Mara:Friday 30th 2004

MIGRATION 2004 UPDATE:



30.07.04





A great deal has happened since our update last week concerning the wildebeest migration. The Central and Burrungat plains where the wildebeests first settled after coming from the Serengeti, is almost empty save for a few stragglers. The herd as they left this area took three different directions, the majority crossed into the Mara conservancy. A massive crossing occurred near Look Out hill with most of wildebeest moving into the Mara triangle in anticipation of new shoots of grass fire in the area. Wildebeest seem to associate the burning on the plains with new grass which normally occur after the rains.

In the case of the Conservancy, there hasn‘t been adequate amount of rain save for some light showers, which has done no more than just settle the dust and ashes in the burnt areas. So there is very little for the wildebeest to feed on, not that there is no grass on the eastern side of the Mara River, but there an anticipation of lush grazing which has forever kept the wildebeest on the move. We are now enjoying the sight of the herds re-crossing the Mara River at the Paradise crossing point almost on a daily basis, because of the burning of the grass on Paradise plains. Both the local and the southern populations are now all mixed together and some of the herds have headed eastwards towards Sekenani Gate on the eastern border of the reserve but this area is just as dry as the plains they left behind. Their natural instinct is to believe that “grass is greener” on the other side until proved otherwise. We anticipate that this herd won‘t stay long in this area.



The third group crossed the Talek River and proceeded towards the Rhino Ridge and onto Paradise Plains and are now joining up with the group which have arrived back from the Conservancy area. You will never understand the Wildebeest’s mind set, covering their many decisions to move from one area to another and back again! This group is not as large as the Eastern and the Western herds.



As of now, a higher concentration of animals is on the Conservancy side but they are crossing East in high numbers. The second highest concentration is between Roan hill and Sekenani gate but there are still bigger herds seen across the border in Serengeti. We still expect a lot more activity in the coming weeks.

Mara:Friday 23rd July 2004

MIGRATION 2004 UPDATE



July 23rd 2004



The wildebeest migration in the Maasai Mara seems to be taking on a dramatically different shape every few days. Since last week’s update, light rains drifting across the Possee and Burrungat plains and into the Mara Conservancy have caused the herds to move in three different directions. River crossings are continuing at four different places as herds continue to pour into the Conservancy. Another herd heading due north towards Mara Intrepids and Explorer has been busy crossing the Talek River on both sides of the camps. A third herd has reached the Burrungat Plains and is now heading east towards Sekenani Gate.



Along the Talek River, two prides of lions have taken up position to pick up stragglers at the main river crossings – and Intrepids guests have witnessed several lion kills over the past week. Bella, the female leopard and star of BBC’s Big Cat Diary, and her cub have also taken advantage of the crossings from a hideout at Mutamaiyo Lugga, one of the main streams feeding into the Talek.



Although progress from the south has slowed in recent days, herds continue to amass over the Serengeti border, with some small groups heading west and entering the Mara Conservancy near the Olare Saltlick. Although there will be more herds coming across the border in the coming days, there is more than enough to see in the reserve for the time being!



Watch this space for more information from the migration front line!

15 July 2004

The world’s greatest wildlife spectacle arrived in force in the Maasai Mara this week, as a light rain sweeping across the reserve’s central and southern plains triggered a mass movement of wildebeest and zebra from the northern Serengeti. The single day’s rain marked an almost instant change in the migration, which has been threatening to spill over the Tanzanian border for the past three weeks.

Since the beginning of the week, the Central, Burrungat and Meta plains have been teeming with an estimated 500,000-600,000 wildebeest and zebra – nearly a third of the entire population. A second group of about 100,000 zebra has now separated from the main herds and is heading east onto the Posee Plains.

Meanwhile, hundreds of wildebeest have been crossing into the Mara Conservancy at four points on the Mara River near Lookout Hill, prompting a feeding frenzy among the resident Nile crocodiles. The Loita population of wildebeest and zebra continue to cross at the Paradise crossing point with several groups of Thomson’s gazelle – many of which have already succumbed to the crocs’ waiting jaws.

As we wait for the remainder of the herds gathering on the Serengeti plains to traverse the border, their advance guard is about to cross the Talek River near Mara Intrepids towards Rhino Ridge. Across the central Mara, the plains are alive with the telltale chorus of grunts that shows the greatest movement of mammals on Earth is finally in full swing...

Monday !9th July 2004

 

The world’s greatest wildlife spectacle arrived in force in the Maasai Mara this week, as a light rain sweeping across the reserve’s central and southern plains triggered a mass movement of wildebeest and zebra from the northern Serengeti. The single day’s rain marked an almost instant change in the migration, which has been threatening to spill over the Tanzanian border for the past three weeks.Since the beginning of the week, the Central, Burrungat and Meta plains have been teeming with an estimated 500,000-600,000 wildebeest and zebra – nearly a third of the entire population. A second group of about 100,000 zebra has now separated from the main herds and is heading east onto the Posee Plains.Meanwhile, hundreds of wildebeest have been crossing into the Mara Conservancy at four points on the Mara River near Lookout Hill, prompting a feeding frenzy among the resident Nile crocodiles. The Loita population of wildebeest and zebra continue to cross at the Paradise crossing point with several groups of Thomson’s gazelle – many of which have already succumbed to the crocs’ waiting jaws.As we wait for the remainder of the herds gathering on the Serengeti plains to traverse the border, their advance guard is about to cross the Talek River near Mara Intrepids towards Rhino Ridge. Across the central Mara, the plains are alive with the telltale chorus of grunts that shows the greatest movement of mammals on Earth is finally in full swing... 

