Adventure at Samburu!

Elephants

Elephants form deep family bonds and live in tight matriarchal family groups of related females called a herd. The herd is led by the oldest and often largest female in the herd, called a matriarch. Elephants are extremely intelligent animals and have memories that span many years. It is this memory that serves matriarchs well during the dry seasons when they need to guide their herds, sometimes for tens of miles, to watering holes that they remember from the past. They also display signs of grief, joy, anger and play.

The mating season for elephants is mostly during the rainy season and the gestation period is 22 months.

A lone elephant heading to the bush. The elephant was the only one around this area. More elephants where spotted in the distance distance.

River Ewaso Nyiro which means ‘river of brown water’ is the only source of water for wildlife in Samburu National Reserve. This season it has little water in it. The elephants were seen at the river, taking their time to quench their thirst. A lioness walked past them for a drink also.

During the dry season, the flat top acacias bear seed pods which are healthy for livestock and wildlife. Elephants enjoy the acacia seeds after quenching their thirst at River Ewaso Nyiro.

Compiled by Chris Letur, Camp naturalist

Journey of the Wildebeest & Zebra!

The great migration is in full steam. The first wave of wildebeest and zebra has crossed Sand River into Masai Mara. The recent rain in the central and northern parts of the park has triggered the herds to move faster. They seem to be over-excited with the amount of grass to feast on.  

The herds moved north from the Burungat Plains. Some crossed the Olkeju Rongai River into Possee Plains. But before they reached the Talek River, it rained on the western side of the park. This made them change direction, heading west towards the Mara Triangle.

This movement into the Mara Triangle resulted in the migration to start crossing the crocodile-infested Mara River. The river is quite high compared to last year making the crossings very dramatic with many drowning and hence providing the crocodiles with an easy feast.

There are other bigger herds migrating through the Roan Hills heading towards the Keekorok area. They are in their thousands and we hope that they will be in Possee Plains and Olmisigiyioi in a few days as the grass here is intact with plenty of water in Olkeju Rongai River.

At Topi Plains in the northwest of the park and in the northern side around Double-Crossing, there are some big herds of the Loita wildebeest. They are still streaming in from the conservancies like the Mara North and Olare Orok heading west towards the main crossing on the Paradise Plains. This might bring some major crossings along the river in the days to come.

Predators

The predators are having a great time with all the food on hooves in abundance. Some of the lion prides that had earlier disintegrated due to difficulties in hunting are back together.

The Rekero breakaway pride that had earlier split with part of the pride crossing over into Mara Triangle has crossed back. The pride hunted down two wildebeest recently.

The Enkuyanai pride

It is between the Olare Orok and Ntiakitiak rivers. The lions look very healthy. However the dominant males are not in good shape because some are injured from the territorial fights.  Oloolpapit has a really bad injury on his right hind leg. Olbarnoti, his coalition mate is not so badly off with a few minor injuries.

The Ridge Pride

It is back together. However since the demise of Lipstick, Blacky is losing his grip on the pride. Six males from the Marsh Pride seem to be taking over the territory and some have already started breeding with the Ridge Pride females.

The Musketeers

They seem to be expanding their territory. Some were seen at Maji ya Eland and Olkeju Rongai with kills. This area seems to be unoccupied by any male lions, so this might be an easy territory to establish.

Leopards

Bahati

Bahati has resurfaced.  The beautiful female has been trying to hunt in her territory along the Talek River. She seems to have a new set of cubs and appears to be nursing them as her udder seems to be big and full of milk. 

Kaboso

She and her cubs have been delighting our guests. They are seen nearly every day and at times even trying to hunt wildebeest as the migrating herds cross Kaboso River and Olare Orok River.

Cheetahs

The coalition of the five cheetahs that crossed the Talek River to spend a day at Chumvi Chumvi is back at Hammercop Tree which is their favorite spot for the moment.

Imani

She and her cub have finally crossed over from the Olare Orok Conservancy. They were there for some time. Imani was seen with a Grant’s gazelle kill at Double Crossing. Her cub has really grown big.

Nora

She is at Olkeju Rongai with a new set of cubs.  Reports from the cheetah research team shows that she has four cubs. She has been seen hunting far from her hidden cubs in search of prey.

