Masai Mara Game Watch

Overview

It’s raining every afternoon in Maasai Mara but despite that the rivers are still low. The plains are already full of tall red oat grass especially between the Talek and Olare Orok rivers and also in the southern part of Mara Intrepid camp and the Possee Plain all the way down to the border of Mara and the Serengeti.

The area between Rhino Ridge and Paradise Plain to the main crossing at Mara River is also covered with tall grass, forcing all the herbivores to seek refuge in places with short grass in the eastern and northern part of the Ridge.

The long rains were not wide spread this year, so some parts of the reserve and its adjacent areas are drying up and hence forcing the herbivores to move into the reserve early than expected. The Loita herds of wildebeest and zebras are here, roaming from Musiara Marsh to the game reserve border. Other places with high concentration of plain game are west of Lookout Hill, across Talek River south of Mara Intrepids Camp and Maji-ya-Eland, west of Mara Intrepids Camp and Maji-ya-Fisi and Shamarta and Paradise Plain.

Big Cats Sightings

Lions

Some of the prides are still enjoying the herds of wildebeest, especially the Marsh Pride, the Ridge Pride and the Olkiombo Pride.

The Marsh Pride is still intact with their old males.

The Ridge Pride has separated into four groups of different numbers occupying small sections of their territory. Between Olare Orok and Intiakitiak there are 32 lions including Notch and his sons. A group of four lionesses and eight cubs of seven months are found between Mara Intrepids Camp and Rekero Camp going further to the junction of Mara River and Talek River. Notch and his sons are in charge of the group.

The Olkiombo Pride has split into three groups and has increased to 42 lions.
One group of 12 individuals which in the last three years had moved to the Olare Orok Conservancy is back in the game reserve occupying Chuvi-Chuvi along Intiakitiak River. It has eight cubs of three years old and four lionesses. It looks like Notch and his four sons might take over this pride as they have been seen trailing the pride.

Four lionesses, four sub-adults and three cubs from the Olkiombo Pride are between Fig Tree Camp and Mara Intrepids Camp. When Cheza, Sala and Junior took over Maji-ya-Fisi Pride, a group of three lionesses and nine cubs of two years followed them. Now they have six cubs of nine month and three males which make a total of 22 members.


Leopards

Sadly Olive lost one of her two cubs between Mara Intrepids Camp and Double Crossing. She has been seen roaming with Kayoni and her surviving one-year-old cub. Pacha is wandering along Olare Orok up to Rhino Ridge and marking his territory.

Big Boy has not seen of recent but when last he was seen with a badly wounded back leg.

Cheetahs

The three brothers moved to OOC with Shingo the mother of six cubs and three junior brothers south of Mara Intrepids Camp towards Lookout Hill.

Two young expectant females are at Bila Shaka and Topi Plain. Saba and Alama who were at Olkiombo have moved west of Mara Intrepids Camp.

*Did you know the Disney movie, African Cats was shot near Mara Intrepids and Explorer camps? Well now you know!

Report by Dixon Chelule, Assistant Head Guide Mara Intrepids Camp and Paul Kirui, Head Guide, Heritage Hotels. Pictures by Dixon Chelule and Paul Kirui.