Weather and grasslands
June was particularly warm this year, mornings began with a cool 19°C but by midday the temperature had warmed up to around 28-29°C. The Humidity has been fairly consistent at 65-70% and rainfall at 55mm with much of this falling between the 7th and 8th of the month. The first week of rain brought on a small green flush although much of the grassland plains since have dried out and the grasslands are still short. The Paradise Plains still have long grass but much of this is dried out and has flowered so not palatable for most soft mouthed ungulates, Buffalo and Elephant will graze through here. Sunrise is at 6.42am and sunset at 6.45pm. The water level in the Musiara marsh has also started to show low levels of water although the north spring does keep the top marsh reed beds green. The Mara River water level is also low and is slowly receding.
Photo courtesy of Jerry Xu
The Serengeti migration
The first spear head of the Serengeti migration had first started to cross the Sand River on the 9th of June and moved into the southern Meta plains, many of them are now around Look Out Hill grassland areas, wildebeest have been seen crossing the Mara river in the south of the reserve coming from the Trans Mara side into the Lookout Hill area. There are still more wildebeest on their way coming towards the Sand River. In the last week of the month there have been many crossings on the Mara River above the Mara Bridge, many of these Serengeti wildebeest are crossing the river in large numbers and crossing back and forth between the Reserve.
Large herds of the Serengeti wildebeest are grazing around the Lookout Hill and Ol Keju Ronkai depression of the Southern Reserve; many in large herds and columns are slowly making their way towards the Burrangat Plains and the Ongata Posse areas whilst moving north east in the direction of the Talek River. Our guests heading out on a full days game drive with a packed lunch are able to see them.
The resident zebra and wildebeest have been moving back and forth between the conservancies and the Reserve, Topi Plains and Malima Tatu are good areas to see large numbers of zebra and wildebeest. Earlier on in the month there were large herds that came down from the north east conservancies spurred on by the early rain we received. There are good numbers of wildebeest with cows and calves that are three months old and some zebra on the short grass plains south of the Olare Orok River and also the Ngiatiak River, male wildebeest have started rutting, they look like clowns as they cavort about and run around in a rocking canter. In the last few days there have been wildebeest crossing the Talek River from the reserve side and towards the Trans Mara. On the 26th there was an estimated 1,000 that crossed and again on 28th there was an estimated 500 that crossed from the Reserve in the east and going west into the Southern Reserve.
Topi have congregated into some large herds west of Topi Plains and on the southern plains of Bila Shaka and Rhino Ridge. Cokes Hartebeest are also being seen but only in small herds of females and calves, Rhino Ridge and the west marsh grasslands are good places to see them. Thompson Gazelles are well spread out with females in loose associated herds while the males who hold the territory scent marking their territory on grass stems and patiently waiting for females to pass by then rapidly confronting the male in residence. Much of the grass species such as red oat grass and needle grasses on these alluvial plains need to be grazed down by the regular ungulate species and these will be revived amazingly quickly with rain. Grants Gazelles also move about between habitats although in smaller herd sizes than the Thompson and they prefer the longer grass areas and are also happy to browse. Elephant are being seen now in the more grassed areas of Paradise Plains and below Emartii Hill where grass levels are still long and have flowered, small breeding herds will pass through the camps at night whilst during the day they will again pass through the Musiara Marsh and move between the grasslands.
Photo courtesy of Dave Richards
Masai Giraffe are being seen spread out with better sightings of them along the river edges of the Mara River, there is a large herd of male giraffe close to the main crossing areas, with rainfall patterns being low these giraffe here appear to be browsing the riverine thickets. Eland in small breeding herds are also being seen in the south Bila Shaka grasslands and riverine water courses; Eland will both browse and graze depending what is more available again another very adaptable animal utilizing varied habitats.
There are plenty of warthogs on the grassland plains with piglets of 7-8 months old; warthogs here in the reserve have a high mortality rate and fall prey to lion often, particularly when larger prey species are not as abundant.
Hippo pods in the Mara River are condensing as water levels recede, they become more vocal with friction amongst dominant males; males can hold a pod for up to 8 years and in some cases even longer. An average sized hippo requires in excess of 60kg of grass matter per night, as rainfall patterns alter grass levels start to diminish and feeding habits are affected; hippo subsequently will suffer, they compromise by leaving their pool of water maybe earlier and literally come back to their water refuge later than their normal time.
Serval cats have also been sighted frequently, with grass levels being low they are easier to see, the Bila Shaka river bed and Paradise Plains are good palaces to see them. A few large dimorphic males will be seen within the periphery of breeding herds. Bohors Reedbuck will also be seen along the Bila Shaka riverbeds and also seen on the east and west marsh reed beds and in the lower Bila Shaka that runs into Paradise Plains.
Spotted Hyenas are becoming very prevalent with large clans hunting the resident wildebeest and harassing the resident lion prides, the Bila Shaka clan and the large Topi Plains clan are very active, it is not uncommon to see them rallying close to lion kills and robbing lionesses who are alone with their kills of their meal. There is a large den at the culvert close to the airstrip and this is part of the Bila Shaka clan and there are many young cubs of varying ages in this den.
