz was frozen. It hopped in the far back and grabbed Liz and Hitesh's packed, vegan lunch! It then took off through the window lunch in hand. Luckily, the park rangers came to the rescue, chasing her with batons. She let go of the lunch and took off into the bush. Even though she only had it for a couple of seconds, she managed to tear into the sack. What a crazy experience! 

To my surprise, there were no plans of getting into a boat. Matter-of-fact it's prohibited: You cannot leave your safari vehicle...And apparently, it's also home to aggressive man-eating lions! 

The park is home to both Black and White Rhinos. (Both of which had to be relocated into the park.) Munir told me most parks who don't have rhinos don't want them. They are expensive. Why? Because once you have rhinos, you need a complete anti-poaching unit just for them. It's a shame this is a reality...Less than 15 minutes in, we spotted our first rhinos. What an exciting moment! I never thought in Kenya I would be able to see Southern White Rhinos. (Naturally they would never be found here.) It was such a thrill seeing them. 

Lake Nakuru had prime leopard habitat. I was scanning every bush, every tree, just hoping for a quick glance of a spotted tail hanging down. I did it so long, my neck started to hurt. It seemed like hours. We had still not found our leopard...Speaking about other cats, there are little to no cheetahs in the park. Cheetahs roam great distances and need space from larger carnivores like lions and hyenas...We found no leopard in Lake Nakuru. 

If there is one thing I can say about Munir, it's that he is completely planned and organized! Everything is planned down to the very minute. After our time at Lake Nakuru, we had to race back to Naivasha and head out to a smaller lake famous for flamingos...

Lake Oloidien is the only place in Kenya where you can go out in a boat and photograph flamingos. I had visited this lake in January, so I knew what to expect. I love this lake. It has emerald, green water and is stuffed with hippos! When we arrived, all we could see was a thin, pink line across the lake marking the flock's location. Simon, our boat driver, took us out to the far end of the lake where the birds were located. There were thousands of them. 

As in synchrony, they all started taking off into the sky. What an incredible moment. It was almost like a scene from National Geographic or Animal Planet. The footage was fantastic! As we were driving back to the shore, I couldn't help but think how jam-packed the day was. Munir had effectively wore me out!  

Back at Elsamere on Lake Naivasha (after dinner) the guards spotted a hippo grazing away outside on the grassy lawn. I love this about Elsamere. It has this awesome "camp-like" feel with hippos! I decided it was my last night. I had to live it up! I wouldn't have done Elsamere justice if I went directly to bed. So...I decided to become a guard for the night. I could film what it was like guarding the camp from hippos, hyenas, and other creatures of the night! We saw a hippo and her calf less than 10 minutes in. The only issue was it was incredibly hard to spot on camera. My "guard for the night" days were quickly over...Next stop the Masai Mara! 

March Madness

March has been one incredible month! From appearing on America's favorite morning show - The Today Show- to traveling across the country working with a variety of different animals, it has proved to be one memorable month. I've put together some of my favorite highlights from the past few weeks. Hope you enjoy! - Corbin

Before any large national appearance like The Today Show, the animals and I begin a mini-promotional tour to help spread the word of our upcoming national appearance. First stop was Idaho's #1 News Channel 7 KTVB. This was the very station 11 years ago I got my first start working on television. What was even more memorable was being able to work with the first anchor I ever appeared on television with, Maggie O' Mara. I never knew in my wildest dreams that 11 years from that first appearance, I would be back promoting one of my regular spots on The Today Show. Sometimes life is so surreal.

Next stop was Mix 106 with "Mike and Kate in the Morning", Boise's #1 radio show. I always enjoy appearing on the show and bringing a variety of different exotic animals that literally take over the studio! With the help from a baby Joey from Babby Farms, and a few of my personal animals, we had quite great time!

The Today Show brings together a variety of different guests from all walks of life- celebrities, authors, musicians, experts, chefs- and it's always exciting to see who will be on the show the day of my appearance. (Past guests during my appearances include Chris Brown, Martha Stewart, James Franco, Helen Hunt, Train, and Miss Universe. ) This time around I was not disappointed!

The theme was Friday the 13th and animals that bring good or bad luck. I was so fortunate to work with some incredible animals! My favorites had to have been "Walter" the African Pied Crow or "Taffy" the White Fallow Deer. Did I mention we had to walk her through Rockefeller Center to get her into the studio? The looks on all the passerby were priceless. A lot of people wonder how I travel with the animals. In reality I don't travel with them at all. To avoid the stress of long distance travel, I only work with animals that live a few hours away from the studio on private animal reserves or rehabilitation centers.

