19c morning
28c at midday
25c after sunset
Weather
Raining.
The rivers and luggas are flooded.
Mara River is rising after the low ebb in the last few months.
The results of the first rain
The wet ground is perfect for studying animal prints. It’s easy to track animals.
The birds are changing to breeding plumage and preparing their nests, ready for incubation.
Topis are forming leks in preparation for rutting.
A lek is an aggregation of males that gather to engage in competitive displays to entice females who are surveying prospective partners for copulation. Leks are commonly formed during the breeding season. The topis have been doing this along Topi Plains, north of Rhino Ridge and also on Paradise Plains.
Buffalos on the other hand are calving in large numbers. There is good grazing for the cows to produce milk for the calves.
LOITA WILDEBEEST AND ZEBRAS MIGRATION (DOMESTIC)
The Loita and Aitong wildebeest, zebras and gazelles have started heading back northeast to the Loita Plains in search of fresh grass shoots. They are avoiding the black cotton soil that sticks to their hooves which can lead to foot-rot. The Aitong-Loita herds have been in the reserve for longer than expected because of the dry spell. Normally they would have gone back around October and November, making this year special because the calving happened in the reserve, something that has not been seen for a long time. Beautiful flowers are in blossom. The wildebeest have mowed the grass making it easy to see animals.
Predators
Lions
Double Cross Pride
The M7 has established its territory between Talek River and Olare-Orok. The pride is patrolling the area marking territory. There is going to be a shift in lion dynamics around Double-Cross as the M7 is seen in what is Mohican and Romeo2 territory. It will be interesting to see what happens. The lionesses from Smelly Crossing to the junction of Intiakitiak River and Olare-Orok are still holding on to their territories with their cubs.
Ridge Pride
Blackie and Lipstick, the two black-mane lions continue to rule the territory between Rhino Ridge and Olare-Orok. Their five lionesses and thirteen cubs are doing very well. They have been killing at least every two days because of the numerous wildebeest and zebra that are in the Mara.
Blackie and Lipstick have been spotted mating with two other lionesses up on the ridge. They are part of the sub-Ridge Pride. It will be an interesting thing to watch as the original Ridge Pride females cannot tolerate prodigal females on their territory. The boys however like it because they are spreading their genes considering that a lion’s success is determined by the number of offspring they leave behind.
Paradise Pride
The Musketeers which include Scar, Morani, Sikio and Hunter have three different prides. There are two sub-prides from the Ridge - one of seven and the other of eight; a sub-pride of Paradise of fifteen and the Marsh Pride of over twenty members.
Olkeju Ronkai Pride
Notch’s four sons have been seen with two lionesses and four cubs of six month old at Olmisigiyoi which is south of Mara Intrepids Camp and Explorer Camp.
Ol Kiombo Pride
Olkiombo Pride is near Mara Intrepids Camp and Explorer Camp.
Leopards
Golden Balls, the majestic leopard was spotted recently around Double- Crossing. He had made a kill and was relaxing on top of a tree, keeping a watch-full eye. Siri and Kijana are still at Shamarta in the rocky hills while Shujaa is at Paradise Crossing. Bahati is near Mara Intrepids Camp and Mara Explorer. Saba is between Olare-Orok and Intiakitiak Rivers.
Pic By Jay Kangethe - Safari Guide Mara Intrepids Camp
Pic By Jay Kangethe - Safari Guide Mara Intrepids Camp Cheetahs
Malaika has been between Balloon Crossing and Kivuko ya Topi, not far from where she gave birth to her six cubs. The four surviving cubs are doing great. Unlike lion cubs that learn how to hunt by observing what their mothers do, cheetahs take a very different approach. Cheetah mothers are very practical on how they teach their young. Malaika will catch a young impala or Thomson gazelle and release it to the young to chase and bring down until they learn to inflict the killing bite. That’s what Malaika has been doing lately.
Pic By Jay Kangethe - Safari Guide Mara Intrepids Camp 
Pic By Jay Kangethe - Safari Guide Mara Intrepids Camp Spotted Hyenas
The number of hyenas seems to have increased in the past one year with new dens being established north and west of Mara Intrepids and Explorer camps. They have been very active within the Double-Cross area, south of Rhino Ridge and on the Topi Plains. They are very good hunters and have been hunting wildebeest calves. Hyenas live in clans and they have been competing a lot with the lion prides in the area. Hyenas are the lion’s biggest competitors.
Report and pictures by John Parmasau – Head Safari Guide, Mara Intrepids and Mara Explorer Camps.
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