Migration Update - 25th July 2014

Weather   

It’s cloudy early morning with clear skies mid-morning. You have to dress warm for early morning game-drives. We provide our guests with Maasai shukas (blankets) on game-drives.   


Temperature   

17c morning   
28c at midday   
25c after sunset   


The Migration   

The migrating wildebeest and zebras have been crossing to the west of the Mara following rain along Oloololo Escarpment and the Olare Orok Conservancy in the north. There has been a lot of up and down movement for the rains have not been even and locally distributed.   Another large herd from south of the Mara is streaming in from north Serengeti through Sand River. Led by a herd of zebras, they get in to the Mara where the grass is heavily over grazed by the earlier migrating herds.   The first lot is at Talek River behind Mara Explorer crossing. The zebras are in the lead while the wildebeest follow.   Their area of interest is between Rekero and Rhino Ridge. It’s a valley that stretches to Paradise Crossing. It’s the last place to visit on the migration route. It is the only place that is supporting herds of buffalo at the moment, for it is green, has water springs and pools. 
 
           

Predators   

Lions   

The Double Cross pride is starving at the moment for the wildebeest and zebras have moved to the marsh after crossing Mara River in the west.   Barnoti and Oloolpapit, who have not yet acquired a pride are scavenging for food from the hyenas. They have a lot of claw cuts and bites on their bodies that show they have been fighting for survival.   Notch’s boys have expanded their territorial boundaries far south over looking Sand River. The four brothers are still together looking healthy.

           


Leopards   

The Ridge male is at Double Crossing, either at Topi plain or Olkiombo plain depending on prey availability. 

Cheetahs

Amani is at Lookout Hill with her seven-month-old cub and her older daughter.  

  

Report and pictures by John Parmasau – Head Safari Guide, Mara Intrepids and Mara Explorer Camps.

©Heritage Hotels Ltd, Kenya. http://www.heritage-eastafrica.com/

ANIMAL SIGHTINGS - Mara Intrepids & Mara Explorer

Weather   

Cold, cloudy mornings clearing up by mid-day. You need to dress warm for the early morning game drives.  


Temperature   

17c morning   
28c at midday   
25c after sunset   


Annual Migration of the Wildebeest and Zebras   

Herds of wildebeest and zebra continue to flow west to cross Mara River following the rain on the Mara Triangle along Oloololo Escarpment.   During the crossings, there are only a few casualties because the water level in the Mara River is low. Nevertheless, crossing rivers in the presence of crocodiles is a dangerous affair.   Crocodile are more efficient in deep and fast flowing water than in shallow water - they kill their prey by drowning it and ripping it by spinning.     


Predators   

Lions 
  
Lion prides are healthy and doing well in terms of feeding and family grouping.   The Rekero pride is doing well with six cubs of different ages - four aged three months old and two aged five months old. Lipstick and Blacky are the male lions of the pride.   The Olkiombo pride is at Central Plain with four of Notch’s sons in charge of them. The Shonko pride has eleven members.   

Leopards   

Bahati has been seen mating during the last two weeks on the edge of Olkiombo airstrip – a kilometer away from Mara Intrepids Camp – She’s with a young male who has yet to be identified.   

Cheetahs   

Amani is at Lookout Hill with her cub aged seven months.   

             

Report and pictures by John Parmasau – Head Safari Guide, Mara Intrepids and Mara Explorer Camps.

©Heritage Hotels Ltd, Kenya. http://www.heritage-eastafrica.com/

The Wildebeest Migration Endures: Maasai Mara Wildlife Update

Weather

It is warm during the day with a clear sky and a great time to enjoy the beautiful golden sunrise and sunset. It can be a bit dusty during the game drives.

Temperature

17^c morning

28^c at midday

25^c after sunset

MIGRATION OF WILDEBEEST AND ZEBRAS

The migratory animals are moving to the river crossing points towards Mara Triangle Conservancy.

The migration south of Mara Intrepids Camp has crossed Sand River into the Mara led by thousands of zebras. Some are heading north while others are moving west towards Mara River. They are moving fast due to pressure from behind.

The crossing at Lookout Hill is expected to take place any time from today heading west. At the moment the big river crossings are at Paradise Crossing upstream from Lookout Crossing in the morning. We encourage guests to carry picnic boxes for it is unpredictable when the wildebeest and zebra will cross.

The water level in the Mara River is not high which makes it easier for the herds to cross and hopefully spot the crocodiles – but they are always hesitant to cross because of the danger lurking in the muddy rivers.

PREDATORS

LIONS:

The lion prides are establishing themselves into family units. The nomadic male lions are roaming around looking for new prides territories to take over.

The Ridge pride also called Rekero pride has five cubs of different ages with Lipstick and Blacky around them to make sure their offspring are safe from intruding males who will kill the cubs. By killing the cubs, the females come into heat soon after and are ready to mate with the new males. In this way the new males ensure their genes are carried on.

Double Cross pride is still doing well with 11 members.