I could not visit Studio 1 A without stopping by and visiting its most famous resident: Wrangler The Today Show's puppy with a cause. Unfortunately, Wrangler was is no mood to meet me! Maybe next time.

After a few busy press days, It was exciting to have a few days to relax and experience The Big Apple firsthand. I can honestly say we went on a complete pizza tour of the city, trying to find the best slice. Hands-down John's on Bleecker took the cake- no pun intended. We ending up eating there twice!

Less than 12 hours after leaving New York City, we hit the open road heading towards our final destination, St. Louis. It was such a change going from tall skyscrapers to the wide open spaces of the Great American West. My highlight had to have been spotting the herd of buffalo grazing on the Wyoming Prairie.

A large portion of my family and friends call St. Louis home, so it's no wonder I look forward to visiting every year. It's even nice stopping by some of the local St. Louis stations where I got my start many years ago. A special thanks goes out to my "reptile buddies" for allowing me to use some of their amazing animals during my segments on "Show Me St. Louis" and Fox 2 News.

I ended wrapping up March and my time in St. Louis doing something I've always dreamed of doing: Going behind-the-scenes with the hippos at the St. Louis Zoo. Hippos are my favorite animals and I've always been interested in their captive husbandry in zoological facilities. A behind-the-scenes tour of these large animals in any zoo is next to impossible to get. (Even some of my good friends who work at the zoo have never been granted access.) You can imagine my excitement when my friend Mark Wanner, Zoological Manager of Herps and Aquatics, arranged a tour while I was in town. It was an experience I'll never forget and a perfect way to wrap up such an eventful month!

I want to personally thank everyone for all the support and interest in my adventures with animals. I can't wait to share with you what's coming within the next few months :)

Behind-the-Scenes: "This is Africa" Lake Naivasha Part 1

It's been nearly two years in the making, and a project I'm so incredibly passionate and proud of: "This is Africa", a short, mini-episode series chronicling my adventures in Africa. As I write this now and look back on the footage, I can't believe that it was actually real. All my life I dreamed of visiting Africa and going on a wild safari. What I got was a lot more. Adventures I'll always remember, places I'll never forget, and animals that were out of this world. Hours upon hours of footage were filmed, cut, and edited to complete a story that was authentic and compelling for viewers. As producing and editing goes, so much was lost and not included in the finished product. So, I decided to dust off the old, tattered journal and share with you some of my notes, excerpts, thoughts, and feelings from the field with each mini-episode. I hope you enjoy as much as I did recording it. - Corbin

August 29, 2012

As I'm looking out the window, I still can't believe I'm flying over Africa. These are African lands! Life couldn't get better....Home sweet home. I know it sounds crazy, but I feel so at place, here in Africa...

The smell of Nairobi, Kenya I cannot explain. The best representation I could give is the smell of car exhaust fumes on a race track. The sights, sounds, traffic; I'm so happy to be back. I'm still amazed how there aren't as many accidents as one would think. Cars, trucks, and buses seriously move into each other. Jammin' out to my ipod, I had made it. I was here. I was back in Africa. 

August 30, 2012 

I slept like a baby last night. I have to say, the best I've had in quite awhile...I think I almost forgot about the cold showers here in Africa. They sure wake you up! Everything is so simple here. To shower you turn on a simple overhead spout ON and push a hot water button (Even though in my experience, it barely works!) 

As I'm writing, I'm eating Moose-Lee: a granola/oat tasting cereal. This is different...Let my diet begin! You mix it with with milk that comes in a paper carton; kind of odd but ok. Think I might go for the bananas instead. Today we are heading out to Lake Naivasha. My excitement can't even be put into words. Once again, I'm living the dream! 

Even though I've only driven to Naivasha once, I felt like a seasoned pro. I recognized landmarks and even stores I'd been to during my last trip...Less than an hour into the trip you hit your first view of the Great Rift Valley. This large, geological formation is one of the original Seven Wonders of the World. In the Kenyan side, it's home to more terrestrial vertebrates than anywhere else on the planet. The view is quite breathtaking. What I always remember about the rift is the loud trucks and red shops with sheep skins on the side of the road. Munir said many years ago the place was covered in Birds of Prey. Now, an hour in, we haven't seen a single one. 

There were more alarming conservation concerns brought up along the journey. The African continent is expanding at such a rapid rate. Where there used to be lions along the way, they now have been replaced by agriculture. Still, other wildlife is holding on. In between the huts and agriculture pastures, you can still see zebras, gazelles, and other ungulates. 

