The high concentration of the animals in the Mara Triangle is because of the light rains.
There is sill a lot of grass in the plains as they were not burnt like the other areas and hence there is grass for the hungry herbivores to last the dry period. The dominant species of grass here is the red oat grass. The more the animals graze on it, the faster it regenerates after the rains providing more grazing to the animals.
There was some wildebeest crossing at the Mara River. However, only a handful of wildebeest crossed in either direction at the main points near Lookout Hill or the Paradise Plains. The crocodiles only managed to prey upon a few wildebeest because the water level is too low which makes it difficult for the crocodiles to approach the animals unnoticed.

Wildlife sightings

Leopards

Olive, the Mara female leopard was first seen on 27th July carrying a small cub at the Olare-Orok River crossing. The cubs were not seen after that, but Olive was seen around that location for a while. She was again seen on 15th August carrying a cub on the Talek River Bank where she proceeded to hide it in a hole under a tree on the banks of the river. After a few minutes she went back and brought a second cub. She continued to be seen in the area until 19th August when she moved upstream of Olare-Orok River.

On the morning of the 21st August, Olive was seen at the double crossing area mating with the Rhino Ridge male. There was also an unidentified female in the vicinity. In the evening l saw Olive and the Rhino Ridge male mating. This was my second time in my 17 years of guiding to see mating leopards clearly. As it was getting dark, they moved to the stream and into the bush. At this time another female leopard emerged from the bush and Olive ran away. However the following day, Olive was back again with the Rhino Ridge male.

One morning I saw them heading to the location of the cubs. The territory where the cubs are belongs to another big male leopard called Big Boy. I believe, when Olive disappeared briefly earlier in the year, she must have mated and conceived from the Rhino Ridge male because when she finally appeared, she was coming from the direction of the Rhino Ridge male’s territory. I believe she is trying to lure him closer to the cubs so that he protects them. She was seen the following day with her cubs and the male.

There were other leopards in our game viewing locations seen during the past week. Binti killed an Impala fawn recently south of Mara Intrepids.

Lions

There have been good lion sightings during the recent weeks giving our guests great photographic opportunities.

One of the females from the Paradise Pride has cubs, which she has had to move sometimes, especially when a herd of elephants approached the bush where the cubs were. It was a rare sight to see her carry her cubs in the mouth from almost 300 metres.

Cheetahs

The cheetahs have been spotted regularly over the recent weeks. Shakira is now around Lookout Hill.
There is also another cheetah called Alama by the guides because she has a black spot on the side of her face. She is found in the east of Mara Explorer with 3 two month old cubs.