Wildebeest migration status

Map of Masai Mara showing location of the wildebeest herds

The wildebeest migration is still on in the Mara. Most of the animals are now spread out on the Mara triangle plains. There are very patchy concentrations in the north of the reserve around Musiara gate and Topi plains. It is still dry and hot during the days and most temporary pools have dried up, making the animals converge at watering holes or streams to drink in during the day. The higher concentration on Mara triangle is mainly due to some light showers that have occasionally been going through area.

This area is still teeming with grass and much of the plains was not burnt earlier as it was in other places, thereby sparing the grass for the hungry herbivores for the dry period. The most dominant species of grass here is mostly the red oat grass which is an increaser. The more it is fed upon, the more it regenerates soon after the rains and therefore overgrazing here is beneficial to the maintenance of this species.
There were crossing activities at the river, but only a handful animals crossing in either direction at the main points near lookout hill and paradise crossing points. The predation on the crossing herds by the crocodiles has gone down due the low level of water which is making it difficult for the crocodiles to approach the crossing animals unnoticed.

Masai Mara past week

Current wildebeest concentration

Paradise pride lionees carrying cub

Lion from ridge pride with Zebra kill

Wildebeest crossing at the Cul de sac

The wildebeest migration is still ongoing in the Mara. The concentration of the migrating herds is now almost spread out across the whole of the Mara triangle, with quite some big herds on paradise plains as well. The Serengeti herds in the past week kept streaming in from the south with the leading herds pushing further north and others west wards into the Mara triangle. These kept crossing the River by look out hill over the week. The recently burnt grasslands on the Mara triangle seems to have and still is an attraction, as more herds are still heading there.

There have a heavy crossing activity at the paradise crossing point over the past week as herds cross over to the west of the Mara River. These were the herds that were crossing east from the Mara triangle last week. Now they are going back. The crossing activity however is not exiting as usual since the amount of water in the river is very low, which actually makes the crossing just like a walk across. The animals are having it easy due to the low water level. The situation in the river is now unfavourable to the crocodiles who are really struggling to make any kill. They cannot stalk anything in water since they can be seen approaching. Deep water usually helps them drown their prey easily.

The lions are having an easy time now with the availability of prey almost on daily basis. A few lion pride s have small cubs at the moment. We witnessed great hunts and kills in the past two weeks.

Cheetahs were also seen over the same period. Shakira has moved south of Talek river and even lately has been beyond Olkeju-Rongai. Her three cubs are now quite active and have been witnessed to make their own kill. The three brothers (honey’s sons) have lately been roaming between Musiara marsh and the Talek river.

The wildebeests are back

Wildebeest crossing the river below lookout hill

The crossing at paradise point

Map of the Mara showing the location of the migration

The wildebeest have made another dramatic come back. Over the last few days, the concentration in the south of the reserve swelled to an enormous number. Most of the herds as per our previous update 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, crossing the Sand river south of look out hill. Though some of the animals are entering the Mara near Naima-Lumbwa hill, the reentry is not through the same point as they did in July when they first came. Looking down into northern Serengeti, just beyond the border, one can see thousands of animals on the plains heading north into the Mara.

Everything now on the migration front is just like last month when the wildebeest first got into the Mara. I can only say of the present activities, the migration has started again. There is a higher concentration around lookout hill and east to the central plains. The westward bound herds have spread out on the south and north of lookout hill again and many animals have started crossing the Mara River west. For the past three days, our guests have witnessed many animals crossing below lookout hill. The animals are crossing over into the Mara triangle just as before and others heading north from lookout hill, with the first ones now around Olkeju-Rongai and lower Burrungat plains. The western concentration is around Oldoinyo Olkineji and south to the border of Serengeti, while others are heading to the escarpment.

Most of the herds here have settled temporarily on the short grass from a previous burning. The unseasoned 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 most animals crossing back and forth. The water in the river is quite shallow now, hence easy crossing by the animals. We are glad it is happening all over again.

Change in the migration pattern

The migration took a dramatic change at the end of the past week. All the excitement at the crossing died out when most of the herds from the eastern side of the Mara River crossed west. Once on the Mara triangle (The western side of the park) most herds headed south into northern Serengeti. This was a quick exit, since they were expected to stay in the Mara till November as is always the case. Our observation shows that the change in the rain pattern and the burning of the grass in northern Serengeti played a role in this change of events. Driving along the border shows that the herds have settled on the Serengeti side on recently burnt plains. There is usually a massive burning of the grass in July in Northern Serengeti. When the short rains come in August, these plains flourish with lush nutritious grass thereby attracting many herbivores including the migrating herds.

