Friday, July 24, 2009

Change in the migration pattern


The migration took a dramatic change at the end of the past week. All the excitement at the crossing died out when most of the herds from the eastern side of the Mara River crossed west. Once on the Mara triangle (The western side of the park) most herds headed south into northern Serengeti. This was a quick exit, since they were expected to stay in the Mara till November as is always the case. Our observation shows that the change in the rain pattern and the burning of the grass in northern Serengeti played a role in this change of events. Driving along the border shows that the herds have settled on the Serengeti side on recently burnt plains. There is usually a massive burning of the grass in July in Northern Serengeti. When the short rains come in August, these plains flourish with lush nutritious grass thereby attracting many herbivores including the migrating herds.

Most of the central Mara is now almost empty except for a high concentration of an isolated herd to the north around between Rhino ridge and Musiara Marsh and to the south just below look out hill. All is not lost because the movement of the herds inside Serengeti shows they are bound for the Mara again. Most of them once inside the Serengeti are heading east along the burn grounds, feeding as they move and entering the Mara again just south of lookout hill.

There have been sporadic crossings below lookout hill and at paradise crossing point. These crossings however, are not as dramatic as it gets sometimes, since the water is very low in the river and the animals crosses easily. This can be attributed to the failure of the short rains at this time.

From experience, as was the case in 1998 and 2005, when wildebeests disappeared only to return shortly, the herds will be on their way into the Mara again. However the change in the rain patterns and the confusion brought by sporadic burning of the grass are expected to cause some changes in the concentration and duration of stay in the Mara.

Big Cats
All the lion prides in our game viewing areas can be seen and have been giving our guests good sightings including daylight hunts. There are six prides of lions within our game viewing reach from Mara Intrepids/Explorer. These are; lookout pride, Olkeju-Rongai pride, Ridge pride, Paradise pride, Marsh pride and Olkiombo pride. With all these prides in our game viewing zone, you can never have better lion sightings.

Leopards’ sightings have been good the past week. There was however an unfortunate incident where a female leopard was killed by another due to territorial fights south of the Talek river.

Cheetah sightings have been very good. We had a record of seeing 12 cheetahs in a day recently. With the concentration of plain game going up, we will be having superb sightings the coming weeks.

Wednesday, July 15, 2009

The dead leopard in an earlier picture taken 20/2/2008
( Note her lower lip and missing upper left canine)

Jackson, Daniel (A guest) and myself with the dead cat



Yesterday morning, was a very sad moment fro the guides in the central Mara region. This is because, one of the key leopards in the area, was found dead, having being killed by another leopard, highly suspected to be olive. The overlap in their territories has resulted in these leopards living in close proximity to each other.

When I heard of the bad news in the morning, I called my friend and colleague on BCL, Jackson Looseyia, who without hesitation, rushed to the scene and I found him there with guides from other camps too. We also allowed guests to come and see as we explained what happened. She died just east of the Mar-Talek junction.

Olive, her daughter Binti and son Kali still roam the Talek river up and down between Mtamaiyo lugga and the Mara-Talek junction. This area saw a good concentration of small herbivores before the wildebeest arrived recently, and that provided a good food resource for the leopards in the area. We attribute the conflict to the overlap in territories and competition for food.

The dead leopard is the mother of one that has been named as Lorian, and is almost a permanent resident of Olkeju-Rongai area. The common feature on her helped us with identity when we found her dead.

Wednesday, July 8, 2009

Masai Mara this week


Migration location in the Mara

Wildebeest at sunrise

Great Sunsets over the week
wildebeest at Sunrise


The eagle and leopard kill

This past few days has seen a lot happen in Masai Mara on the migration front. From my update last week, I mentioned that we anticipated a slow progress of the herds heading north due to the amount of grass in the way. However, what happened the last 5 days shows that nature acts beyond our predictions, such that there will always be something going behind our backs when we least expect.

The wildebeest and quite a few zebras headed due north from their location last week and arrived just south of Talek gate in two days. From here, the herds headed west to settle on the lower Burrungat plains, before splitting into two groups. Some animals crossed the Talek river north and others have been streaming west to the Mara river. For the last 2 days, a few hundred animals have crossed over to the Mara triangle. They have been crossing in two places north of look out hill.
There was also an exciting crossing at the lower Olkeju-Rongai when most animals crossed south towards look out hill. The river is almost dry, but seeing these animals rush through the river bed was exciting.

The week has been one of great photographic opportunity, with great sunset and sunrises the past three days. My favourite was just watching the sun set/rise with the wildebeest on the horizon. On a different sighting this week, I saw a leopard with kill up one of the balanites trees. She had a Thomson’s gazelle. When she came down to go to the water hole to drink, a daring bateleur eagle landed on the tree and proceeded to the carcass, where it tried frantically to feed on it. It was unfortunate as it had no where to stand well so as to feed.

Other great sightings over the week were those of lions, cheetah (Shakira) with cubs and other leopards.

HAPPY WEEK:

Friday, July 3, 2009

Breaking news! Wildebeest migration in Masai Mara




Contrary to what many people thought, the wildebeests have now entered the Mara! Many believed that with the amount of grass on the migration route, the wildebeest might not come to the Mara after all. On a fact finding mission round the Mara this morning, I confirmed that the annual natural event is now taking place here as usual. Though this is still in its’ initial stages, every indication shows that the stage is set for the world’s most fascinating wildlife spectacle. round the entry points along the Mara and Serengeti border.

A herd of almost 30,000 wildebeest have crossed the border near sand river gate. They could be seen this morning taking their traditional route towards Roan hill. Some have already moved all the way up towards Talek gate. The plains now between Mara Sarova, Roan Hill and Talek gate is teeming with the first herds that have moved into the area. The first animals arrived about 6 days ago.

Their movement however is slower because of the amount of grass in their way. Since May we have continued having intermittent rains which has made the plains covered in long green grass. This is expected to slow the migration movement north. Looking onto the Serengeti from the sand river, one can see isolated herds of zebra and wildebeest heading north though reluctantly. We anticipate this concentration to build as the herds push up north into the Mara.

Speaking to the northern Serengeti national park patrol personnel, they informed me that the rest of migrating herds are in the acacia woodlands between Seronera area and the international border.

The Loita population has also moved into the Mara. They came in about a week ago. A herd of about 4,000 zebras and wildebeest can be seen around Musiara gate in the north and others just south east of the Talek gate, and this consist mainly of Zebras. Their concentration however is still low but we expect a build up in the coming weeks.

The Mara predators in the areas where the herds are concentrated have suddenly woken up to the season of plenty again. The marsh pride lions have now established themselves along Bila Shaka stream where the wildebeest are coming for a drink. Since the entry of the migrating herds into the area, these lions have always had something to eat.

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