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The good news is that we have started the year with lots of rain in the country including the Mara, giving us a break from the previous year’s devastating drought.

In 2009, the Mara River dropped to its lowest level. It made the famous annual wildebeest crossing from the Serengeti and in to the Mara look like a joke, because the animals just walked across the shallow river and we missed the usual action that goes with the crossing. We hope that this year will be different.

The rains have brought a sigh of relief to the pastoral communities in the country who had to search far and wide beyond their normal grazing borders in search of pasture and water for their livestock. It was a year where we saw a lot of conflict between humans and wildlife. This was because the pastoral people brought their cattle into the wildlife protected areas because there was still some pasture and water available. We saw this in Shaba and Samburu game reserves including the national parks like Nairobi National Park and others. We hope that the rains will last long enough to fill the rivers and replenish the pasture plains.

With the rains, we are seeing fantastic game, even in the arid Samburu Game Reserve, north of the Equator. The animals are regaining their health and are more active. Our guests in Samburu can now watch animals coming down to the Uaso Nyiro River to drink. The river, which is the lifeline for the animals and people living along its course, was dry for the better part of 2009.

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There’s not much traffic in the reserve and hence the animals are quite relaxed.
This is our last update of the year 2009. We hope you have enjoyed our news from the wild, and we look forward to better sightings next year.
From the Update Team, Happy Holidays and a Happy and prosperous 2010!

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Mara after the annual wildebeest migration looks a little empty but after the five-day spell of rain, it’s paradise on the plains with the grass all green, the wild flowers are in bloom and every water hole is full of water. But the rivers have not filled up because it did not rain beyond the Reserve. The mornings are usually clear skies becoming cloudy in the evenings  which signals the onset of rains soon.

There’s always drama on the plains. With the grass so short, the predators are having it tough because their intended prey can spot them fast. For the scavengers, like the lappet face vultures, jackals and hyenas it’s time to feast on the old carcasses that have been softened by the rain.

Wildebeest Migration

The Loita Migration, which is our domestic migration, has come back to the Reserve because there has been no rain in the Loita Plains which is one of the wildebeest calving grounds. If the rains do not extend to Loita Plains in a month’s time, then we will see the wildebeest calving in the reserve.

The Topi Plains are now full of wildebeest and zebras because of the new grass and plenty of water.

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The arrival of the rains after the long dry spell has brought relief to the animals in the Mara and other wildlife parks, with new shoots of grass sprouting for the herbivores. The situation was dire during the drought with little for the grazers. The worst affected were the hippos.

It’s not usual to see hippos out of the water during the day, but during this lean period, many were seen trying to graze on whatever dry grass they could find. You can still see the hippos on the plains during the day because despite the rain there’s still not enough for them to eat. We have counted quite a few dead hippos on the plains and the river banks, the carcasses providing a feast for the vultures and hyaenas. Luckily, the antelopes like the gazelles and impalas were not so badly affected.

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Most wildebeest are now heading back to their breeding grounds, east of the Loita Plains and south into Serengeti. Currently there are still big herds in the Mara triangle along the base of the Aitong escarpment. On the eastern side there are a few herds near Sand River gate, Keekorok area and Roan Hill.

Due to the presence of these herbivores, our predator sightings have been superb. All the lion prides in our game viewing territory are still there and actively hunting. We have witnessed many kills in recently, much to the excitement of our guests.

The days have generally been hot with temperatures rising to 38°C. That is quite high for the Mara. There is less activity during the day due to the heat as the animals take shelter under the trees. They are active in the morning and late afternoon. However, as I write this, we have had at least two days of rain, and we hope this is the beginning of the short rains.

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A combination of a dry spell and over grazing has played a major role in the grass cover becoming depleted. This is not a new phenomena for the wildebeest will move on to new pastures to give time for the old grazing pastures to regenerate.

The wildebeest will gradually stream back into the Serengeti with the last herds expected to leave by end of November. They will be away till June-July next year when they will return to graze on the rich green grasses after the long rains of April-May. It will be another season of plenty for the predators and the prey, as the cats and crocodiles keep a close tab on the grazers.

When the wildebeest finally leave the Mara, the predators have to devise smarter methods of hunting for the elusive resident animals. At times they have to go for long periods between meals. The strong ones survive but for the weak and the old, this may be their last season – in the wild, this is the survival of the fittest.