March
2003
The general sighting of game has been very rewarding this
season. Elephant in family units with calves and some very young
indeed have been seen in large numbers around the Marsh
particularly during December and January when the area received
some very heavy rain that saturated the Marsh these Elephant
appeared to move out to the plains and Acacia woodlands at night
and then back to the Marsh during the day. Now that the area has
seen no rain for two months the grass is drying up and the
Elephant are frequently seen along the Governor’s woodland and
they are frequenting Little Governor’s, Il Moran and Main
Governor’s all hours of the day and night as they favour the
fruit that is falling down in large numbers from the African
Green Heart trees (Warburgia Ugandensis)
The well photographed Lion of the
‘Bila Shaka pride’ numbering 31 in total with two dominant
well maned males, 1 immature male named Solo, 10 females with 2
9-month-old cubs, 6 1½ month old cubs and 10 4½ month cubs.
All have been seen frequently near the Governor’s airstrip and
again in their favourite insect repellent Croton thickets that
line the banks of the seasonal Bila Shaka riverbed. The 10 4½
month old cubs are very playful in the fresh morning air
particularly with the warm light at sunrise. The paradise pride
comprising 11 in all with 3 mane less males which is rather
extraordinary for the Mara/Serengeti race of Lion as males in
this region generally develop well mated manes.
 The 3 individual Leopard seen at
Paradise, one young 3 ½ year old male in particular can be
approached easily where as the other 8 year old male and the 7
year old female are quite shy still. There is a very nice female
with a 9 month old cub seen frequently near to Il Moran. In
early January two territorial male Topi fought for one hour and
eventually one killed the other, the female Leopard and cub very
quickly took liberty of this and had the Topi for three days,
guests staying at Il Moran had good viewing of the two.
Cheetah on the other hand have
been seen nearly daily and Queen’s daughter has 3 cubs aged 2½
months and they are seen fairly easily now in the Governor’s
camp triangle she does well on Thomson gazelle and manages to
feed most mornings it appears. A further two males who are
brothers seen often at the Bila Shaka plain.
The large numbers of Zebra with their foals have now appeared
from the walking area close to the Governor’s triangle
Black Rhino sighting was a bonus for many where upon a female
was joined by a young male and stayed around the Governor’s
triangle for some time they seemed to have moved further towards
the Keekorok area.
Families of Bat Eared Fox’s
along with Silver Backed Jackal and Spotted Hyena are frequently
seen on paradise plains. Other interesting species seen are
Caracal, Serval, African Rock Python, White Tailed Mongoose and
Marsh Mongoose. The ever present troops of Banded and Dwarf
Mongooses are seen daily foraging for insects on the lawns of
all three Governors' Camps. In the walking concession area there
are still some good numbers of resident Wildebeest, Kongoni and
Eland. The Acacia pride have now been seen at the salt lick near
to KEO 5 campsite which is very encouraging. We hope now that we
will be able to see them on our walks. The bird life is still
excellent with a lot of the paleartic migrants starting to go
back.
Walking safaris in the Masai
concession
January – March 2003
Walking in the concession area has been very successful this
year despite the amount of rain we had in December of last year
and up until mid January, this induced good grass growth which
made the walking to begin with a little wet in some low lying
areas.
 Game viewing has been rewarding
with particular interest to a large breeding herd for the Masai
Mara of 240 Buffalo we were able to safely approach them to
within 50 meters. Lion have been seen on numerous occasions
along with good viewing of Elephant and Giraffe in the Acacia
Seyal thickets. Other positive game viewing bovids include Topi,
Eland, resident wildebeest and good herds of impala. A pair of
Silver backed Jackal, Spotted Hyenas and a family of 4 Bat Eared
Fox’s are regulars on the first hour of morning light and a
bonus for a few, two male Cheetah seen from time to time. The
insectivorous Yellow Winged Bat that frequents the Croton and
Acacia thickets has been of fascinated interest to many; the
first sighting is a flash of yellow like a flag in the wind as
it flies off from its roost to a near by limb. Zebra have
started to move down in large numbers from the Aitong plains
into the walking concession area, the grazing value there and on
the adjacent plains has been grazed very low mainly due to
competition with Masai livestock this will only support
scattered herds of Thomson and Grant’s gazelle.
Our Masai trackers with their
knowledge of culture and herbal remedies from the many shrubs
and trees of the area have been well received and appreciated.
The walks are becoming popular now as more and more people
realise there is more to a nature walk than what was perhaps
believed as a route march or keep fit exercise!
|
BILA
SHAKA PRIDE SEEN WITH 7 CUBS.
NAPOIRSIOT
PRIDE
HALF-TAIL
"The Governors'
Field Guide Training Course is one of the best new opportunities
for Kenyan Tourism that I have come across in some time. Not
only does it provide a whole new insight into the Mara and the
'bush' for those in the business but it gives residents and
citizen guides an opportunity to brush up on their bush craft
and have a whole lot of fun at the same time. It is also a great
add-on holiday option for safari visitors who, for the first
time, have the opportunity to participate in the bush experience
'hands on'. As for the training offered - it was first class,
Matt Gurney has an unprecedented knowledge of bush craft and
nature, he is a skilled educator and really knows how to make
the whole thing come alive. I never had so much fun and never
did I realise how little I know about the wonder of the African
bush. I highly recommend this course." Jane Barsby -
Freelance travel journalist. 