Per Cynthia Moss: We had 23 mm (almost an inch) of rain here in Nairobi last night. It smelled wonderful. It's a start; just hoping it will continue.

Jan's note: We should all hope and pray the rain continues and reaches all areas
of the country.

Good news!!!

AMEN! Thanks for the heads up on this news, Jan....now I hope it eventually rains like that in Amboseli for the eles and other wildlife.

Have been reading about "rainwater harvesting" and how it can be done in small, simple ways and on larger scale....tying to keep and hold this precious liquid from evaporating or just draining into the dust.

CNN had a story about a fellow in Rajastan, India's dry, dusty northwest, has been putting this idea into practice and the results have been quite dramatic....lots of ponds, reservoirs, catchment areas that have been turned from deserts to grass, trees, reeds with abundant water for people, livestock and wildlife.

Kat: I too am elated that there has at least been some rain. However, I hope it goes
country-wide so that all areas will have the benefit.

The rainwater harvesting is something my grandmother did 70 years ago. She had large wooden barrels under each down spout from the roof and used it for watering animals, watering the gardens and even hand washing some clothing. They did not use it for drinking though.

Since this is far from a new idea, I wonder why it hasn't been done in the third-world countries. We see women walking so far with the gerry cans on their heads to get water in a filthy stream or waterhole, and then have to lug it back, often with a baby on their backs. Life could be a little easier if they would start doing this.

hopefully the "short rains" will be sufficient and gradually saturating the needs of both people and animals.

i am also hoping the rains won't be so torrential as it was in 2007 when late dec and early jan cars got stuck all over eat africa.

great news . I know the animals were happy when they smelled the rain! Most people today don't pay attention to the smell of the rain. I am trying to teach the grandkids to notice nature.