The Great Wildebeest Migration in the Maasai Mara 2019

During the second half of July, huge herds of migrating wildebeest and zebra crossed over from the Serengeti in Tanzania to Mara in Kenya. These massive herds have not been seen in recent years the Mara.

Weather

It is cool with light rain.

The Wildebeest

The wildebeest are grazing on the short and very palatable grass that crops up after the controlled fire to get rid of the old grass. Soon after the grass fires the rains started in June resulting in fresh grass covering the national reserve.

During the past few weeks great herds have moved up north from the south (Serengeti), across the Sand River and into the Mara where the herds split.

Some herds moved east to the plains of Meta, Burungat and Possee heading north towards the Talek River and Olkeju Rongai River treating all to superb river crossings of the wildebeest. Mara Explorer and Mara Intrepids Camps are in the midst of the wildebeest migration.

Another big herd moved west after crossing the Sand River around the Lookout Hill. They eventually made it to the Mara River where many crossings happened over several days. As they crossed into the Mara Triangle they seemed to be headed towards the western side of the park.

At Double Cross the wildebeest and zebra that had earlier crossed from the Topi Plains are returning via the eastern side of the Rhino Ridge.

The Big Cats

Lions

Since there is plenty of food during the migration season, there are higher chances for the cubs to survive.

Ridge Pride

There are lions with six cubs from two different females.

Enkuyanai Pride

It has seven cubs from two different females.

Elephants

They are in big numbers but seem to be moving away from the herds of wildebeest. On the eastern and the southern side of Rhino Ridge where the migrating herds have not yet reached, there are big elephant families. The grass is here is long and very lush for the elephants to graze.

By Koikai, senior driver-guidePrepared by: Lorraine Onyango – Marketing.

Nanai the Lion

The Koitogo pride of lions in Samburu National Reserve is named after the famous hill in the heart of the reserve. There are 21 lions in the pride. On a recent evening game drive we saw one of the females from the pride called Nanai (a Samburu word meaning mine) and her cubs aged five months walking on the road.

Nanai came out of the bushes followed by her cubs and walked majestically along the road.

We got some beautiful photos of the cubs. To my surprise the cubs were not shy of the vehicle. Instead they stared at us as if they were also taken by surprise.

We followed Nanai and her cubs for a while until we reached the banks of the Ewaso Nyiro River which is the main source of water in this dry semi-arid land. That's when we realized that Nana’s intention was to take her cubs to drink water. After drinking, they came up the river bank. While the cubs played, Nanai looked around for prey.

She then let the cubs go in to the bushes as she hung around the banks. Nanai is one of the famous female’s seen most of the time around the reserve. She is about nine years old and really struggles to bring up her cubs. We wish her plus her new cubs all the best.

Written by Justus Kisoo | Samburu Intrepids Camp | Heritage Hotels Ltd.  

Wildebeest Migration Update

The long awaited wildebeest migration has begun.

The big herds are streaming down from the northern Serengeti in Tanzania and crossing Sand River. In the past few days there have been thousands of wildebeest crossing with the zebra. There are huge concentrations of wildebeest on the Burungat Plains up to the Lookout Hill heading towards the Mara River.

In the next few days we are anticipating some major crossings in to the Mara Triangle.

In the northern Serengeti up to the Roan Hills there are big herds of wildebeest that have not been seen in recent times.

The migration will be very interesting this year as the herds are much bigger than normal and they have come in late which means that they might take longer than they usual to stay in the Mara. This is due to the heavy and prolonged rainy season earlier in the year making more grass available for the migrating herds.

The most interesting part of the migration will be the river crossings because the water in the Mara River is a lot higher than it has been in many years.

On the other hand, the Loita herds on the Kenyan side have already started crossing the Mara rivers to the Mara Triangle. Some herds are even crossing back. At Rhino Ridge and at the Topi Plains one can see long lines of wildebeest and zebra moving towards the Mara River.

As this is happening, the season for plenty has arrived for the predators. The lions have been having a feast ever since the Loita herds started streaming in. We are seeing lions, leopards, hyenas and cheetahs with multiple kills and at times not even finishing off everything!

