Migration 2013 update

All indication that the annual migration of wildebeests from Serengeti National park in Tanzania into Masai Mara game reserve in Kenya, now shows that it is starting in earnest. The first few wildebeests have crossed the border into Masai Mara south east of Lookout hill. By last week, according to my sources, the herds in Tanzania had taken a two pronged heading, with one herds heading into Grumeti (upper western corridor) and another herd heading towards Kogatende area. These would be the herds we are now seeing crossing over into the Mara.

Meanwhile in the Mara, the Loita herds have started heading into the park. These herds can now be seen on the conservancies to the East and North East of the Reserve. Currently there is a high concentration around Musiara gate and the plains towards Rhino Ridge and south East towards Talek gate. There are also a lot of zebras concentrated at the balloon landing site on the Mara Triangle. We expect as the main herds progress in movement from the south, the Loita herds will play a role in filling the gap as they move into the reserve.These are usually the first ones to cross the river at paradise crossing point west onto the Triangle.

The herds from the south were expected to delay due to the amount of grass in their way, but looks like they have marched faster. I will keep updating on progress.

A treat in the Mara as a Roan antelope is sightied

For the last two days, we have been treated to a rare sighting of a Roan antelope in the Mara. The antelope, a male, was first sighted near Roan hill to the south of the reserve, just North of sand river. Now the hill named after this antelope has once again reclaimed its name!

The antelope moved from the area where it was first sighted northwards into the central plains, then Burrungat, thereafter crossed the Talek River north, where he settle among the Topi. However, I think he may not stay here long since the place is a high use zone. Many people also are coming to this area to see the rare animal, therefore might create a disturbance, causing it to leave the area.

Roan antelopes used to occur in the Mara until the early 90s (1993 to be precise, according to Brian Heath, the CEO Mara conservancy) when the last one was sighted on the Oloololo escarpment. They used to be found here but since they used to move outside the reserve, they became highly susceptible to poaching. Remaining Roan Antelope in South and western Kenya, are to be found in Lambwe valley, near Lake Victoria. Most believe that these animals used to migrate into the Mara at some point when there was an open corridor, which has sadly been closed due to human habitation. I think even the one now in the Mara, may have strayed from there, ended up in Northern Serengeti and now in the Mara.

The Roan antelope (Hippotragus equinus) it is one of the largest species of antelope. They measure 190–240 cm (75–94 in) from the head to the base of tail and the tail measures 37–48 cm (15–19 in). The body mass of males is 242–300 kg (530–660 lb) and of females is 223–280 kg (490–620 lb). The shoulder of this species is typically around 130–140 cm (51–55 in). Named for their roan colour (a reddish brown), they have lighter underbellies, white eyebrows and cheeks and black faces, lighter in females. They have short, erect manes, very light beards and prominent red nostrils. The horns are ringed and can reach a metre long in males, slightly shorter in females. They arch backwards slightly. They are similar in appearance to sable antelope and can be confused where their ranges overlap. Sable antelope males are darker, being black rather than dark brown.

Roan antelope are found in woodland and grassland savanna, mainly in the tropical and subtropical grasslands, savannas, and shrublands biome, which range in tree density from forest with a grassy understorey. They form harem groups of five to 15 animals with a dominant male. Roan antelope commonly fight among themselves for dominance of their herd, brandishing their horns while both