July in the Masai Mara

This month we have experienced cool mornings with temperatures ranging from15°C rising to 28°C during the day. There has been sporadic rainfall during the month with our area only receiving 41 mm.

The water level in the Musiara marsh is very low. Although the spring in the north end of the marsh is still flowing it needs several days or weeks of rainfall to revive it. The Marsh is the only known breeding area in East Africa for Rufous-bellied Herons and is normally a great place to see various Herons, Egrets, Purple Gallinules, Black Crakes and much more. Also the Elephant herds love to spend time there during the hot hours. The water level in the Mara River has risen slightly as there has been a little more rain in the Mau Forest which feeds it.

Photo courtesy of Thor Karstad

One day guests on a Balloon flight from Little Governors were very lucky to witness a lone zebra crossing the Mara River. At first it was attacked by 3 crocodiles but managed to escape only to be ambushed by 2 lioness’s as it climbed out of the river. The lionesses were then joined by a large male lion. All this was filmed and transmitted live by WildEarth for Safarilive. You can watch the footage on the header of our facebook page. 

There have been many of sightings of Hippos far from water as they search for grass. There have also been a number of sightings of male Hippos fighting in the river and some of our guests were lucky to witness a very fierce fight between 2 males on the land. Despite the difficult times there have been several babies born in our area. Just before birth the female hippo leaves her home pod ( pod- hippos DNA is very close to that of whales) and gives birth in shallow water. The baby (25-55 kg) is helped to the surface and then spends a lot of the time lying on the mother’s neck. This is a very dangerous time for the newborn as crocodiles often snatch them even though they are closely guarded by their mother. After a period of 1 to 2 weeks the female introduces her baby to the pod but even now the baby is not safe as when fighting takes place between males they are very vulnerable and can easily be trampled upon and even attacked during the turmoil that takes place.

Photo courtesy of Thor Karstad

There are several large groups of Topi in the Bila Shaka area and also in Paradise Plains. Small herds of Coke’s Hartebeest are also common this month as are Eland. Many of the Eland have taken up residence in the Musiara area and along the Bila Shaka. Eland are normally very shy animals but of late more of them seem to be accepting safari vehicles without running away. As always there are many Impala herds, consisting of a single male with 20 or more females and bachelor herds consisting of male of various ages, all looking very healthy. Both Thompson and Grant’s Gazelles are common whereever there is short grass and are the principal prey of Cheetahs. Because the grass is so short Bohor Reedbuck are now being seen regularly, normally they hide in long grass or reeds along the Bila Shaka and the Musiara Marsh. Masai Giraffe are common sometimes they are found in small groups but very often all alone, lone Masai Giraffe are usually older males. Now that grass levels are low, Serval Cats are also much easier to spot and we have had lovely sightings in the Bila Shaka area. Spotted Hyenas, the most common predator here in the Mara are particularly numerous now. Many of their dens contain babies of different sizes from different mothers, the youngest are black and look very adorable. The black colouration slowly disappears over a few weeks. Young Hyenas are born with their eyes open and with teeth. Female hyenas usually give birth to 1 or 2 young and occasionally 3. As she has only 2 teats, 3 babies rarely survive. Now the “Migration” is here hunting has become much easier for them and most kills are Wildebeest.

Photo courtesy of Thor Karstad

The “Migration” is well and truly here our guests have experienced many spectacular crossings of the Mara River. As well as the migrating Wildebeest and Zebra there are large numbers of resident Wildebeest and Zebra which have moved into the Mara from the North Mara Conservancies.

Photos courtesy of Dana Allen

Lions

Scar, in last month’s newsletter we reported that Scar was limping badly and favouring his rear left leg, and that he is not actively seen mating and his tenure has likely come to an end. Well once again he has proven us all wrong, not only is he walking without any sign of a limp, he is back mating again! In fact he is looking in better shape than he has for some years!

Photo courtesy of Dave Richards

There have been no sightings of the lioness Charm for quite some time while Marsh lioness Yaya and her two, 25 month old female sub-adult cubs are being seen in the Miti Nyuki ( two beautiful Fig trees that have bees living in them ) area along Rhino Ridge. The six Paradise males seem to have taken up residence in the “Manager” crossing area

The four Musketeers Scar, Morani and Hunter and Sikio have taken up residence near the main “Migration” crossing point of the Mara River.

The Paradise Pride of six lionesses and their cubs of varying ages are still within the Mara River areas and hunt mostly in Paradise Plains. We are not too sure exactly how many of their cubs have survived as at the moment our guides are only seeing six of them. It is possible that 1 of the lioness’s has split from the others and taken her cubs away with her. On the 22nd there was an interesting incident. One of our guides with guests found 3 of the females searching and calling for their cubs, this went on for quite some time and they looked very worried. Little did they know that very close to where they were looking, all the cubs were busy eating a Hartebeest and unusual prey for Lions. The cubs were far too busy eating and squabbling of the food that they were completely ignoring their mothers call! Eventually the 3 lioness’s found the youngsters and joined in the feast. Who had made the kill was a mystery, the young cubs were far too small to have killed a Hartebeest. 

Photo courtesy of Dana Allen

Two lionesses of the Paradise Pride also have three cubs downstream of the main “Migration” crossing near the hill that is called Chinese Hill, two cubs are about two months old and one cub is estimated at 9 weeks old.

The Madomo (Breakaway) Pride of 16 lions altogether including cubs and sub-adults have their home range from the Southern Topi Plains and as far as Malima Tatu. There are numerous cubs of varying ages with lioness Madomo who has four, 1year old cubs, her sister lioness has three cubs that are now five months old, Madomo’s daughter the pale lioness has two cubs that are eight months old. Madomo’s other sister has one cub that is five months old and this little cub is very active. They have been feeding off the many Zebra that are passing through the area of Topi Plains The two males Lipstick and Blackie have been seen mostly in the area below Emarti Hill. Blacky has been involved in a fight with a nomadic male Lion and is not looking very healthy.

Siri the female leopard with her two eight month old cubs have been seen within the rocky Kopjes near the Serena pumphouse and we are having great and regular sightings of female leopard Saba and her two, one year old cubs (a male and a female), the female cub is a very active cub and is often being seen out on her own or with her mother. The male is also now becoming active, for his age he is a large sub-adult and has been seen hunting with his mother often as well. Saba has been feeding off impala and young wildebeest calves. Saba and her cubs live in the Olororok river area. There has also been sightings of a young but quite large male leopard along the Talek River, also Bahati a female Leopard with 2 cubs has also been seen in this area.

Photo courtesy of Thor Karstad 

Toward the end of the month female Leopard Romi and her daughter, Ariana were seen together on a number of occasions along the banks of the Mara River upstream of the Governors’ Camps.

Cheetahs

Maliaka’s 2 female cubs have now separated from her and have been seen hunting successfully near Governors’ Camp. Maliaka herself is now hunting in Rongai area.

The Rhino Ridge Cheetah, Musiara appears to have now lost all of her cubs.

Although the coalition of 5 male Cheetahs have moved further from our area they are still being seen by our guests. Many guests ask if they are all brothers, looking at them closely it appears that there are 2 sets of brothers and a single male who is wearing a collar.

Photo courtesy of Thor Karstad

Dave Richards, Little Governors Camp Relief Manager.