Lion
Marsh Pride lioness Charm and her two, five month old cubs were seen briefly in the north east marsh again and then they moved back to the north east into the Masai conservancies along with her daughter and her four-four month old cubs. Lioness Rembo who had last month moved up with Charm and Kito into the Mara North Conservancy has still not been seen again this side of the reserve. The three older cubs are with Kabibi and Dada who are nine months old have again this month spent much time away from the Marsh, they had been seen on the north fan of Rhino Ridge earlier on the month and had killed a zebra, they then were last seen in the gorge area of the Mara North Conservancy along with Charm and her other two daughters and cubs. The Marsh Pride lionesses and their cubs have been out of the marsh for two months now.
Marsh lioness Yaya and her two, 25 month old female sub-adult cubs were residing in the south Bila Shaka river bed and on some occasions have been seen hunting on the Silanga river bed, on the 22nd and 25th she had killed a wildebeest. Yaya who was treated two months ago, has healed well and is looking much better with her wound almost healed overt, this little coalition of mother and two sub-adult cubs are very active.
The two marsh male lions have been seen in the double gorge area of the Mara North Conservancy and are being seen with the Marsh Pride females. There are two other male lion of similar age that come over to the north marsh and are seen on the open plains on the Masai conservation areas, these two lion come from the Trans Mara and readily cross the Mara River. There is a collared male that has come from the Olare Orok Conservancy and he passes through the north marsh areas quite frequently, this indicates that male lion will travel large distances, he has been seen quite often lately.
The six Paradise male lions have been active within the Musiara areas of the marsh and southern marsh areas, two of the older males have been seen mating with one of the two remaining marsh lionesses they were seen on the 21st and 22nd in the east marsh mating with one of lioness Siennaâs daughters.
Four of the Musketeers Scar, Morani and Hunter and Sikio have been seen near the main crossing points of the Mara River. Scar is often seen across the river, he is still limping, favoring his rear left leg. He is not actively seen mating now and his tenure has likely come to an end.
The Paradise Pride of six lionesses and their cubs of varying ages are still within the Mara River areas and will hunt on Paradise Plains, since a few zebra and wildebeest have come through these ungulates will be their main prey species and will be more dispersed while prey is available. The younger lioness has two cubs that are now at 6 months old. Three of the other lionesses have 9 cubs altogether of which three are 12 months old and five are 16 months old, these lionesses and their sub adult cubs have now being seen on the open Paradise Plains in the southern areas of Paradise Plains.
New arrivals: Two lionesses of the Paradise Pride have three cubs downstream of the main crossing near the hill that is called Chinese Hill, two cubs are two months old and one cub is estimated at 6 weeks old.
The Madomo Pride of 16 lion 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, 11 month old cubs, her sister lioness has three cubs that are now four months old, Madomoâs daughter the pale lioness has two cubs that are seven months old. Madomoâs other sister has one cub that is four months old and this little cub is very active. They have been feeding off the many zebra that have passed through this area of Topi Plains and also Topi themselves have been on the Kries River bed area.
The two males Lipstick and Blackie have been seen below Emartii Hill and as far as the double crossing, coalition of male lion will always try and tenure more females and will more often venture in other dominant male lion territory, on the 26th and 27th they came across two large males of the OCC Monico pride Olbarnoti and Lolparpit (meaning a large mane lots of hair) in the double crossing area, these two OOC males promptly gave Lipstick and Blackie a warning, with the two ridge males retreating rapidly.
Leopard
Siri the female leopard with her two seven month old cubs have been seen within the rocky Kopjes, she was seen in the evening of the 27th hunting impala east of the rocky Kopjes.
We are having great, regular sightings of female leopard Saba and her two eleven month 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.
The large but young male leopard of the Talek river has been seen often in the lower reaches of Talek River; he is being seen as far as the double crossing and has been seen hunting below the confluence of the Ngiatiak and Talek riverâs, male leopards will also cover quite a large home range depending on prey availability.
The young female leopard of the BBC campsite called Ariana has been seen often within the riverine woodlands area between the BBC campsite and IL Moran Camp, she was seen on the 21st and 26th close to the IL Moran gate hunting Impala ewes. Her mother Romi has been seen twice only this month.
Bahati the female leopard with two cubs (a male and a female) that are seven months old of the southern bank of the Talek River has been seen frequently again this month; she is an active cat with the male being very opportunistic, she has been feeding off young wildebeest calves and impala.
Cheetah
We have had fabulous cheetah sightings this month including 8 different cheetah seen on one game drive from Little Governors Camp.
Malaika with her two cubs a male and female who are now twelve months old; she has moved out of the Emartii areas and was last seen in the southern area of the reserve near the Talek river on the south bank, she is actively hunting Thompson Gazelles and Bohors Reedbuck.
Musiara the female cheetah had four cubs last month and now sadly since early days of the month we noticed she has only the one cub, the other three were killed by lion, we estimate this cub at three months old. She has moved her cub into the murram areas of the Ngiatiak River and into the OC conservancy; she can and has been seen actively hunting Thompson Gazelles and Impala in this area free from aggressive predator pressure from other dominant plains predators.
Five male cheetahs an all brother coalition has been seen this month frequently hunting in the southern Topi area and also through to Malima Tatu; they have been feeding off young wildebeest calves and impala. They have come from the Olare Orok conservancy and such male coalitions are extremely capable of covering large tracks of land in search of prey and females.
The young female who is the daughter of Musiara is being seen near the double crossing area and between the two rivers that junction the double crossing, she is feeding of impala and Thompson Gazelle. Earlier last month she was spending time hunting on the lower Topi Plains.
Patrick Reynolds, Governors Il Moran Camp Manager.