Wednesday, July 30, 2014

The wildebeests makes a dramatic come-back in the Mara

The wildebeest have made another dramatic come back into Masai Mara. For sometimes, earlier in the month we were uncertain of their movement since most had started going back into northern Serengeti. The current dry spell experienced in the region is widespread therefore all plains in the Mara and Serengeti are dry. This made the wildebeests to start  heading north into the Mara again, where though still dry, still has some fresh water which is a commodity lacking in most of Serengeti. Right now all the plains south of the Talek River are full of wildebeests and zebras. The crossing points on the Mara River just below lookout hill are places to be now as many animals cross the River west into the Mara triangle. In just a few days, the concentration in the south of the reserve swelled to an enormous number. Most of these herds have made a complete cycle in the past two weeks. They moved from the eastern part of the river, crossed west onto the Mara Triangle, then south into northern Serengeti and east from there before re-entering the Mara around the Sand River gate exactly as they did in July when they first came. In fact everything now is just like at the beginning. There is a higher concentration on Burrungat, central and Meta plains. The westward bound herds have spread out on the central plains again and some herds have started crossing the Mara River near look out hill. The animals are crossing over into the Mara triangle just as before and others heading north with the first ones now around central plains. Most of the herds here have settled temporarily on the plains in these areas, even though the grass is dry. On Saturday, we had some rains have played a crucial role in the sprouting of the grass. The crossing points in the north around paradise plains have been teeming with activities, with the animals crossing over the Mara triangle.
looking back, the current migration scenario is similar to what I documented in October 2006, when the wildebeests delayed going back to Serengeti due to drought. They kept going back and forth between the Mara and north Serengeti

NB:
I still have places for the photographic safari to south Serengeti as per details on my previous post below. If you are interested, kindly get in touch by mid next month since we have to firmly reserve accommodation due to high demand in the camps in south Serengeti.


http://paul-kirui.blogspot.com/2014/07/wildebeests-calving-season-photographic.html

The wildebeests making a come back to the Mara last week.

The map of the Mara showing the recent movement of the wildebeests between the Mara and Serengeti

Saturday, July 12, 2014

Wildebeests calving season photographic safaris

Join me for a great photographic safari in South Serengeti

(A week in Serengeti)

Safari profile

This safari is specifically for great photographic opportunity of calving wildebeests, our camp is located in Ndutu, an area famed for extraordinary wildlife! Huge concentrations of the great migration often gather in this area from late December through March as it is the wildebeest calving season when 400,000 wildebeest calves are born. This incredible concentration of potential prey leads to very high densities of predators and the area and season is unmatched for the potential to observe start to finish hunts. Ndutu is exceptional for cheetah and has proven to be quite a nursery area to raise their young cubs. Lions and spotted hyena are also very common and frequently observed hunting. There is a great diversity of habitats with expansive plains, great marshes, lakes, and woodlands. Full day trips can be made to other rich areas such as Gol Kopjes, Central Serengeti, Kusini Plains, Moru Kopjes, and the Kakesio Plains to the south.
These trips will be lead by Paul Kirui who is a photographer and tour leader for many years. he will work with the drivers on the ground to give you the best photographic opportunity. You will be provided with bean bags for camera support in each vehicle. I can also avail some other kinds of mounts for cameras.

Day 1: 10th February 2015
Pickup from Kilimanjaro Airport and transferred by road to your camp at Ngorongoro crater (3hrs)depending on time of arrival, just spend the evening relaxing in your camp as you watch the sun set over the western rim of the crater.
NB: We will arrange for your regional flight from Nairobi, if your international flight arrives and depart from Jomo Kenyatta airport. We will also arrange hotel if you are arriving a day earlier or previous evening

Day 2: 11th February 2015
wake up at 6.00am, and after breakfast, depart camp at 7.00am for a whole day game viewing in the crater with packed lunch. the drive offers great photographic opportunities. You will have lunch at the crater floor. Head back to camp in late afternoon, to allow time to relax after a long day and watch the sunset beyond the western side of the crater.

