News from the Wild: Masai Mara

Overview

The Mara is green and full of wild flowers of different colors that have blossomed after the short rains. The grass is getting taller, but one can still see the smaller animals.

The plains game is spread all over especially in areas where the grass is short and not swampy especially around Mara Intrepids Camp in areas like Intiakitiak, Double Crossing, the Topi Plain and Paradise Plain.

                                                

Big Cats Sightings

Lions

The good news is that the lion prides are building up after years of diminishing numbers in the prides. This year has seen so many cubs born from different prides with only a few losses.

The Ridge Pride, which is one of the largest pride has split into five smaller groups. There are 17 cubs, aged between three and five months. There are about ten adult lionesses and seven mature males. Two of these males are in charge of two separate families. One is at the Double Crossing and the other at Rhino Ridge. Junior’s mother, the lioness with a crooked back is in charge of the Rhino Ridge.

Notch and his four sons are also seen with the Olkeju-Ronkai Pride. However, four days ago they encountered cubs that were sired by different males. They killed the cubs and ate them up. In the wild, this is not uncommon. It is survival for the fittest.

Male lions also killed some cubs belonging to the Paradise Pride and another in the Mara Triangle.

The Olkiombo Pride of 19 lions is seen between Maji ya Fisi and Double Crossing with their three males - Cheza, Sala and Junior.

The Marsh Pride is still intact - Clawed and Romeo are still with the pride.

 

Leopards

Olive and her two cubs are seen around Olkiombo near Mara Intrepids Camp. The cubs - Shujaa, the male cub whose name is Kiswahili for brave and Jamhuri the female cub whose name means freedom - are three months old.

Pacha and Kayoni, the older cubs are still sharing the same territory with their mother, Olive. However, Pacha is more to the west of Mara Intrepids/Mara Explorer and Kayoni occupies the area west and east of Mara Intrepids/Mara Explorer along the Talek River.

The regularly hunt impala and warthog piglets.

 Cheetah

Shingo’s six cubs are seen on the plains of Topi, Paradise and Olkiombo. They hunt hartebeests, topis and warthog piglets. Shingo has been spotted around Maji ya Fisi and Sarova.

Paul Kirui, Chief Safari Guide, Heritage Hotels Ltd. Pictures by Paul Kirui and John Parmasau
www.heritage-eastafrica.com