The first glimpse of the lake, I felt like I was at home. I felt like I had known this place for years. I feel just so comfortable at Lake Naivasha.

We drove directly to Sara Higgin's property where she and Simon Thomsett both rehabilitate raptors. Behind the large metal gate protecting her property from the outside world is a Garden of Eden paradise. Lush green grass, tall blooming Acacia trees with yellow-bark trunks, purple, pink, and red flowers; the list goes on. 

She owns 200 acres which serves as not only a raptor rehabilitation center, but a refuge for local wildlife. Zebra, waterbuck, and wildebeest all reside on her lawn looking out on Lake Naivasha. It was so nice to be back. 

After our tour of Sara's, we headed 20 minutes down the road to Elsamere. Boy was it strange pulling into the grounds! So many good memories have taken place here. It seems like yesterday I had just arrived for my very first time...Having my own cabin at Elsamere is fantastic! (As I'm writing outside my porch, I can hear the munch, munch, munch of the hippos feeding on the grass with their muscular lips.)...

August 31, 2012 

I have to note how I have no sense of time here in Africa. My phone is on power save mode and there is no time available. I randomly got up several times last night to make sure the sun wasn't rising. I even left Munir a note on his car saying "Please knock on my door. Alarm not working - watch out for hippos, Corbin." I have never been anywhere in the world where the sun rises so fast. 

I love breakfast at Elsamere. It's very simple: toast, two fried eggs, and instant coffee. I also love the sauces here. The red bottle is a tomato sauce and the yellow bottle is a spicy chili sauce- fantastic on an egg sandwich. 

Today's plan was to take a boat out and photograph fish eagles during sunrise on the lake. The shots were absolutely stunning. I had witnessed the eagles before, but nothing compared to seeing them dive for fish with an orange-sky backdrop. 

Next stop: Lake Nakuru National Park....

2014 Recap

2014 has been one incredible year! To be completely honest, it has flown by so fast that I can't even believe it's almost the New Year. I decided to put together a few of my favorite photos and do a "2014 recap." Although starting this task, it became incredibly hard and unrealistic to include all of my 3,000 plus photos on my phone. So, I decided to narrow them down and pick out my favorite photos and memories month by month. Hope you all enjoy and have a fantastic 2015!

January

I always look forward to the month of January. It's the beginning of a new year, new opportunities, and-in the case of my family- new animals! What stuck out most in my mind was the new addition to our family; Winslow the cow. Yes I said it, we have a pet cow. A lot of people often ask why we have a pet cow. It started simply with my sister's fascination of a lone cow she would pass everyday on the way to work. She soon got attached and nicknamed the cow "Kathy." (I can't tell you how many Snap Chat photo's I would receive of Kathy on a daily basis!) Months went by and Kathy grew larger and larger. One week before Christmas, Kathy disappeared. I'd like to think Kathy went away to a new farm...My sister was heart broken so on Christmas Eve we surprised her with a week old calf she named Winslow. The rest is history.

February

Winter out here in the Snake River Valley region is absolutely spectacular. Frost covers the tress and blankets of snow cover the river banks, while the river literally steams. The majority of the animals are in indoor facilities with an exception of a few, like Napoleon the emu. My cousin, who is a professional photographer, happened to capture one of my favorite pictures of Napoleon. (He even won first prize in a photo competition!) February also takes me back to the bittersweet end of "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno." The day after Jay's finale show, which included a handful of celebrities like Oprah, I received a call from one of Jay's head writers and producer who discovered me at 14. It was so surreal. Ten years had passed since my first appearance on "The Tonight Show" and I finally had the opportunity to sincerely thank the producer for the start of my television career with animals. That first booking led to several other appearances, and then on to other shows like "The Today Show" and "The Martha Stewart Show." I'm forever grateful.

March

In March we saw the return of an early spring! The animals (the tortoises in particular) were thrilled to explore their outdoor habitats in the sunshine. It also marked the beginning of the process of editing my Africa footage. I was thrilled to relive the moments in the Masai Mara and work one-on-one with my long time editor in the process. We ended up completing "Through the Eyes of a Vulture", a documentary about the plight of East Africa's declining vulture populations  http://youtu.be/HB-0vq8BN_c

April

In April, we turned a complete 360 from reliving the plains of East Africa, to visiting one of the busiest places on earth; New York City. It was a busy press month with appearances on "The Today Show", CBS's "The Couch", and Boise's Mix 106. It was also great bringing family along for the journey. Hands-down my favorite trip so far to New York.

