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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.