Written By Koikai, senior naturalist and driver-guide at Mara Intrepids/Explorer Camps

Mara Intrepids & Mara Explorer Camps Wildlife Sightings - April 2015

Temperature   

19c morning   
28c at midday   
25c after sunset   

Weather   

Raining.   

The rivers and luggas are flooded.   

Mara River is rising after the low ebb in the last few months.

 
The results of the first rain   

The wet ground is perfect for studying animal prints. It’s easy to track animals.

 
The birds are changing to breeding plumage and preparing their nests, ready for incubation.

 
Topis are forming leks in preparation for rutting.   

A lek is an aggregation of males that gather to engage in competitive displays to entice females who are surveying prospective partners for copulation. Leks are commonly formed during the breeding season. The topis have been doing this along Topi Plains, north of Rhino Ridge and also on Paradise Plains.   

Buffalos on the other hand are calving in large numbers. There is good grazing for the cows to produce milk for the calves.

   
LOITA WILDEBEEST AND ZEBRAS MIGRATION (DOMESTIC)   

The Loita and Aitong wildebeest, zebras and gazelles have started heading back northeast to the Loita Plains in search of fresh grass shoots. They are avoiding the black cotton soil that sticks to their hooves which can lead to foot-rot.   The Aitong-Loita herds have been in the reserve for longer than expected because of the dry spell. Normally they would have gone back around October and November, making this year special because the calving happened in the reserve, something that has not been seen for a long time.   Beautiful flowers are in blossom. The wildebeest have mowed the grass making it easy to see animals.

       
Predators   

Lions   

Double Cross Pride   

The M7 has established its territory between Talek River and Olare-Orok. The pride is patrolling the area marking territory. There is going to be a shift in lion dynamics around Double-Cross as the M7 is seen in what is Mohican and Romeo2 territory. It will be interesting to see what happens.   The lionesses from Smelly Crossing to the junction of Intiakitiak River and Olare-Orok are still holding on to their territories with their cubs.

   
Ridge Pride
  
Blackie and Lipstick, the two black-mane lions continue to rule the territory between Rhino Ridge and Olare-Orok. Their five lionesses and thirteen cubs are doing very well. They have been killing at least every two days because of the numerous wildebeest and zebra that are in the Mara.   

Blackie and Lipstick have been spotted mating with two other lionesses up on the ridge. They are part of the sub-Ridge Pride. It will be an interesting thing to watch as the original Ridge Pride females cannot tolerate prodigal females on their territory.   The boys however like it because they are spreading their genes considering that a lion’s success is determined by the number of offspring they leave behind.
        
Paradise Pride   

The Musketeers which include Scar, Morani, Sikio and Hunter have three different prides. There are two sub-prides from the Ridge - one of seven and the other of eight; a sub-pride of Paradise of fifteen and the Marsh Pride of over twenty members.

    
Olkeju Ronkai Pride   

Notch’s four sons have been seen with two lionesses and four cubs of six month old at Olmisigiyoi which is south of Mara Intrepids Camp and Explorer Camp.

    
Ol Kiombo Pride   

Olkiombo Pride is near Mara Intrepids Camp and Explorer Camp.   

Leopards   

Golden Balls, the majestic leopard was spotted recently around Double- Crossing. He had made a kill and was relaxing on top of a tree, keeping a watch-full eye.   Siri and Kijana are still at Shamarta in the rocky hills while Shujaa is at Paradise Crossing.   Bahati is near Mara Intrepids Camp and Mara Explorer. Saba is between Olare-Orok and Intiakitiak Rivers.
     Pic By Jay Kangethe - Safari Guide Mara Intrepids CampPic By Jay Kangethe - Safari Guide Mara Intrepids Camp 

Cheetahs   

Malaika has been between Balloon Crossing and Kivuko ya Topi, not far from where she gave birth to her six cubs. The four surviving cubs are doing great. Unlike lion cubs that learn how to hunt by observing what their mothers do, cheetahs take a very different approach. Cheetah mothers are very practical on how they teach their young. Malaika will catch a young impala or Thomson gazelle and release it to the young to chase and bring down until they learn to inflict the killing bite. That’s what Malaika has been doing lately.
       Pic By Jay Kangethe - Safari Guide Mara Intrepids Camp Pic By Jay Kangethe - Safari Guide Mara Intrepids Camp  

Spotted Hyenas   

The number of hyenas seems to have increased in the past one year with new dens being established north and west of Mara Intrepids and Explorer camps. They have been very active within the Double-Cross area, south of Rhino Ridge and on the Topi Plains. They are very good hunters and have been hunting wildebeest calves.   Hyenas live in clans and they have been competing a lot with the lion prides in the area. Hyenas are the lion’s biggest competitors.
        

