Mara: Saturday 28th August 2004

The rains continued in the Mara this week, though it was drier earlier, the rains that came a couple of days ago brought some relief to the wildebeest and zebra. Whereas a higher concentration is still found on the recently burnt areas, most herds are now moving into the long grass section mainly to the east of the Mara River and to the north of the Mara triangle. This is because the grass in these areas in now soft after the rains. The majority of the animals here however are the zebra because naturally they prefer longer grass due to their strong digestive system. Other animals, i.e. Topi, Impala and Thomson gazelles are trailing behind feeding on the short nutritious shoots of the mainly red oat grass.

There have been intermitent crossings at the paradise and look out crossing points. The crossings at paradise have been bi-directional with the herds moving back and forth. At least a couple hundreds were counted drowned. Though the water level is not high, the main cause of most casualties is the stampede.

The predators are also hanging around the herds and seizing any available moments to get themselves meals. To the east of Mara Explorer, about a kilometre, Bella the female leopard has been mking a kill almost regularly around her hideout. She has established herself a perfect spot where the herds cross often on the Talek river.

Not far from there are two prides of lions using the same

techniques to hunt. They are now permanently based here, just moving around the one kilometre radius ( of course why would anybody move far away from the food resource).



(MORE FROM THE MIRATION FRONLINE AGAIN NEXT WEEK-)



HAPPY WEEKEND

Mara: Monday 23rd August 2004

August 23, 2004

The migration patterns in the Mara continue to change by day. After the one and a half week long rain, most herds headed to the recently burnt grounds because of the new lush grass that shot up after the rain. You understand why it is so when you look at these plains now with a striking green. Most herds are now concentrated on the western part of the Mara triangle along the foot of the Oloololo escarpment. A visit to the area two days ago showed that the herds have retreated from the long grass areas near Oloololo gate and along the Mara River. On the eastern side of the Mara River there are still quite a few herds on Paradise plains, rhino ridge, central and Burrungat plains. However, they are so scattered unlike earlier when they were concentrated. There have been crossings at the paradise crossing point every day with few animals

crossing back over to the Mara conservancy, and a few herds heading back to the northwestern Serengeti.

We have in the past seen similar situations where the wildebeest would come into the Mara then in a month disappear back into the Serengeti only to reappear a month later. We think it may be the same this year.

In the accompanying map you will notice how the

distribution has changed after the rain.



We will keep you updated from the migration frontline.

Mara:Monday 16th August 2004

WILDEBEEST MIGRATION 2004



August 16, 2004

The wildebeest and zebra herds continue to move randomly throughout the reserve in the past week. However, the rain that swept through the park for the last four days has now changed the movement pattern. Most animals are now headed to recently burnt grasslands in anticipation of lush grazing on the fast growing red oat grass (Themeda triandra). If the rain that came last week is anything to last another week, then these plains will be the center of activities in the coming month, as most herbivores will flock here and so will the predators.



The migratory herds on the Mara triangle continued to amass in the pass week and since most of the plains here were recently burnt, then we expect the most animals to stick here for sometimes. The two herds on the eastern side of the Mara River, one at rhino ridge and the other on the central plains are all drifting westward towards the river and possibly cross onto the triangle. While they are doing this some herds are crossing over from the triangle east onto paradise plains.



The predators have now established their territories where they continue to feed on the transient food. At least four prides of lions of individuals ranging from 17 to 20 have camped between the Talek River to the east of Mara Intrepids and paradise plains.

A female cheetah with three cubs continues to roam around rhino ridge and Bella the female leopard is now seen every day a kilometer to the east of Mara Explorer along the Talek river where was seen killing a grant gazelle last week. This is her favorite spot since some wildebeest come to drink and cross here giving her ample opportunity to feed herself and her one year old son kiayoni



We expect lots of activities in the coming week due to the rains. Please check for our update from the front line again next Friday.

Mara:Saturday 7th August 2004

MIGRATION 2004 UPDATE:



06.08.04



The migration patterns contined to change in the past week to what now looks like the beginning. In our update last week, we reported the herds taking three directions, northerly, easterly and westerly. As we anticipated, the herds that headed towards Sekenani gate to the east, are now heading west again. They found the plains around there already grazed upon by the Masai cattle, and the place dry with not much water.



The herds that headed north are still around rhino ridge and have been joined by a few more herds that came across from the Mara conservancy. Interestingly, they are now heading west and crossing the Mara river, though in smaller groups. But we anticipate the crossings to intensify as the herds continue with the search for better pasture.



The westerly herd, which had a higher concentration than the first two groups, have settled on the Mara triangle. Since there was some burning on the plains south and west of the triangle, there isn‘t enough still for the herds not before we get some reasonable rain. In their ever search for greener pasture, some crossed the Mara river again at the paradise crossing point onto paradise plains to the east, enticed by a recent burn on this plain. Not suprisingly, having found nothing here, they started recrossing back, using another crossing point a few kilometres downstream from the main crossing point. On the southern Mara triangle where most have settled, some are seen to head back into the northen Serengeti where numerous others can be seen across the border.

