Stephen Lekatoo, Resident Naturalist, Voyager Ziwani Tsavo
26 October, 2010
Voyager Ziwani - Oasis in Tsavo West
Stephen Lekatoo, Resident Naturalist, Voyager Ziwani Tsavo
It's Migration Season at the Coast
Diving is looking great at Buccaneer Diving at Voyager Beach Resort in Mombasa. With
the end of the rains heralding in sunny days and sea temperatures at 28 degrees Celsius
inside the reef, the visibility is improving everyday.
The Whale shark season is on. We' re also seeing the Humpback whales migrating. A
few sightings have been so close that everyone at the hotel was able to see them from the
shore. Of all the magical experiences in life, snorkeling and diving with the Whale sharks
and humpback whales tops the list.
With many sightings, our trips to Vuma are busy accompanied by the spinner and
bottlenose dolphins.
With our daily snorkeling trips to the coral gardens, we have everything covered for
all your water sports. The water sports center has a new fleet of boats including two
catamarans, picos and fun boats. Our guests are having a fantastic time ' sea-sploring' the
warm topical waters off the hotel' s beach. The windsurfers are enjoying the monsoon
winds while others are out rowing in the canoes and pedal boats.
On an end note, halloween at Buccaneer's will be a fancy dress day dive and a spooky
night-time dive too. The dress code is strictly ghoulish though we are making concessions
for fairies – you could try dressing up as an angelfish.
David, Bucaneer Diving at the Voyager Beach Resort
15 October, 2010
Views from Voyager Ziwani in the morning
Mt Kilimanjaro
The restaurant
A pied kingfisher
Stephen Lekatoo, Resident Naturalist, Voyager Ziwani Tsavo
13 October, 2010
The Greatest Game-show on Earth Continues - 11
Overview
The rains continue in the Mara, changing the landscape from brown to green. It’s confusing the migrating animals, engaging them in unpredictable movement to an extent that some herds of wildebeest and zebra have started to return to the Serengeti earlier than usual.
On reaching Olmisigiyoi or the Central Plains, the herds are stranded because beyond Olmisigiyoi to the south it is dry. Some herds cross Sand River to the burnt area.
Another herd crossed Mara River from Lookout Hill to the Mara Triangle, spreading around Milima Tatu. One herd moved along the Siria Escarpment in the north to the burned plains.
The herds on Burrungat Plains and along Olkeju-Ronkai are grazing facing west and some north. Another herd of wildebeest and zebras are grazing around Meta Plain and Lookout Hill, all relaxed and in no hurry to cross the river.
A big herd of wildebeest is around Olkiombo Plain reaching OOC up to the Aitong Plains. The Topi Plains all the way to Musiara is also full of wildebeest.
The natural water pools are full because of the rains and the rivers have many dead wildebeest from previous crossing stampedes which means there is still a lot for the crocodiles, vultures and Marabou storks to eat.
The herds of wildebeest and zebras that ventured beyond the borders of the Reserve to the Mara Conservancy have retreated back into the reserve, heading generally down south. Musiara is still a converging zone where the herds split and take two different routes. A group of wildebeest has crossed Talek River towards Burragat and Posse Plain through Olmisigiyio down south of Mara Intrepids camp. A few herds are still grazing at Olkiombo, east of Mara Intrepids Camp and on the edge of the reserve and the Conservancy northeast of Mara Intrepids Camp.
Big cats sightings
Lions
The Ridge Pride, which is the most active pride around Olkiombo and Topi Plains, is patrolling between Double Crossing and Topi Plains. The pride has 14 members - six females, six cubs of different ages and two males.
The Olkiombo Pride is still waiting on the southern side of Talek River between Mara Intrepid Camp and Fig Tree Camp for their three males - Cheza, Sala and Junior. They are still busy with the lioness from the Maji-ya Fisi pride. Notch’s sons are patrolling the southern side hoping to expand their territory.
Leopards
Olive the female leopard is expecting and may soon deliver a litter of cubs.
Her two male cubs have separated - Kanyoni is west of the Olkiombo airstrip. Pacha is up stream of Intiakitiak River.
Cheetahs
Alama the female cheetah with her two male cubs is between Mara Intrepids Camp and Rekero Camp. The brothers are around Rhino Ridge killing young wildebeest and zebras almost every day.
A female cheetah believed to be Shakira has been seen south of Mara Intrepids Camp along Olkeju-Ronkai, with six cubs.
Paul Kirui, Chief Safari Guide, Mara Explorer and Mara Intrepids Camps
(Pictures © Paul Kirui)
The rains continue in the Mara, changing the landscape from brown to green. It’s confusing the migrating animals, engaging them in unpredictable movement to an extent that some herds of wildebeest and zebra have started to return to the Serengeti earlier than usual.
On reaching Olmisigiyoi or the Central Plains, the herds are stranded because beyond Olmisigiyoi to the south it is dry. Some herds cross Sand River to the burnt area.
The herds on Burrungat Plains and along Olkeju-Ronkai are grazing facing west and some north. Another herd of wildebeest and zebras are grazing around Meta Plain and Lookout Hill, all relaxed and in no hurry to cross the river.
A big herd of wildebeest is around Olkiombo Plain reaching OOC up to the Aitong Plains. The Topi Plains all the way to Musiara is also full of wildebeest.
The natural water pools are full because of the rains and the rivers have many dead wildebeest from previous crossing stampedes which means there is still a lot for the crocodiles, vultures and Marabou storks to eat.
The herds of wildebeest and zebras that ventured beyond the borders of the Reserve to the Mara Conservancy have retreated back into the reserve, heading generally down south. Musiara is still a converging zone where the herds split and take two different routes. A group of wildebeest has crossed Talek River towards Burragat and Posse Plain through Olmisigiyio down south of Mara Intrepids camp. A few herds are still grazing at Olkiombo, east of Mara Intrepids Camp and on the edge of the reserve and the Conservancy northeast of Mara Intrepids Camp.
Big cats sightings
Lions
The Ridge Pride, which is the most active pride around Olkiombo and Topi Plains, is patrolling between Double Crossing and Topi Plains. The pride has 14 members - six females, six cubs of different ages and two males.
The Olkiombo Pride is still waiting on the southern side of Talek River between Mara Intrepid Camp and Fig Tree Camp for their three males - Cheza, Sala and Junior. They are still busy with the lioness from the Maji-ya Fisi pride. Notch’s sons are patrolling the southern side hoping to expand their territory.
Leopards
Olive the female leopard is expecting and may soon deliver a litter of cubs.
Her two male cubs have separated - Kanyoni is west of the Olkiombo airstrip. Pacha is up stream of Intiakitiak River.
Cheetahs
Alama the female cheetah with her two male cubs is between Mara Intrepids Camp and Rekero Camp. The brothers are around Rhino Ridge killing young wildebeest and zebras almost every day.
(Pictures © Paul Kirui)
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