Most of the central Mara is now almost empty except for a high concentration of an isolated herd to the north around between Rhino ridge and Musiara Marsh and to the south just below look out hill. All is not lost because the movement of the herds inside Serengeti shows they are bound for the Mara again. Most of them once inside the Serengeti are heading east along the burn grounds, feeding as they move and entering the Mara again just south of lookout hill.

There have been sporadic crossings below lookout hill and at paradise crossing point. These crossings however, are not as dramatic as it gets sometimes, since the water is very low in the river and the animals crosses easily. This can be attributed to the failure of the short rains at this time.

From experience, as was the case in 1998 and 2005, when wildebeests disappeared only to return shortly, the herds will be on their way into the Mara again. However the change in the rain patterns and the confusion brought by sporadic burning of the grass are expected to cause some changes in the concentration and duration of stay in the Mara.

Big Cats
All the lion prides in our game viewing areas can be seen and have been giving our guests good sightings including daylight hunts. There are six prides of lions within our game viewing reach from Mara Intrepids/Explorer. These are; lookout pride, Olkeju-Rongai pride, Ridge pride, Paradise pride, Marsh pride and Olkiombo pride. With all these prides in our game viewing zone, you can never have better lion sightings.

Leopards’ sightings have been good the past week. There was however an unfortunate incident where a female leopard was killed by another due to territorial fights south of the Talek river.

Cheetah sightings have been very good. We had a record of seeing 12 cheetahs in a day recently. With the concentration of plain game going up, we will be having superb sightings the coming weeks.

Masai Mara this week

Migration location in the Mara

Wildebeest at sunrise

Great Sunsets over the week

wildebeest at Sunrise

The eagle and leopard kill

This past few days has seen a lot happen in Masai Mara on the migration front. From my update last week, I mentioned that we anticipated a slow progress of the herds heading north due to the amount of grass in the way. However, what happened the last 5 days shows that nature acts beyond our predictions, such that there will always be something going behind our backs when we least expect.

The wildebeest and quite a few zebras headed due north from their location last week and arrived just south of Talek gate in two days. From here, the herds headed west to settle on the lower Burrungat plains, before splitting into two groups. Some animals crossed the Talek river north and others have been streaming west to the Mara river. For the last 2 days, a few hundred animals have crossed over to the Mara triangle. They have been crossing in two places north of look out hill.
There was also an exciting crossing at the lower Olkeju-Rongai when most animals crossed south towards look out hill. The river is almost dry, but seeing these animals rush through the river bed was exciting.

The week has been one of great photographic opportunity, with great sunset and sunrises the past three days. My favourite was just watching the sun set/rise with the wildebeest on the horizon. On a different sighting this week, I saw a leopard with kill up one of the balanites trees. She had a Thomson’s gazelle. When she came down to go to the water hole to drink, a daring bateleur eagle landed on the tree and proceeded to the carcass, where it tried frantically to feed on it. It was unfortunate as it had no where to stand well so as to feed.

Other great sightings over the week were those of lions, cheetah (Shakira) with cubs and other leopards.

HAPPY WEEK:

Breaking news! Wildebeest migration in Masai Mara

Contrary to what many people thought, the wildebeests have now entered the Mara! Many believed that with the amount of grass on the migration route, the wildebeest might not come to the Mara after all. On a fact finding mission round the Mara this morning, I confirmed that the annual natural event is now taking place here as usual. Though this is still in its’ initial stages, every indication shows that the stage is set for the world’s most fascinating wildlife spectacle. round the entry points along the Mara and Serengeti border.

A herd of almost 30,000 wildebeest have crossed the border near sand river gate. They could be seen this morning taking their traditional route towards Roan hill. Some have already moved all the way up towards Talek gate. The plains now between Mara Sarova, Roan Hill and Talek gate is teeming with the first herds that have moved into the area. The first animals arrived about 6 days ago.

Their movement however is slower because of the amount of grass in their way. Since May we have continued having intermittent rains which has made the plains covered in long green grass. This is expected to slow the migration movement north. Looking onto the Serengeti from the sand river, one can see isolated herds of zebra and wildebeest heading north though reluctantly. We anticipate this concentration to build as the herds push up north into the Mara.

Speaking to the northern Serengeti national park patrol personnel, they informed me that the rest of migrating herds are in the acacia woodlands between Seronera area and the international border.

The Loita population has also moved into the Mara. They came in about a week ago. A herd of about 4,000 zebras and wildebeest can be seen around Musiara gate in the north and others just south east of the Talek gate, and this consist mainly of Zebras. Their concentration however is still low but we expect a build up in the coming weeks.

The Mara predators in the areas where the herds are concentrated have suddenly woken up to the season of plenty again. The marsh pride lions have now established themselves along Bila Shaka stream where the wildebeest are coming for a drink. Since the entry of the migrating herds into the area, these lions have always had something to eat.