Ther is another large herd between Roan hill, olmisigiyoi and look out hill headed westward and are crossing the Mara river near look out hill.



Because of the sparodic changes within the migration pattern, with the animals here today gone tommorow, a hundred thousands here one day and only a thousand the next day, to some people this is not the main migration, and that the REAL thing is yet to happen, and thinks these are just the loita herds. We should understand the effect the current climate is having on this phenomena. We have also seen in some past years similar events, when the wildebeest comes and goes within a month, and in such situations, we have always seen e return of the herds a month later.

(WE CONTINUE TO UPDATE YOU FROM THE FRONTLINE)

Mara:Friday 30th 2004

MIGRATION 2004 UPDATE:



30.07.04





A great deal has happened since our update last week concerning the wildebeest migration. The Central and Burrungat plains where the wildebeests first settled after coming from the Serengeti, is almost empty save for a few stragglers. The herd as they left this area took three different directions, the majority crossed into the Mara conservancy. A massive crossing occurred near Look Out hill with most of wildebeest moving into the Mara triangle in anticipation of new shoots of grass fire in the area. Wildebeest seem to associate the burning on the plains with new grass which normally occur after the rains.

In the case of the Conservancy, there hasn‘t been adequate amount of rain save for some light showers, which has done no more than just settle the dust and ashes in the burnt areas. So there is very little for the wildebeest to feed on, not that there is no grass on the eastern side of the Mara River, but there an anticipation of lush grazing which has forever kept the wildebeest on the move. We are now enjoying the sight of the herds re-crossing the Mara River at the Paradise crossing point almost on a daily basis, because of the burning of the grass on Paradise plains. Both the local and the southern populations are now all mixed together and some of the herds have headed eastwards towards Sekenani Gate on the eastern border of the reserve but this area is just as dry as the plains they left behind. Their natural instinct is to believe that “grass is greener” on the other side until proved otherwise. We anticipate that this herd won‘t stay long in this area.



The third group crossed the Talek River and proceeded towards the Rhino Ridge and onto Paradise Plains and are now joining up with the group which have arrived back from the Conservancy area. You will never understand the Wildebeest’s mind set, covering their many decisions to move from one area to another and back again! This group is not as large as the Eastern and the Western herds.



As of now, a higher concentration of animals is on the Conservancy side but they are crossing East in high numbers. The second highest concentration is between Roan hill and Sekenani gate but there are still bigger herds seen across the border in Serengeti. We still expect a lot more activity in the coming weeks.

Mara:Friday 23rd July 2004

MIGRATION 2004 UPDATE



July 23rd 2004



The wildebeest migration in the Maasai Mara seems to be taking on a dramatically different shape every few days. Since last week’s update, light rains drifting across the Possee and Burrungat plains and into the Mara Conservancy have caused the herds to move in three different directions. River crossings are continuing at four different places as herds continue to pour into the Conservancy. Another herd heading due north towards Mara Intrepids and Explorer has been busy crossing the Talek River on both sides of the camps. A third herd has reached the Burrungat Plains and is now heading east towards Sekenani Gate.



Along the Talek River, two prides of lions have taken up position to pick up stragglers at the main river crossings – and Intrepids guests have witnessed several lion kills over the past week. Bella, the female leopard and star of BBC’s Big Cat Diary, and her cub have also taken advantage of the crossings from a hideout at Mutamaiyo Lugga, one of the main streams feeding into the Talek.



Although progress from the south has slowed in recent days, herds continue to amass over the Serengeti border, with some small groups heading west and entering the Mara Conservancy near the Olare Saltlick. Although there will be more herds coming across the border in the coming days, there is more than enough to see in the reserve for the time being!



Watch this space for more information from the migration front line!

15 July 2004

The world’s greatest wildlife spectacle arrived in force in the Maasai Mara this week, as a light rain sweeping across the reserve’s central and southern plains triggered a mass movement of wildebeest and zebra from the northern Serengeti. The single day’s rain marked an almost instant change in the migration, which has been threatening to spill over the Tanzanian border for the past three weeks.

Since the beginning of the week, the Central, Burrungat and Meta plains have been teeming with an estimated 500,000-600,000 wildebeest and zebra – nearly a third of the entire population. A second group of about 100,000 zebra has now separated from the main herds and is heading east onto the Posee Plains.

Meanwhile, hundreds of wildebeest have been crossing into the Mara Conservancy at four points on the Mara River near Lookout Hill, prompting a feeding frenzy among the resident Nile crocodiles. The Loita population of wildebeest and zebra continue to cross at the Paradise crossing point with several groups of Thomson’s gazelle – many of which have already succumbed to the crocs’ waiting jaws.

As we wait for the remainder of the herds gathering on the Serengeti plains to traverse the border, their advance guard is about to cross the Talek River near Mara Intrepids towards Rhino Ridge. Across the central Mara, the plains are alive with the telltale chorus of grunts that shows the greatest movement of mammals on Earth is finally in full swing...