Monday, September 13, 2010

The current location of the migration

Over the past one week, the unseasonal rains we got in the Mara stirred alot of movement of the migrating herds of wildebeests and zebra. The herds were mainly heading to teh recently burnt areas with a hope of new grass after the rains. However though this is what normally happens, it takse a botu a week of sufficient rains for the grass to grow to a palatable level.

There were heavy crossing of the wildebeests in the last few days at paradise crossing point with the wildebeests crossing from teh eastern side of the Mara to the Marar triangle. Many wildebeests died at the cul de sac corner when they tried crossing teh river, when crocodiles pounced on teh them a swell as many drowing as the trampled on each other trying to go over a steep bank. I also counted so many bodies floatign downstream from a crossing point int eh forested area upstream from paradise crossing point. There were also Topi and Thomsons gazelles that tried crossing, only to end up drawning or being killed by the crocs. There were also alot of crossing activities on the Talek river, with many animals crossing north from the central plains where there is still a big number.
It is a season of plenty for the Mara predators; the marsh pride which i hazve been watching fro teh past 2 weeks, killed 16 wildebeests in 4 days. On one evening, tehy killed 4 wildebeests a few metres from each other. i did not have to move from my location but just watch ast the lions wastes the poor wildebeests. i anticipate the wildebeests will stay in the Mara a bit more due to teh rains. the crossings are expected to continue into the coming week and beyong.



Map of the Mara showing the current location of the wildebeests and crossing points

The pictures below were taken at these crossing points by Aatish and Aashit Patel who have been my guests and photography students for the past two years. They are now taking better better pictures than me!



Friday, September 3, 2010

Latest report on the migration

The wildebeest migration is still on in the Masai Mara game reserve. Over the past week, teh herds of migrating animals are concentrated in two areas; one such high concentration is around Musiara marsh and over the northern sidz of Rhino ridge. I can say this is the highest concentration in the area i have seen recently.
The other high concentration is down side along the sand river. Big herds of animals can now bee seen on both sides of the river. Most of the animals here could bee seen a few days ago heading towards the recently burnt areas north of Kuka hills in the Serengeti into the Mara and between Keekorok lodge and Roan hill. The central plains and the Mara triangle also host a concentration though not as high as in the places described above. Many wildebeests have been crossing in the last week in big numbers from the Mara triangle onto paradise plains and onward to the marsh and Bila Shaka areas.
The marsh pride of lions have been killing wildebeests on a daily basis. Two days ago they killed 5 wildebeests! But only ate 2 living the rest to the hyaenas. I was lucky yesterday evening with the BBC filming crew (whom i am driving) when we witnessed a killed within 10 minutes off our arrival at a lion sighting; the stalking, chase, kill... everything on film!
I have been seeing many cheetahs in the Mara recently. There are 3 males roaming the eastern side of the Mara which are seen daily. Their coalition is very strong that i have seen them kill even adult wildebeests. We also have one female with some young cubs near Olkeju-Rongai river.
I have been lucky with leopard sightings too. I have been seeing Olive and her two cubs along the Talek river. There is no better place in the Mara to watch leopards.

Map of the Mara showing the location of the herds

A cheetah with cubs near lookout hill

Leopard drinking at the Talek river

Olive;s cubs now 14 months old playing

One of the dominant male lions from Keekorok pride

The concentration of wildebeests around Musiara marsh

                   A  cheetah held me hostage by sleeping under my vehicle for hours near lookout hill

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