September often sits at the threshold of the short rains, creating a transitional atmosphere in the Masai Mara. Despite this, the hot days, golden grasslands, and dusty tracks preserved the quintessential safari atmosphere that defines this iconic destination.
The Mara in September – photo credit Cathy Mulhern
We recorded just 36.8mm of rainfall, almost half of last year’s total for the same month. A prolonged dry spell lasted from 16th August to 3rd September, until a brief 22mm overnight downpour brought a soft flush of green to the fringes of the Musiara Marsh.
A downpour across the Musiara Marsh – photo credit Phoebe Sachse
Rain threatens across the Masai Mara – photo credit Naserian Barbrah
Mid-month, another 60mm of rain briefly revived the plains before drying out again, followed by a final 60mm during the last few days – marking the slow shift toward the “short rains”. Overall, it was a hot, dry month, with many of the usual waterholes shrinking into thick, muddy wallows – bubbling in the heat and kept from hardening only by the constant churning by hippos.
Photo credit Cathy Mulhern
Early mornings saw lows of 12°C, rising to highs of 28°C during the day. Layering up remained essential for guests heading out on morning drives in order to adjust to the temperature swings.
Dawn breaks over the Mara – photo credit Naserian Barbrah
By late September, sunrises began as early as 06:27, making first light an ideal time to head out on game drive. Early mornings are when wildlife is at its most active, and the soft golden tones are perfect for photography. The air tends to carry a fine dust this time of year, creating beautiful backlit effects, though it’s wise to keep your lens covered when not in use.
Heading out on the first drive of the day – photo credit Saidi Juma
The Masai Mara seldom fails to provide an incredible sunset, with timings ranging between and 18:33 and 18:42 throughout the month. On the 22nd of September, the vernal equinox occurred at precisely 9:19 PM local time, with the sun directly above the equator, giving us equal day and night.
The sun sets behind the Oloololo Escarpment – photo credit Elisha Kimtai
The grasslands underwent a subtle transformation, with a muted flush of green spreading along the base of the Oloololo Escarpment in the Mara Triangle. As a natural rainfall catchment area, the Triangle holds onto moisture far longer than the open plains of the Reserve, allowing it to remain green as the rest of the Mara begins to dry out.
The contrast between the parched plains, the greening marshes and the blue-ish haze that blankets the slopes of the escarpment makes for dramatic scenery, with wildlife concentrating in these prime feeding zones. Breeding herds of elephants are especially drawn to these lush areas, where tender grasses offer higher protein content – ideal nourishment for their growing calves.
Colours and contrasts of the Mara landscape – photo credit Cathy Mulhern
Elephant mothers lead the way for their young – photo credit Cathy Mulhern
With the resident lions remaining at the very core of their territory throughout September, giraffes have been moving – ever cautiously – between wooded areas and the open plains.
Photo credit Elisha Kimtai
Mature bulls will efficiently forage at heights of up to six meters above the ground, with their necks stretched upright, although their most important food sources tend to be the tops of tall shrubs at about three meters high. Nursing mothers, on the other hand, have been observed to feed with their necks at a horizontal angle.
Scores of topis were sighted on the shorter grass plains east of Musiara, around Bila Shaka and on the eastern fan of Rhino Ridge. There are plenty of wobbly young calves amongst these groups, often getting in the way of temperamental males that are busy rutting and asserting their territories.
Topis and calves grazing – photo credit Cathy Mulhern
Zebras, too, are accompanied by relatively new foals, or appear to be heavily pregnant and could potentially drop their young at any moment. Other grazers, such as Thomson’s and Grant’s gazelles, impala, and eland, have been concentrated in more resource-rich pockets of shorter grass areas – offering prime ambush opportunities for the local predators.
Following on from the exciting month of August, the Marsh Pride remained in and around their core territory of the Musiara Marsh and adjacent plains. Clear sightings of all members have been great, especially when they decide to walk along the roads. On the 6th September, Nusurika, Naserian, Lola, Kito and Enkerai were seen on the move in the early hours, with Ukingo and Djodjo following closely.
5/6 Marsh Pride females – photo credit Phoebe Sachse
Marsh Pride females on the move – photo credit Phoebe Sachse
The females in this pride are incredibly close-knit and are always together, only breaking away to mate with the males or den with their cubs. Hunting is a coordinated affair, with each lioness knowing her place and role. Young Nusurika, who has been somewhat elusive over the past year while the Topi Boys asserted their dominance, has now emerged more confident and can even be seen leading the way on occasion.
Marsh Pride females – photo credit Cathy Mulhern
Naserian, Lola, Enkerai and Nusurika – photo credit Phoebe Sachse
Lola – photo credit Phoebe Sachse
On 23rd August, Kito’s tracking collar automatically detached after completing its 18-month cycle, and the Musiara Rangers successfully retrieved it. Fitted initially in March 2023 by the Mara Predator Conservation Programme, the collar provided invaluable data on Kito’s real-time movements, helping park management anticipate boundary crossings and reduce potential conflict with neighbouring livestock owners.
Kito drags a topi carcass – photo credit Naserian Barbrah
Kito, Naserian and Enkerai – photo credit Cathy Mulhern
Meanwhile, the Topi Boys continued to dominate the Musiara region, earning celebrity status among top photographers and professional guides. The ever-changing dynamics and pressures in this coalition of seven young males have ensured that activities such as patrolling, territorial marking and internal disputes remain at the top of their agenda. There is never a dull moment where the Topi Boys are concerned.
Ukingo, Nzuri and Kiongozi – photo credit Phoebe Sachse
In September, Ukingo was seen mating with Marsh Pride female Enkerai and also lioness Amara, who is the daughter of breakaway Marsh Pride female, Spot. Romances aside, Ukingo tends to spend a lot of time with Djodjo and Otipo and the three are often seen relaxing very close to one another.
Djodjo and Ukingo – photo credit Phoebe Sachse
Notable leopard sightings this month included the beautiful Faulu, who sought shade beneath one of our vehicles on one very hot afternoon – much to the delight of our guests!! We also had great sightings of Luluka, one of the Mara’s most celebrated leopards, who is still accompanied by her significantly grown male cub, Olomunyak.
Faulu – photo credit Phoebe Sachse
Luluka – photo credit Saidi Juma
After three months of migration activity, vultures have been stocking up on the abundance of decaying carcasses at various crossing points along the Mara River, as well as those abandoned by predators on the open plains.
Vultures and a marabou stork – photo credit Saidi Juma
Once abundant across East Africa, vulture populations have plummeted due to poisoning, habitat loss, and a decline in available carrion. In the Mara, these critically endangered raptors play a vital ecological role – swiftly cleaning up carcasses left behind by predators and preventing the spread of disease.
Conservation efforts led by the Mara Raptor Project and other partners are crucial in protecting nesting sites, monitoring populations, and raising awareness about the urgent need to safeguard these remarkable birds before it’s too late.
Rüppell’s and African white-backed vultures feed on a carcass – photo credit Phoebe Sachse
If you’d like to find out more about a safari in September, please visit the link below.
A SAFARI IN SEPTEMBER
