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Governors'
Camp Game Report, Masai Mara, March 2011
March
started in much the same way as February ended, with dry conditions, hot
days and a great deal of animal movement. Vultures and other birds that use
thermals seemed to be up and away much earlier, while there was a longer
rest period in the middle of the day for the general game. None the less,
there was still much to see in our corner of the Mara.
 
Photos
courtesy of Katie McLellan
The
Paradise Pride of lions split up (although it is unlikely to be permanent)
with members moving to either side of the Mara River.
This split is probably because of the same animal movement as was seen the
previous month and is typical of a pride needing to "broaden their
horizons" in order to feed. With six big males to make their
collective presence known, it is also no surprise that younger males and
some females feel the pressure! This pride is still hunting hippo.
The
Marsh Pride seemed settled in the Bila Shaka area and made good use of the Loita
zebra and the resident warthogs as their prey. An interesting occurrence in
March was the first sighting of four very young cubs. They belong to a
female who is associated with the Marsh pride, but who hasn't yet been
accepted by the other females. The cubs are believed to be her third
litter.
 
Photos
courtesy of Katie McLellan and Samuel Kiplangat
In the
walking area the Acacia Pride male lions were still to be seen earlier in
the month enforcing their dominance. Towards the end of the month four
lucky walkers were treated to a spectacle of no less than fourteen lions
moving past them, the young ones gambling and tugging at each other tails
while the adults stoically endured the rabble!
Leopard
sightings were almost on a par with last month. Seen regularly was a young
male near Private Camp. Of great interest was the sighting of a female with
a three month old cub near Chemorta. What a
privilege to be allowed a glimpse of a very secret and fiercely protected
world!
Photo
courtesy of Samuel Kiplangat
Rhino
lived up to their reputation and were ever elusive. Our drivers were
patient and persistent however, and amazed many guests with their uncanny
ability to almost sense where these prehistoric beasts were. Various
individuals were seen but memorably, towards the middle of the month, three
were found together - mother, calf and adult male. The adults were mating!
Watch this space in fifteen month's time!
Towards
the middle of the month we were treated with a dowse of extremely welcome
rain! The whole Mara seemed to take a deep breath and change into a new
gear. The Mara
River rose almost
immediately and very soon a different pattern of animal movement became
visible. Cheetahs, for which fairly large distance had to be travelled
previously, were seen much closer to our camps. This is most likely because
of there suddenly being a greater availability of food for herbivores and
their subsequent decrease of movement. Less prey movement meant less large
predator movement and thus a relatively safer environment for less robust
predators such as cheetahs.
 
Photos
courtesy of Samuel Kiplangat
More
water meant a better deal for elephants and indeed, a large number (in big
groups as opposed to the smaller family groups of February) is still to be
seen around the marshes. The African Green Heart tree is still bearing
fruit and there is still a group of elephants that visit the camps regularly
to take advantage of the shorter grass and Green Heart fruit. A little more
work for our watchmen to keep us fore-warned and a marvelous
sight for all!
 
Photos
courtesy of Katie McLellan
An
interesting phenomenon brought about by the rain is the slow return of the Loita zebra to their residential area. As conditions
improve the attraction of home draws them south and east of us. Many of
them had been caught on the "wrong" side of the Mara River
and, amazingly, a crossing of some seven hundred zebra and - fourteen
giraffe - was seen on the 29th of March! Only one poor little
zebra was caught by crocs.
 
Photos
courtesy of Samuel Kiplangat and Katie McLellan
The
migrants (birds) were largely still visible this March. Of note were vast
numbers of Wooly-necked Storks and Abdim's Storks. The latter, slightly smaller storks
were in big congregations in our walking area for quite some time.
Africa's and indeed any continent's ecosystems are living jigsaw puzzles
that are literally dangerously incomplete without seemingly arbitrary
pieces. As the "macro" is a reflection of the "micro",
it is often to the smaller members of an ecosystem that one's attention is
drawn after extended observation. After the rains many mud-fish moved to
the surface of a marsh now vibrant and full of life. One of the highlights
of March's viewing was watching two juvenile African Fish Eagles fighting
over one such fish. Closer observation showed an adult not twenty meters
from the tussling two. Were the juveniles siblings? Surely the adult would
have chased one of the juveniles off if they weren't! African Fish Eagles
seldom practice cainism and usually have two to
three eggs. It is while pondering seemingly minor yet so holistically
integral natural phenomena such as these that one can discover, enjoy and
marvel!
Back in
the camps we enjoyed a romantic evening on the 26th of March as we switched
off all lights in the bar, restaurant and reception areas and lit a mass of
candles for earth
hour.
 
Photos
courtesy of Katie McLellan
We
hope to share the magic of our corner of the Mara with you sometime soon.
   
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