by Heritage
24 September 2004
October 8th 2004
True to our reports last week, the mass exodus of wildebeest from the Maasai Mara has finally begun in earnest. A rare scattering of rain in the southern Mara last week may have signalled to the herds that their departure is now overdue.
It continues to be a busy time at the Paradise crossing point, with most wildebeest crossing over to the Mara Conservancy before heading south towards the Serengeti. Those from Rhino Ridge and Bila Shaka continue to cross the Talek River near Mara Intrepids before heading south onto the Burrungat and Central plains. There have also been a lot of eastward crossings near Lookout Hill, before the herds turn south towards the Tanzanian border.
However, the overall picture is still not without confusion, with some rangers at Sand River Gate reporting some herds starting to head north again! The herds from the Loita Hills are also ‘hanging around’ ”“ perhaps reluctant to leave our little piece of paradise! But then again, these herds are always the last to leave”¦
by Heritage
24 September 2004
With the continuing failure of the short rains in the northern Serengeti, the wildebeest herds have temporarily abandoned their mass southbound movement ”“ giving Kenyan visitors the unexpected treat of wildebeest on the Mara plains in late October. Those herds still in the Mara can be seen mainly around Rhino Ridge, the Bila Shaka area, Engoikwaatet salt lick in the Mara Triangle, and the central plains around Mara Intrepids and Explorer camps.
The herds are now concentrating in the areas that were not burned last month, where there is still some grass. (The areas burned in September remain bare as there has not been sufficient rain to bring back the grass.) Over the past two or three days, there have been scattered showers over most areas of the Mara, which we believe will keep the wildebeest here for a little longer.
The Big Cats, meanwhile, continue to seize the unexpected glut of hunting opportunities. Bella the leopard and her cub are still at their favorite ambush sites along the banks of the Talek River. Twice in the past week she has had to battle with baboons to save her cub from their menacing advances. The Olkiombo pride of lions has also been busy hunting the transient herds at various crossing points on the Talek, while the cubs of Kike the cheetah have been seen several times just south of the Talek on the Burrungat Plains.
by Heritage
24 September 2004
October 4th 2004
Subtle signs in the patterns of wildebeest movements across the Mara confirm that the exodus back to the Serengeti has now begun in earnest. After weeks of crossing the Mara River in an easterly direction, the herds have at last begun to head back en masse into the Mara Conservancy. At the southern end of the Conservancy, the herds that have been congregating here have now begun to drift further south towards the Tanzanian border.
Despite these early signs of a mass southerly movement, there remains a high concentration of wildebeest in the central Mara Triangle, with some herds moving north towards Oloololo Gate and crossing into Musiara Marsh before heading back south. Last week saw continuing eastward crossings near Lookout Hill, with small groups joining with the larger herds moving south from Roan Hill and Possee Plain.
The general confusion of all these late movements has probably been exacerbated by an unexpected early rainfall, which has watered much of the Mara over the past week. However, the late movements have also had unexpected benefits for the resident leopard and cheetah, who have been treating guests at Mara Intrepids and Explorer to a host of exciting ”“ and often successful ”“ hunts. It has also provided an unexpected boost to filmmakers who are in the area producing a sixth series of the record-breaking documentary Big Cat Diary, which the BBC will be showing as Big Cat Week in early January 2005.
Stay on this page, for more breaking news from the never-ending 2004 migration!