Report and pictures by John Parmasau – Head Safari Guide, Mara Intrepids and Mara Explorer Camps.

©Heritage Hotels Ltd, Kenya. http://www.heritage-eastafrica.com/

Head Of The Serengeti Herds At Paradise Crossing

The weather is super with cool, clear mornings, becoming warmer in the afternoons with temperatures hitting 27ºC. The sunsets are stunning - molten golden in the horizon.

 THE GREAT MIGRATION OF WILDEBEEST AND ZEBRAS

The migration is moving up north very fast. Herds of wildebeest and zebra are heading towards Mara Intrepids Camp. They can be seen around Maji-ya-Fisi (Hyena pool) up to Ngama Hills by the border of Serengeti.

It’s a good time to wait at the rivers to see them make the river crossing.  There are many crossing points between the Talek River (even though the water level is quite low) to the Olkiombo Plain by Mara Intrepid.

The Mara weather is unique and changes quickly. A week ago we had rain. But the water holes are dry and therefore the herds are moving faster than expected in search of water to quench their thirst because the grass they feed on is more like hay.

The zebra herds are further west towards Paradise Crossing, ahead of the wildebeest. The zebra are near Topi Plain enjoying the grass before the wildebeest arrive. The Paradise Crossing is busy at the moment with zebras crossing to the west and into the Mara Triangle.

 

The water level in the Mara River is not high enough for crocodiles to hunt. Hence the crossing today was successful with no casualties. It’s not a very good time for the Nile crocodiles that have been waiting for months for this opportunity but they have to go hungry again.    

   

PREDATORS SIGHTINGS

Predators are having a good time for there is food all around them. The best time for action is late in the evening and early in the morning. The rest of the day, the cats rest in the bushes to avoid being seen by the prey and also it’s too hot for them to do anything.

 

LIONS

The prides are healthy and the cubs very playful.

The Olkeju-Ronkai pride of 11 is in the middle of Meta plain concealed by the tall grass, waiting for the wildebeest. It’s hard to see the lions.

The Olkiombo pride is divided in two groups, each living independently in the same territory. The bigger pride that’s Notch’s favourite has twelve cubs and four lionesses. Notch loves to be with cubs.

The second group of six has one cub and five lionesses.

The Ridge pride of 12 is still together with their sub-adult aged two and half years.

The Paradise pride of 11 has three black-manned lions. They operate both sides of the Mara River.

The Marsh pride is also divided into two. One group of nine has three lionesses; three cubs aged one year and three males. They are at Topi plain. Two of the lionesses are mating. The other group of twenty six is at Marsh. Scarface, the male lion is with them.

LEOPARDS

There are lots of leopard sighting all along Talek River between Fig tree and Mara Intrepids Camp following the wildebeest. A female with a cub was seen hunting a wildebeest calf. A male leopard was also seen with a wildebeest kill two kilometers near Mara Intrepids Camp.

In the west near Paradise plain at Shamarta, two young leopard males were seen separately. One had an impala kill and the other was with a buffalo kill.  They were at the marshy section near the albino hippo pool, both very calm and posing for photos.

Olive is a little confused because the wildebeest are between the crossings in her territory. She can’t make up her mind which one to hunt at.

    

CHEETAHS

The cheetahs have moved towards the clear plains where the wildebeest have cleared the grass. This has made it easier for them to hunt their preferred prey which is the Thomson and Grant gazelles.

Have you booked your safaris? We have a few slots for the wildebeest migration at Mara Intrepids, which you can combine with a safari from Samburu, and then some sun at Lamu's most amorous hideaway, Kipungani Explorer.
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Heritage Hotels (Kenya) manages two luxury camps in the Masai Mara - Mara Explorer and Mara Intrepids - in the confluence of the four game viewing areas of the Masai Mara. The camps are on the banks of the Talek River, with most tents spread along the banks.  Report by John Parmsau. Pictures by John Parmasau &  Ndeithi Kariuki  ©Heritage Hotels Ltd, Kenya. http://www.heritage-eastafrica.com/