Month: July 2007
Weather and grasslands:
Favourable conditions with cool mornings
and moderate north-easterly winds, although a little rain received later on in
the month, total rainfall for the month was 33.5mm. Early morning temps average
17 °C and midday can reach 31°C, much of the Mara reserve and adjoining
grassland plains are now drying up and access to all areas are now an option.
Gnus update!
On the 21st this month news of many
Wildebeest and Zebra were being sighted near the sand river area of the southern
Mara and by the 22nd many of them could be seen moving up into the Burangat
plains and large herds were also seen between Keekorok and the Mara river
bridge. More animals can be seen closing in to the Talek river areas. The good
numbers of Lion here have been very active with many Wildebeest being seen
taken. Picnic breakfasts and lunches are now being taken on a daily basis as the
game drives are long.
Zebra crossings!
Many Zebra have moved down from the east
with excellent sightings of them crossing the river at the Paradise crossing
points. There has also been some good crocodile activity with a good number of
animals not crossing. Paradise, Topi plains and Rhino ridge are good places to
see them.
General Game:
Defassa Waterbuck
males in satellite herds, breeding herds of females and calves, Olive
baboons are all residents within the woodlands of the camps along with
Impala and more often Giraffe who can also be
seen. There have been some good sightings of Bushbuck with some
dark coloured males being noted, early mornings and evenings being good times to
see them. Topi in some quite large herds of which a herd of 165
animals was counted and can be seen on the paradise plains near to the crossing
points with the Rhino Ridge grassland plains being another good area to see
them. Elephant in small family related units spend much of
their time between the grasslands and woodland areas outside of the reserve and
can often be seen in the camps at night. Two large males have been seen in the
marsh one of which crosses back and forth to the other side. A herd of 250
Buffalo can be seen much of the time in the grassland areas of
Bila Shaka and Musiara. Eland in small herd sizes are also
being seen and the Paradise plains are good places to see them. Cokes
Hartebeest can also be seen in much the same areas as Topi but in
smaller herd sizes averaging not ore than 6. Warthog and their
young can also be seen in most grassland areas now; warthog are diurnal and are
more of a grazer than their cousins who are more nocturnal in their foraging
habits. Thomson Gazelles will be found still in the shorter
grass areas with females in loose associated herds and some large herds of
males, the conservation areas of Koiyaki are good places to see them.
Grants Gazelles can also be seen in the longer grasses with Paradise
and the Topi plains being good areas for them. Good sightings being reported of
Bat eared Fox’s being seen more often, they are an
insectivorous little canid and hopefully as the wildebeest move on in there will
be more of them seen. The Male Black Rhino is still being seen
within the paradise area and often not far from the river.
Cats
Lion:
-
The Bila Shaka/Marsh pride
of three males, four breeding females and three 24
month old sub adult females are more often seen in the Bila Shaka and
Musiara areas. The two last remaining sub adult males have moved out and
were last seen east of Bila Shaka. One of the breeding females has been
mated with one of the males. They have been feeding off Zebra and
Topi.
-
The lone female
and her two 12 month old cubs a male and female have been seen on the
Grassland plains of Rhino Ridge and also in the Bila Shaka areas.
-
The Rhino ridge pride
of three breeding females and two males have not been seen often and
mainly they were last seen towards the Topi plains.
-
The Paradise/ridge pride
of three males, five breeding females, three
sub-adults, six 18 month old cubs, four 14 month old cubs, one 12 month
old cub and two 8 month old cubs. Latterly the five females and 11 of
the cubs are more often seen at Paradise, they have been feeding off the
many Zebra that been moving through.
-
The Single Gorge/Acacia pride
of 3 breeding females, three 11-month-old cubs and two males. The three
females and two males are more often seen and we still do not know the
whereabouts of the three 11 month old cubs and one female. They have
been seen on the plains above the ‘Fly-over’ and also on the east side
of the Olare Orok River. On the morning of the 28th the three females
were seen on the remains of a freshly killed Wildebeest when as many as
15 Hyena who quickly turned up and promptly chased the three lionesses
off their kill.
Cheetah:
-
Honey’s
three 16-month-old male cubs are still well and apparently are healthy,
they can still be found on the plains below Kichwa Tembo and Little
Governors Camp.
-
The single male has been seen again
around the grassland plains of Paradise and he has been seen feeding off
Thomson and Grants Gazelle. He has a little mange around his eyes and
ears and we hope this does not get any worse.
-
A single female is being seen near
Paradise and more so close to the double-crossing areas. She has been
seen feeding off Impala and Thomson Gazelle.
Leopard:
-
The single Female who has two 9
month old cubs a male and female have again been seen often close to the
proximity of the Governor’s camps. She has been sighted more often
recently in the woodlands close to Governors IL Moran camp.
-
A Male has been seen quite often
near Governors’ Private camp.
-
Zawadi has
again been seen in the conservation side north of the Musiara gate, on
the morning of the 24th a good sighting was seen of her with a Thomson
gazelle kill high up in a fig tree.
-
A Female who is apparently Bella has
been seen within the Talek river woodlands, good sightings recorded were
on the 15th and 18th although reports of good viewings have been
recorded by other professional driver guides in the region.
Walking in Koiyaki Conservation
Area.
The walking area lies north east of the
Masai Mara game reserve.
Walks have been busy this month although
mornings have been very cool. Good sightings in the Acacia woodlands of
Elephant with a large tusked male that has been wandering through. The
large herd of Buffalo have seen often in the immediate area due
to the good grass available with a few solitary bulls also being seen. A small
herd of Eland cows have also been about in the Euclea divinorum
marsh areas of the salt lick, there are also three large bulls that are seen
from time to time. The three lionesses of the Acacia pride have
been seen east of the Olare Orok River and one of the males was seen on the
24th. Serval cats have also been sighted in the long grass
areas of the woodlands. Spotted Hyenas have also been seen on the Plains above
the ‘fly-over’ with some good interactions with lion; they are both competitive
predators and will compete over prey species. A few good sightings of an
Aardwolf have also been recorded seen and this is a treat as
these animals are a specialised Hyenid and are strictly nocturnal due to their
insectivorous diet of harvester termites. Good numbers of Zebra
have been seen moving down from the east. Topi and
Impala are also seen on a daily basis and the woodland areas are good
places for these.
