Migration Heads To Olkiombo

It’s cloudy with rain late in the evening. We need the Masai blankets on the game drives to keep warm. The elephants and buffalos are relishing the lush grass.

 

The great migration begins

There’s a dark cloud of wildebeest south of Mara Intrepids Camp from Pose Plain to Lookout Hill signaling the start of the great migration. The wildebeest, the stars of the migration, are moving up north to reach the endless plains of Olkiombo and Topi. A section of the herd is crossing the Mara Triangle from Lookout Hill.

The Talek River is busy with the wildebeest crossing. The females and bulls call all night trying to locate each other. Moving in systematic single files they follow the leaders. The zebras are at Paradise Plain and we’re expecting to see them cross the river any day.

Our crocodiles are having a feast lying in wait for the wildebeest along the rivers.

PREDATORS SIGHTINGS

Lions

There’s no more running around looking for food, while the predators have meals on wheels. The lion prides are positioned at all the crossing points.

The Ridge Pride has gone back to its territory. The Olkiombo has regrouped again along the Talek River. After a long time, the Paradise Pride has shown up with two cubs aged three months.

Leopards

Olive with her cub is west of Olkiombo airstrip. She killed a wildebeest. Bahati has not been seen for three weeks. The Shamarta female is seen almost every day in the morning and evening.

Cheetahs

Malaika the female with her cub aged five months is between Intiakitiak and Olare Orok River. She made a successful kill – of a Thomson gazelle but was robbed of it by the two male brother cheetahs. 

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 Parmasau and pictures by Dickson Chelule (DC),  Mara Explorer & Mara Intrepids Camp ©Heritage Hotels Ltd, Kenya. http://www.heritage-eastafrica.com/