Migration Update - Issue 4

As the annual migration of the wildebeest in the Mara continues, we are happy to bring you the latest reports from the field.

Monitoring the Migration

Since last week the Serengeti herds have been streaming in from the south with the leading herds pushing further north and others to the west and into the Mara Triangle. They crossed the river by Lookout Hill.

The recently burnt grasslands on the Mara Triangle are a great attraction for the wildebeest as they, like many other herbivores enjoy the fresh grass. However, the grass only shoots if the burning is soon followed by rain – and this year we have been very lucky with the rains.

 

Most of the Mara plains are still covered with tall red oat grass. For most herbivores this is too heavy on their digestive systems and so they prefer to rush through to reach the fresh succulent new shoots in the Mara Triangle.

Big herds of wildebeest and zebras are also between Sekenani Gate and Talek Gate, moving in single files towards the west side.  Posse Plain is full of wildebeest crossing the Talek River between Fig Tree Camp and Intrepids Camp and on to Topi Plains. Other herds are crossing below Rekero Camp moving towards Rhino Ridge, and on to Paradise Plains. While crossing the river many have fallen prey to the Nile crocodiles, who have being waiting for a year.

Large herds are crossings west of the Lookout Hill to Mara River, which has clear banks for them to look out for predators but it is not as popular as the traditional crossing on Paradise Plains. This is because the wildebeest can easily spot the crocodiles in the shallow pools.



Yesterday, huge herds crossed the Paradise Plains to the west of the Mara River. These were mainly herds coming from the south. They crossed the Talek River.

Scores of wildebeest have become the crocodiles quarry while others have met their death from the stampede while crossing. The past few days have been exciting for our guests who are spending whole days on game drives watching the great migration of the wildebeest.

BIG CATS

Lions

Lion sightings are still good. The lion prides are beginning to unite again after splitting into small groups because of scarce prey. Things have changed and the Mara is now a paradise for predators.

Leopards

Leopards have been seen around Olkiombo and along the Talek and Olare-Orok rivers.
South of Mara Intrepids Camp and almost 500 metres from the footbridge, Olive the BBC Big Cat Diary film star brought down a wildebeest with her year-old-male cubs.

Cheetahs
For the last seven months a female cheetah with an eight-month cub called Saba is at Topi Plains. She has been hunting young Tommies with the cub. The three cheetah brothers are still at Rhino Ridge hunting warthogs. They haven’t been very successful with the wildebeest. The young female cheetah between Topi Plains and the Mara Intrepids Camp climbs vehicles to scan the terrain. It’s a smart way to look over the tall grass.        

  

    
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Paul Kirui, Chief Safari Guide, Heritage Hotels

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