Written by Raphael Koikai, Head Guide at Mara Intrepids/Explorer Camps

The Migration Series

Weather

Dry but with very cold early mornings - temperatures as low as 15 degrees Celsius. The day warms up to 30 degrees Celsius.

Evenings get cool with temperatures at 18 degrees Celsius.

Rivers

There have been no rains in the Mara for some weeks except in the northern and eastern parts which has made it possible for the rivers like the Talek and the Olare Orok to swell and flow.

The Mara River – the life-lung of the Mara – is quite high meaning that there is some rain in the Mau forest - the source of the river.

Wildlife

With the onset of the migration, there is spectacular wildlife with the big herds of wildebeest and zebra spread all over the savanna grasslands.

There have been fantastic crossings over the Mara River with lots of wildebeest and zebras crossing at different points. All seem to be heading towards the Mara Triangle and to the salt lick at Enkoiguaate at the base of the Oloololo Escarpment. This area is very lush because it was burnt recently before the rain for fresh grass to regrow.

Some of the crossings have been at Lookout Crossing and Paradise Crossing.

At Rhino Ridge and Topi Plains near Mara Intrepids and Mara Explorer camps there are several hundreds of wildebeest and zebra making their way to the Mara River.

An interesting observation:  An albino zebra on the southern side of the Mara Intrepids and Explorer camps.

During the annual migration of the wildebeest from the Serengeti, elephants tend to move to less crowded areas but there have been sightings of families of up to 15 individuals by the riverine forests in search of pasture as there is hardly anything for them to eat on the plains.

Rhinos have been seen at Olkeju Rongai and around Chemarta.

Buffalos are common but out-numbered by the migrating wildebeest and zebras. Several hundreds’ are calving.  

Eland are also common by the sundowner site by the camp.

Giraffe, impala and gazelles are in plenty despite the dry season.

Predators

Lions

Ridge Pride: doing very well with the pride growing in size with a new set of cubs. Most of the adult females are also pregnant.

The pride has been at Double Crossing and having a great time hunting wildebeest every two days. The three sub-adult males (Mandevu) and their sister Ashlina seem to be getting pushed out of the pride. They have been seen on their own trying to hunt near Rhino Ridge. The dominant males - Blacky and Lipstick- are still in charge of the pride, going strong.

Paradise Pride and the Rekero breakaways: Doing great. They have several cubs.

The Musketeers are in charge of both prides. The prides are around Paradise Crossing and Chemarta hunting wildebeest and zebras.

Long Face who was the dominant male for the Maji ya Eland pride has been loitering around Rekero Crossing and Smelly Crossing. He seems unsettled since he was pushed out of his pride by the four nomads. He was last seen alone at Smelly Crossing.

Lookout Pride: Is below Lookout Hill doing well with the Notch boys in charge though they seem to be getting frail due to old age.

Cheetahs

The coalition of five male cheetahs who are of different ages have been giving us some very good sightings in most parts of the park.

They are also hunting wildebeest and at times they have made multiple kills. They seem to move a lot at night. They moved into the Olare Orok Conservancy for a night and the next day they were seen at Olkeju Rongai which is quite a distance for them to cover in a night.

Imani has left her cubs. The cubs are moving around Rhino Ridge, Possee Plains and Maji ya Eland. They have been successfully hunting - though the kills are small and sometimes they lose them to hyenas.

Malaika - the grand dame of Mara - and her two cubs are also in the same area but a bit further at Concrete Crossing near Lookout Hill. The cubs seem to be doing well but Malaika is getting weak and less efficient at hunting.

Leopards

Bahati: She and her two cubs have been elusive and spotted only once at Mara Intrepids’ Swing Bridge across the Talek River.

Her elder son Safarilink was seen in the same area. They are doing fine and the little cubs are growing.

Kaboso and her two cubs and the older cub are doing very well. They have been seen together sharing kills.

This family has been roaming between Olare Orok River and Kaboso crossing point. They have been hunting wildebeest calves as they cross the rivers.

News alert!

African Wild Dog

We had another rare sighting of a lone hunting dog at Double Crossing who was a bit nervous, running up and down.

The African hunting dog has a satellite collar fitted by researchers to learn more about his movements.

In the early 20^th century, the African hunting dog was almost shot to extinction as farmers saw it as vermin.