LEOPARDS:

Bahati and Saba are still around along Olare Orok. Bahati has been seen mating but shying off into the bushes by the junction of Talek and Olare Orok rivers.

Siri at Shamarta by Mara River is lactating. We think she has cubs on the big rock.

CHEETAHS:

Amani’s female cub is at Shamarta not far from Siri’s (the leopard) hideout by Paradise Plain.

SPECIAL SIGHTING.

Elephants swimming with hippos at Mara river.

Mara intrepid camp watching Karanja by Mara Intrepids camp foot bridge.

Report and pictures by John Parmasau – Head Safari Guide, Mara Intrepids and Mara Explorer Camps.

©Heritage Hotels Ltd, Kenya. http://www.heritage-eastafrica.com/

MOJA (NYOTA’S SUB-ADULT, MALE LION CUB)

Life of Moja.

This male lion cub is part of the Rhino Ridge pride, west of Mara Intrepids Camp, with Mohican & Romeo2 as the two male dominant lions of the pride.

When Moja was three months old, he was cornered by a herd of six hundred buffaloes.

Moja sought refuge in a cave while Nyota, his mother played decoy and lead the herd away from Moja. When they reached Rhino Ridge, the buffalo lost interest and started grazing in a different direction. Nyota came back for Moja and led her cub up to the ridge to join Mohican and Romeo2.

Now Moja is making his own kills. Since it is the migration season, there is plenty of prey and he might not be solitary for long. He will probably team up with other nomadic males and form a coalition – which gives him a better chance of survival.

Les and Linda Nicol from the Isle of Man in the U.K and regular guests at Mara Explorer Camp are presenting a great coverage of the migration and the life of Moja.

Moja

Moja at topi plains looking miserable after being separated from the mother

Mohican the father of Moja listening to terrifying sounds made by rival lions in the distance.

Romeo2

Nyota mating at Topi plain

Other Ridge pride lion, Blacky mating with the ridge lioness

Other Ridge pride lion Lip-stick takes a nap

Report and pictures by John Parmasau – Head Safari Guide, Mara Intrepids and Mara Explorer Camps.
©Heritage Hotels Ltd, Kenya. http://www.heritage-eastafrica.com/

Wildebeest Migration Sightings - Update

Weather

It gets cloudy with showers of rain after sunset. During the day there is some drizzle.  We have clear views of the sunset and sunrise.  The grass is green and short in many areas.

Temperature

17c in the morning

27c at midday

25c after sunset.

MIGRATION OF WILDEBEEST AND ZEBRAS

The wildebeest and zebras migration is taking its traditional route which is south of Mara Intrepids Camp via Maji ya Fisi, to the Olkiombo plain and then to Topi plain and onto Musiara Marsh.

There is rain along the riverine forests of the Talek, Intiakitiak, Olare Orok and the Marsh. The new fresh shoots and fresh water in natural water holes dictates the direction of the migration.

The herds are moving to Paradise Crossing along the tree line of Mara River which is west of Mara Intrepids Camp. In the next two days we expect a massive crossing at Paradise Crossing towards Mara Triangle.

There is rain, storm and thunder in north Serengeti (which adjoins Mara). This might get the migration to return faster to the Serengeti. The rain in Serengeti might also keep the remaining herds from migrating which means we will experience another migration in July-August.   

Wildebeest spread across Topi plain all the way to the Marsh North West of Mara Intrepids Camp, heading to Mara river Paradise Crossing.

Beautiful sun set across the Mara over Oloololo escarpment.

Report and pictures by John Parmasau – Head Safari Guide, Mara Intrepids and Mara Explorer Camps.

©Heritage Hotels Ltd, Kenya. http://www.heritage-eastafrica.com/

The Wildebeest Migration is here!

Weather

It’s drizzling in the Mara. The grass on some plains is green and short and in other parts it’s tall with the red-oat grass.
The sunsets and sunrise are great. After sunset, it’s cloudy with showers of rain.

Temperature

17c morning

27c at midday

25c after sunset.

Migration of Wildebeest and Zebras

The annual migration of the wildebeest and zebras from the Serengeti in Tanzania and the Loita plains in Kenya has arrived.

After the prolonged drought in the country, the Mara region was greatly affected with no grass for the cattle to graze. For the herds to survive, nocturnal grazing was allowed in the eastern part of the Mara reserve, where they have consumed three quarters of the grass.

Hence, the migrating wildebeest and zebra do not have enough to browse on in this part of the reserve. This has affected the usual grazing pattern where the zebras come first followed by the wildebeest and gazelles.

This has also affected their movement pattern. The herds are moving faster in search of grass. This means that the spectacular Mara River crossing to the west of the Mara to join the Mara Triangle conservancy may happen in the next few days. The most likely places for the crossing could be at the Lookout Crossing and Paradise Crossing which is west of Mara Intrepids Camp at Mara River.

The Talek River crossing will likely be between Mara Intrepids Camp and the junction of Talek and Mara River.

The Posse and Meta plains south of Mara Intrepids Camp are full of wildebeest and zebra.