Day 3: 12th February 2015
Wake up at 6.30am, depart camp after breakfast at 7.00am and drive towards Ndutu area where your next camp is situated. You will be game driving en-route, to arrive at camp by lunch time, where after lunch, you will have a short rest then depart for your afternoon game drive at 3.30pm. afternoon game drives in this location will provide you with perfect opportunities for photography as you follow the predators and observe them in action. you will return to the camp in the evening

Day 4- 7: 13th-16th February 2014
Wake up every day at 6.00am and prepare to leave camp by 6.30am for half  day of great game and photographic opportunity. you will have packed breakfast which you will enjoy on the plains of Ndutu among thousands of wildebeests, most of which have just given birth (or even in the process of)

Day 8: 17th February 2015
On this day you will wake up as usual, have breakfast at camp at 6.30am then depart camp by 7.00am for drive to Arusha then Kilimanjaro airport. it will take about 4-5hrs. you will have lunch either in Arusha or at a restaurant at the airport, depending on your flight schedule. Those most flights to Nairobi leaves around 2.30pm (In case you are catching your international flight from Nairobi)
NB: We may have to adjust the time of departing Ndutu area depending on flight schedule

(Itineraray for group 2starts from 18th to 25th February, with everything as with group 1)


The cost for this safari is $3930 per person based on 6 people. Sinlge room suplement is $420


The above cost include: 
  1. Pickup from Kilimanjaro airport, 
  2. FB accommodation at Angata camp Ngorongoro for 2 nights, 
  3. Park fees and crater access fees, NCA park fees and one days park fees to Serengeti, 
  4. FB accommodation at a mobile camp in Ndutu area. 
  5. Game drives in open sided landcruiser in Ndutu area ideal for photography, 
  6. Seating capacity only 3 person per vehicle. 
  7. Drinking water in camp and on game drive
  8. Flying doctors service subscription

The costs excludes: 
  1.  Air fare from Nairobi (for those landing in Nairobi first)
  2. Bar bills, 
  3. Items of personal nature and any other activity not mentioned above
NB: Due to high demand for accommodation, please get in touch by 15th August so as to confirm the tents

Paul Kirui
Photographer & Tour leader
http://paulkirui-photography.com
http://paul-kirui.blogspot.com
Email: paul.safariguide@gmail.com






BELOW ARE IMAGES OF OUR CAMP IN NDUTU

 View from inside tent

Part of the tent

View from outside tent

Dinning tent 

The bar in view

Full view of tent from outside

Tent side view



Sunday, July 6, 2014

The migration show continues in the Mara

The wildebeest have made another dramatic comeback. Over the past week, the concentration in the south of the reserve swelled to an enormous number. these were the herds believed to have remained in Northern Serengeti when the first group came into the Mara last month. when the first group arrived, they headed due north from Sand River, crossed the Talek River then continued into the conservancies of Olare-Orok, Naboisho and Mara North where they settled before coming back into the reserve last week. They headed towards Rhino ridge, Musiara marsh, then Paradise plains and finally crossing the Mara River west onto the Mara Triangle. there have been massive crossings over the last few days with many animals crossing at different places. As usual, the predation on the crossing animals was witnessed
There is a higher concentration on the central and Meta plains. The westward bound herds have spread out on the central plains again and crossing the Mara River near look out hill. For the past three days, we have witnessed many animals crossing around here. three days ago, they crossed for almost 3 hours non-stop. The animals are crossing over into the Mara triangle then spreading out around Oldoinyo-Olkineji and others heading towards Turner's hill and Milima Tatu.
while the concentration of these animals are the major attraction, we have been witnessing many hunts by the Mara predators, mainly lion, Leopard, Hyaena and Cheetah.

I will keep you posted.

The herds spreads out to graze after crossing at paradise point on the Mara river

The herds heads away from the river after crossing at Look-out hill

A map of the Mara showing details of the ''show''

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