Numbers are now on the increase.

Senior driver-guide at Mara Intrepids Camp

By Raphael Koikai 

First Animal Sightings in Mara 2017

Weather

Very hot during the day with clear skies.

Chilly in the early mornings and at night.

Sunrise: 6:50am

Sunset: 6:55pm

As usual both are spectacular and best time for photography.

Temperatures

18^0c morning

30^0c at midday

27^0c after sunset

Wildlife

Early morning and late evening game drives have been spectacular with lots of plains game concentrated by the rivers, especially the Talek and Olare Orok. These rivers still have some pools of water though they are stagnant.

We have some incredibly large herds of buffalo including Maasai giraffes with calves near Mara Intrepids close to Olare Orok River where there is some grass.

Elephants are scarce during this dry season. They have taken to breaking trees in the forest to forage on the leaves and branches. A few herds can be seen along the rivers where the trees are lush and green.

The wildebeest and zebra from Loita hills are in plenty especially around the Topi plains and it looks like a mini migration happening. It seems like the wildebeest and zebra are not migrating back to the Loita plains because of people settling on their migration routes, and erecting wire fences. This for the predators is a blessing because it means more food for them.

The wildebeest are calving and we expect it to peak in February. It’s unusual for the wildebeest to give birth in the Mara. Historically they give birth in the Loita plains and in the Serengeti.

Other herbivores are in plenty - topis, Thomson gazelles, impalas, Grants gazelles, elands and others – but it’s a lean time for them because of the dry season.

PREDATORS

Lions

Enkuyanai Pride

A pride of 18 lions with Romeo2 as the dominant male. However since his brother Mohican was killed in a territorial fight late last year, Romeo2 has been going through tough times bullied by two dominant males - Olbarnoti and Oloolpapit - from the Olare Orok Conservancy.  They killed Mohican and are still trying to take over the pride.

On New Year’s eve, we watched Romeo2 and his pride being chased for two hours by these two.

Romeo2 is still in charge of the pride but it seems like his fate hangs in balance as long as Olbarnoti and Oloolpapit are around.

Olkeju Rongai Pride

This pride has also had a bad start to the year as there are four nomadic males from Sand River. The four had a serious fight with Long Face the dominant male and Napejo the eldest female in the pride.  A young female was killed and serious wounds inflicted on Napejo and Long Face. The pair was treated by vets.

The nomads meantime are around Talek River at the Possee Plains. They chased the females and their cubs to Olmisigiyioi south towards the Serengeti border. Long Face is very frail and was last seen along the Talek River.

The Ridge Pride

Doing very well with eight cubs.  Now that the Loita plains herds are at Topi plains - which is the pride’s territory - they have been hunting every day with multiple kills on some days.

Blacky and Lipstick the dominant males in the pride are in great shape and have of late been mating. The three young males from the previous litter have been pushed out of the pride. They are now not allowed to share food with the rest of the pride. These are signs that the three are no longer tolerated in the pride.

The Paradise Pride

This pride has six cubs and was seen feasting on a dead hippo. The four musketeers from the pride disappeared for a while and reports were that they had crossed over to the Mara Triangle. They are now back home and were seen sharing a dead hippo with the pride at Chemarta.

Leopards

Kaboso the female gave birth to two cubs at the beginning of the year. They are active and seen almost every day. Kaboso has a new kill every other day and the cubs have really grown. The two cubs from the previous litter are also doing well but have split from the female cub around the first crossing at Double Cross. The male cub is around Chumvi Chumvi.

Bahati has been seen near Mara Intrepids and Explorer. She seems to be suckling but has not brought out the cubs.

The male cub from the previous litter is around Rekero.

Lorien is at Olkeju Ronkai actively hunting.

Cheetahs

Malaika is the only cheetah around the Camp and seen every day with her two cubs. She has of late been at Rhino Ridge making kills almost every day because the cubs are growing and need to be fed.

Malkia, Malaika’s cub from the previous litter is also around the Rhino Ridge and Topi Plains trying to hunt but not with much success.

There is a lone male around wearing a radio collar. We think he is from the Olkinyei Conservancy. 

Article and Pictures By Raphael Koikai, Senior driver guide