The wildebeest male are busy trying to establish their dominancy and mating rites.

Predators

Predators’ sightings have been good because of the abundant food.

Lions

The prides of lions have started grouping themselves after a long period of separation due to lack of prey. It’s a survival strategy to avoid competition where the prides break into smaller family units of three or four depending on the size of the litter.

The Ridge pride now consists of three groups - one of eight individuals, another with seven members and another one of nine with Blacky and Lipstick. The males in the pride are converging between Rekero and Mara Intrepids Camp.

Double-cross pride went through a lot of hardship due to no food and dominance from the new male lions from Olare Orok pride. They came in and kicked out Mohican and Romeo2 from the Double-cross pride.

The old lioness with two cubs who had a deep cut on her back leg caused by a warthog managed to escape with her cubs from the sub-adult male lions of the Ridge pride – who most likely would have killed her cubs.

The Double-cross pride had nine cubs. Six were killed by the new two new males who came from Olare Orok conservancy (the same ones who chased away Mohican and Romeo2).

Notch’s four bully boys - Roan, Ciza, Crimes and Notch2 are at Olkejuronkai with the Shonko pride south of Mara Intrepids Camp.

Cheetahs

Amani and her four-month-old cub are at Survey, south of Mara Intrepids Camp by the Olkiombo airstrip.

Cheetahs tend to pave way for the wildebeest migration and rally behind them where the grass has been crop down. This attracts the small antelopes like Thomson gazelle which is the cheetah’s favorite prey.    

Leopards

Leopard sightings are more than cheetah ones especially along Olare Orok and Intiakitiak Rivers. Saba and Jicho, the male leopard are at Olare Orok and Lerai. Another female leopard is at Intiakitiak.

Saba, the last borne of (late)Olive, the famous female leopard at the junction of Intiakitiak and Olare Orok river

Double Cross lioness with cubs of different ages cross suckling.

Blacky, the Ridge pride male with a wildebeest kill at Shamarta west of Mara intrepids camp.

Wildebeest crossing Talek River east of Mara Explorer Camp

Romeo2 at Double Cross during his last visit after he was chased out of the Double Cross pride and territory.

Report and pictures by John Parmasau – Head Safari Guide, Mara Intrepids and Mara Explorer Camps.

©Heritage Hotels Ltd, Kenya. http://www.heritage-eastafrica.com/

Safari in the Maasai Mara: March - May 2014 Highlights

 Game viewing in the vast plains of Masai Mara National Game Reserve is the absolute highlight of a stay at  Mara Intrepids and Mara Explorer Camps. It is always best to know what the weather and climate is like  before you travel to Masai Mara. Below is a short summary of what to expect between the months of April  - May so as to maximize on the safari experience.

  Weather:

 Following the poor distribution of long rains in the Mara, the grass plains are crisp golden as opposed to  luscious green.  The sky is clear from dawn to dusk, with a cool breeze during the day.

 Temperature:

 Morning: 17 degrees celcius

 Midday: 28 degrees celcius

 Sunset: 25 degrees celcius

 Highlights:

 Plain Game and Loita Plains Migration

 This change of weather has affected animal movement and behavior. This year, in the absence of the normal  wet season the wildebeest and zebras herds that normally spend their time in the Loita plains to calf and  raise their young, are in the Mara much earlier than expected with their young.

 There’s not a lot of grass now in the reserve and if this pattern continues, we may see more unusual animal     behavior.

 Lion

 Usually the lion cub mortality rate is high before the arrival of the wildebeest and zebra because there isn’t  enough to prey on. This year, the lion prides may do well with their cubs because the prey is here earlier  than usual.

 Normally, large grazers leave the Mara during the wet season to higher and well drained grounds so as to  avoid foot rot. This allows the grass time to grow tall, giving predators cover to stalk their prey.

 Leopard

 Leopard sighting are much better than that of the cheetah, especially along the Olare-orok and Intiakitiak  rivers.

 Cheetah

 Cheetah sightings are better after the comeback of the wildebeest and zebras migration. There’s enough  food and the grass is shorter. The short grass helps the cat to spot its prey easily and attract gazelles - which  is the cheetah’s favorite prey.

 Other Highlights:

• Birdlife is plentiful. Great month for ornithologists as many Palearctic migratory birds are going back to Europe/North Asia, therefore many aquatic birds utilize the wet season for a brief break in the Mara and other parts of Kenya to feed before final departure
• Dark sky background in the afternoons when the rains are building up, great photography
• Most herbivores move to higher grounds to avoid fungal infections in the hooves. Most game will concentrate only in particular areas where the grass is short
• Lions adapt to tree climbing to get better view and some cheetah use vehicles bonnets.
• Lions adapt to hunting warthogs even inside holes on the ground

Report and pictures by John Parmasau - Head Safari Guide, Mara Intrepids and Mara Explorer Camps.

©Heritage Hotels Ltd, Kenya.http://www.heritage-eastafrica.com/