 The world’s greatest wildlife spectacle arrived in force in the Maasai Mara this week, as a light rain sweeping across the reserve’s central and southern plains triggered a mass movement of wildebeest and zebra from the northern Serengeti. The single day’s rain marked an almost instant change in the migration, which has been threatening to spill over the Tanzanian border for the past three weeks.Since the beginning of the week, the Central, Burrungat and Meta plains have been teeming with an estimated 500,000-600,000 wildebeest and zebra – nearly a third of the entire population. A second group of about 100,000 zebra has now separated from the main herds and is heading east onto the Posee Plains.Meanwhile, hundreds of wildebeest have been crossing into the Mara Conservancy at four points on the Mara River near Lookout Hill, prompting a feeding frenzy among the resident Nile crocodiles. The Loita population of wildebeest and zebra continue to cross at the Paradise crossing point with several groups of Thomson’s gazelle – many of which have already succumbed to the crocs’ waiting jaws.As we wait for the remainder of the herds gathering on the Serengeti plains to traverse the border, their advance guard is about to cross the Talek River near Mara Intrepids towards Rhino Ridge. Across the central Mara, the plains are alive with the telltale chorus of grunts that shows the greatest movement of mammals on Earth is finally in full swing... 

 

Mara:Monday 12 July 2004

MAASAI MARA MIGRATION UPDATE



July 12th 2004

Although the main body of the southern migration is yet to arrive en masse in the Mara, the past week has brought a tantalising taste of things to come. Driven by the hot weather that has intensified competition for water outside the reserve, thousands of zebra and wildebeest have been moving into the Mara Conservancy from the Loita Hills and congregating on the fertile plains around the Enkoikwaatet salt lick.



Thousands of wildebeest from both the Loita and southern herds have also been gathering on the plains around Mara Intrepids and the Governors camps, as well as the Burrungat and Central Plains to the south. Although the vast majority of the Serengeti herds are still located along the Tanzanian border, the biting heat is likely to drive large numbers north in the coming days. With the drying up of the Sand River, the herds will be forced northwards to the more reliable waters of the Talek and Mara rivers.



The Mara predators are also gradually waking up to the feast of ’fast food’ moving through their territories. Guests at safari camps along the Talek River have been treated to several lion , cheetah and leopard hunts in the past week – and the ’feast for all senses’ will certainly pick up in the days ahead.

Mara: Monday 5th July 2004

Since our report last week on the early progress of the wildebeest migration, small broken herds of wildebeest have continued crossing the Tanzanian border into the Maasai Mara. Herds continue to amass around the Sand River Gate and the area beneath the Naimalumbwa Hills, drawn by sporadic rainfall - and the promise of young grass beginning to shoot - along the Serengeti border. Although this rainfall has had the effect of slowing down the progress of the main migration, it is anticipated that the wildebeest will soon resume their northward movement.



The "second migration" of zebra and wildebeest from the Loita Hills also continues to enter the Mara from the Talek area and areas northeast of Mara Intrepids and east of Musiara Gate. To first-time visitors, this may look like the main migration, but more experienced migration-watchers will know that the real action has yet to begin! We will keep reporting to you from the "migration frontline" as the action progresses.

Mara: Sunday 27th June 2004

Small broken herds of wildebeest have crossed into the Mara, there are still herds around Sand river gate and towards Naimalumbwa hills, a few kilometers into the Northern Serengeti.

After our fact finding trip last week, we had some rain along the border of the Mara and the Serengeti on a large patch of burnt grasslands on the Serengeti side. The wildebeest are usually attracted to such places after the rains because of anticipation of new growth of grass.

On visiting sand river, we noted that the northbound movement has slowed down due to animals concentrating on the burnt areas in the Serengeti. There is no burning at present in the Mara but it is expected that the herds will soon embark across the border into Kenya.

The Loita population of mainly zebra and a few wildbeest are still entering the Mara in the Talek region and just north east of Mara Intrepids and Musiara gate. To many visitors to the Mara, the arrival of these herds may look like the main migration but the real spectacle is yet to happen. The next report from Mara Intrepids on the position of the migration will be week ending the 2nd July 2004.

Mara: Friday 18th June 2004

All indications now suggest that the annual Maasai Mara migration is about to begin in earnest. Large herds of zebras from the loita have moved into the park from the east about a week ago. They are currently to the east of Musiara gate and Mara Intrepids. This usually precedes the main migration from the south. Two weeks ago, one

could not easily see a zebra in the park, and their arrival really is a good sign of things to come. A fact finding trip to the border of the Mara and Serengeti, and 15km into northern Serengeti showed broken, fast moving northbound herds of mainly zebra crossing the sand river into Maasai Mara. From experience, this is the beginning of the migration. The burnt grasslands in the northern part of Serengeti may help speed their movement north as we are now experiencing some light showers in the Mara. Speaking to the rangers at Bologonja rangers post in northern Serengeti, we gathered that the main herds are just south of Lobo. If they keep coming at the pace at which we saw them today, then the main herds will be in the Mara in another week to two which should be a lot earlier than last year. But at least we have seen all the indication. We will have to keep checking up to confirm the concentration.