Migration news from Masai Mara

For the past two days there have been a lot of activities at the Mara river by Look out hill where the wildebeest have been crossing over to the triangle. However, there has been a change in direction of movement of the herds. The main herd wildebeest has now headed North and North East of Lookout hill. The lower Burrungat and central plains were teeming with herds of the migrating animals today with mini crossings at Olkeju-Rongai stream that was witnessed for hours!

Gin by the pace seen today, the herds may reach the Talek river by tomorrow to cross over North to Rhino ridge.

The Ridge pride has now moved to Olkeju-Rongai, an area still new to them, but could not resist pushing into this place to welcome the wildebeests. They killed 3 yesterday in one place and this morning killed one. It is now the season of plenty again for the Mara predators, who over the last few months have had to live on anything that came by. This is what led the Notch boys to engage in hunting Hippos.

I will keep updating on the migration from the ground

Latest migration update (Masai Mara)

After my last post on the migration in the Mara a few days ago, the movement of the herds has been going on progressively. The herds from the south have taken two headways, with one herd heading west of Roan Hill towards the Mara river and the other herd heading due North of Keekorok lodge. The west bound herds by toady are approaching Look out hill with all indication that we may witness the first crossing in the next two days.

The anticipated slow movement across the plains due to a lot of grass, has been overtaken by reality, since the herds are advancing as usual.

The Northern migration has not made much progress. The herds of mainly zebras are still between the conservancies and the reserve, with the lead herds around Topi plains and Musiara.

I will keep updating on the migration progress as things happen on the ground

Migration update- 2012

After a long wait, the wildebeests have now entered the Mara! This was confirmed yesterday after a fact finding mission round the entry points along the Mara and Serengeti border. Though this is still in its’ initial stages, every indication shows that the stage in the Mara is set for the world’s most fascinating wildlife spectacle, now termed as one of the new 7 wonders. The delay in arrival of the wildebeest was due to the amount of grass in their way. Since the beginning of the year, we have had continuous rains which resulted long grass on the plains across the Serengeti-Mara ecosystem.

A herd of almost 10,000 wildebeest have crossed the border between Sand river gate and Naimalumbwa hills. They could be seen yesterday taking their traditional route towards Roan hill. 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 fellow guides in Serengeti national park, they informed me that the migrating herds have taken three wings one wing heading north from Grumeti area through Wogakuria. These herds should be crossing the Mara River inside Serengeti anytime into Masai Mara. The second wing is approaching Bologonja from the south and we have started to see a few of these animals crossing the Sand River into the Mara in the last couple of days. The third wing has come through Klein’s and most of these now crossing into the Mara round the eastern side of Kuka hills.

The Loita population of wildebeests and zebras has also moved into the Mara. They came in about four days 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. Most of these herds are moving into the reserve from the conservancies of Mara North, Olare-Orok etc, where they have been over the past few months.

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.We have also seen Hyaenas along in these areas killing the young wildebeest’s calves.

Catching up with my cats in 'My Office'

After long safaris outside my “office”, i am now back and has been great catching up with my cats.

On  the first few days of my safari this season, i have been able to catch up with my favourite cat, Olive, the leopard at Olare-Orok river. On a morning two days ago, i found her strolling along a track on the southern part of the river. She later tried to hunt some Impala but the wind betrayed her. The Impalas soon found her out in the long grass. Later that day, she killed a waterbuck across the river from Mara Explorer camp

In the afternoon, i and my guests went up Olare-Orok river to the salt lick area where i found another of my cats, Malaika, the cheetah with her two cubs. She entertained us the whole afternoon playing with her cubs, and then, to my guests surprise/shock, she jumped onto the roof of our land rover. This habit which has been passed down the female cheetah generation from her grandmother “Amber” or “Queen”. The tall grass in the Mara currently, is even making her do this quite often to spot prey in a distance. The two male cheetah (Honey’s boys) are also int he same vicinity for the last 3 days.

Yesterday morning i went to the Marsh to look for the pride, including the Musketeers. I was lucky to see two of the Musketeers. Scar face was mating with one of the females. I also saw Sienna with one sub-adult female. They were trying to hunt by the time we left in the evening yesterday.

Although everyone is still concerned about the delayed migration of wildebeests and zebras into the Mara, i think there is enough to see as far as the cats are concerned. Welcome to my bush  office, where nothing sticks to a routine or predictable pattern. You just have to appreciate what comes your way each day!

 Olive strolls on a path along Olare-Orok river

 Malaika drinking at the salt lick area of Olare-Orok

 Olive's cub in a bush where they were feeding on a waterbuck

 Malaika scanning the plains from a termite mount. 

she killed an Impala fawn a few minutes after i took this picture

 Scar face at the Marsh yesterday

 Sienna stalking some Zebras