May

May is one of my favorite months. It's a time when the majority of our animals move to their outdoor habitats. It's also a time when I start designing new exhibits and projects for the upcoming summer. There is also nothing like a spring thunderstorm!

June

Sometimes it's so hard for me to comprehend how a little boy from Robie Creek, Idaho made it all the way to New York City, to sit across from a TV icon like Kathie Lee Gifford. It makes all the years of volunteering, spending hours on local television, and going to school worthwhile. This appearance on "The Today Show" was also a something I'd never done before; appearing without animals. Instead, I was a "TODAY" expert, helping viewers with wildlife trivia.

July

July. My favorite month! The weather is fantastic, the animals are all enjoying the sunshine, floating the river becomes a weekly ritual, and the grill is always on. I also passed an important milestone in my life, turning 25. With age I even realized a new passion; radio. Luckily, Boise's number one morning show "Mike and Kate in the Morning" was the perfect outlet, and they were always eager to let me co-host and fill in for the day.

August

One of my favorite parts of August is knowing that at some point I'll be visiting family and friends in St. Louis. It's been a tradition for years and I'm always up for a road trip :) It also turned out to be a very busy press month, with appearances on "The Today Show" and local St. Louis affiliate stations.

September

We were very lucky this year to have an Indian summer. All throughout the month on September, the animals enjoyed an extended amount of time outside. (Normally, we begin housing them indoors because of the cooler weather.) One of my favorite memories is Winslow escaping from the pasture to join the tortoises grazing!

October

Fall is probably one of my favorite seasons. We begin to move the animals indoors and I generally wrap up any projects before the upcoming winter. This was not the case for October! I decided to design and build a bridge specifically over the creek for Napoleon the emu! I have to be the only person in the world who has ever attempted this! Even though the project wasn't necessary (Napoleon's habitat is plenty big enough), I'm always thinking of new ways to enrich the lives of the animals. Napoleon is already curious by nature. What better way to spark his curiosity than extend his habitat over the creek to a new grassy meadow! October was also full of numerous Halloween themed guest spots on "Mike and Kate in the Morning." My favorite had to be the trip to the Haunted World!

November

By November, the bridge was almost completed and I was gearing up for one of my favorite holidays; Thanksgiving. Every year we create elaborate diets for the animals and this year was no exception! What was unusual about this November, was the early winter weather we received. Snow hit hard and the temperatures dropped to all-time lows. It also marked my first appearance on Inside Edition where I gave my opinion on Discovery Channel's "Eaten Alive."

December

The month of December was eventful. Tinkerbelle the tortoise laid her eggs, Napoleon began the process of crossing the bridge, and I did my annual appearances with Prancer the reindeer.

As I look back on 2014, I can't help but think how fast time flies. It was such an incredible year and I can't wait for 2015!

Happy New Years everyone!

An Early Winter!

A record-breaking arctic blast has hit the majority of the lower 48, setting record lows and increased levels of snowfall. Never in my life have I experienced such a "white" November. I decided to share some personal photos and a behind-the-scenes look at how our animals are coping with the sudden cold.

A thick blanket of snow has suddenly covered our property here in the Snake River Valley region of Idaho. Normally we wouldn't see this level of snowfall until mid December- February.

All of the outdoor animal exhibits look like they belong in a scene from the classic Christmas song "Winter Wonderland."

Soni, our adult American Alligator, stays warm by completely submerging in his heated pool.

Besides Soni, all of our other reptilian residents have moved into indoor facilities. Here, our vacant North American Pond exhibit is covered in snow and ice.

Even though the tortoise yard is completely covered in snow, it doesn't stop Tinkerbelle from trying to explore! She's always been interested in snow and tries to analyze it given the opportunity. If the weather is decent and there's no wind, I'll occasionally open the door and give her the option of going outside. The last few days though, at 6 degrees, it's been way too cold.

Tank on the other hand has no desire for the snow. He enjoys staying warm under his 250 watt heat lamp.

Wouldn't these tracks freak you out if you saw them in your yard? They look like they belong more or less in a Jurassic Park movie!

Emus are actually surprisingly tolerant of the cooler weather and can withstand temperatures below zero. Still, we give Napoleon the option of a warm barn full of straw.

I couldn't write a winter blog update without mentioning Winslow our pet cow. He's been enjoying the weather more than any other animal on our property! No flies, cool temperatures and a thick, new winter coat!

The weather even inspired me to put the Christmas lights up early this year!

I want to finish with this picture I took on the banks of the river with the frosted covered trees in the crisp morning air. There is just simply nothing else like it. Until next time...