Masai Mara Latest

Olive stacking a herd of Implala

Heavy downpours in the afternoons, now common

Streams flood, but still fun driving through

The long awaited rains finally arrived two days before Christmas. Most parts of the country received a lot of rains over the past four days. It was so heavy in some places that it resulted in lose of human lives.

The rains would not have come at a better time. The Mara needed more rain to enable th grass re-grow after heavy grazing over the last five months by both wild and domestic animals in some areas. The Maasai people, who have this year been affected more than any other year by the drought, can now afford to smile, because their remaining cattle will survive now that there is food.

Although the rain is welcomed, it is now going to limit us from moving into certain areas fro game viewing. The little streams which we have been just crossing through with ease have now changed into rivers;

On the Big Cats fronts; Olive is still at the Olare-Orok river, around the smelly crossing. She is still with her two cubs. There were false reports earlier that the cubs had been killed, but she still has them. Another leopard upstream, near double crossing point, has been there for the last one week is looking expectant and might bring forth new cubs soon. Binti was seen last week just below the junction of the Talek and Olare-Orok rivers. We had a rare show on 21st December, when Kali confronted the Rhino ridge male (the father of Olive’s small cubs). He spooked and chased him for about 300 metres before the male turned around only to find it is just a small boy, at which point he turn back and chased him. But before long, Kali turned back and charged at him again but he was given a fright and had to run fro his live. I can see him becoming a very strong male in future.

The Ridge pride is still near the Mara River with Notch and his gang still accompanying them. Paradise pride is at their usual place at paradise plains near the wildebeests crossing

Back from break

Topi & Flowers, a common sight now in the reserve

Fire ball lily; One of the many flower species that can be seen now

I would like to apologize to my followers on this blog for the long lapse in updating them on the happenings in the Mara. I have been on leave, hence the long lapse in my update here. I have just come back to the Mara to a very welcoming carpet of short green grass on the plains, mainly the recently overgrazed areas. With the short rains we have started receiving, there is now plenty flowers growing on the plains and the on the edges of the bushes. it is very beautiful especially if you are taking a picture of a subject which is right in teh middle of the flowers.

The rivers Talek and Olare-Orok which had almost dried out are now flowing again. Hopefully the rains we have will last a lot longer.

All our big cats can be seen around. Olive i was told had been lost for 3 weeks, but only two days after arriving in teh Mara on my first game drive, i found her with Impala kill up a tree near the smelly crossing. The Ridge pride can now be found along the Mara river while Olkiombo pride along the Talek towards the gate. other lion prides are still in their places and ineterstingly many of them now have got cubs. Nodge's gang are with the ridge pride. Shakira is now in the north.

I will keep yopu updated as i gather more information on game drives aroudn the reserve.