Governors’ Camp Latest News

Walking and game reports.

Month: June 2007

Weather and grasslands:

One can certainly say we have had improved weather for June, although it was quite wet in the latter part of the month; Total rainfall for the month was 95 mm of which 34mm fell on the 15th and it appears that this was the last of the heavy rain. Early morning temps are as low as 15ºc and mid day temps average between 28/30ºc. Grasses on the grassland plains within the Mara reserve and in many parts of the Masai conservation areas are still long.

General Game:

More common Zebra have been seen moving down with reasonable numbers being seen in the Musiara marsh and also on the Paradise and Rhino ridge areas. Defassa Waterbuck, the monogamous Kirk’s Dik Dik and large herds of Impala are commonly seen within the Marsh and riverine woodlands of the camps, while talking with Dr Richard Estes it is of interest to note that waterbuck on the whole have little tolerance to tick birds and it is also noticeable that tick birds do not associate with waterbuck as they do other herbivores, maybe it is because of their oily skin. Good viewing of Elephant can still be found in the Marsh and also through out the riverine woodlands of the Mara River, there are also a good number of young calves with many being born a few months back. A large bull has been seen just recently in the Musiara area and is carrying good ivory for a grassland Elephant. Topi with their 8–9 month old calves can be seen more readily within the Musiara area; this region was quite wet and soggy a few weeks ago and is drying out considerably. Paradise and the western ridge of Rhino Ridge are also good areas to see Topi. Cokes hartebeest can be found in small scattered herds through out the reserve and conservation areas.

Masai Giraffe and a good number of young calves are seen through out the Masai Mara reserve and within the conservation areas, infact they will cohabit most areas where there are good stands of trees. Good sightings recently are within the woodlands of the camps. Warthogs will be seen daily over most areas as the good grass coverage is still readily available, often seen are sows with 2/3 young that are 9–10 months old, warthog piglets suffer quite a high mortality rate of approximately 45% before they reach 6 months of age with temperature variation along and predation being major factors. Good numbers of Impala are very often present within the Camp woodland habitats; the Musiara marsh, riverine and acacia woodlands are also good places to see them, a good sized bachelor herd can also be seen on the west side of the Musiara marsh. Grant’s and Thomson gazelles will be easily seen and found on the shorter grass plains of the conservation areas, the Musiara plains and marsh are good habitats and both these species will be seen here. Eland in small breeding herds of approximately 10–40 animals can still be seen on the Paradise plains and towards the double crossing area in the south of the reserve close by to the Masai group ranch’s, small scattered herds of cows and calves can also be seen in Koiyaki to the east of the reserve.

Spotted Hyenas are being seen in better numbers and good times to see them appear to be early mornings specifically if there is a kill and lion are present. A good few sighting have revealed and with guests witnessing lionesses being driven off by as many as 25–30 Hyena. This is behaviour is actually more common practice than is realised, Lion and Spotted Hyena are eternal enemies and compete for a similar food source. Silver Backed jackals are commonly seen inmost habitats and their varied omnivorous diet will direct them to most corners of the reserve and conservation areas. Another sighting again in the Musiara plains of a Side Stripped Jackal this is good to hear as this specific species of Jackal is not a common sighting here. More good sightings of Serval Cats in the grasslands over most areas of the reserve, Servals are excellent jumpers and with their large ears have very good hearing so rodents provide a large portion of their diet. A few reported sighting of Serval cubs being seen all of which appear to be an estimated 3–4 month old, more often there are no more than two cubs. A male Black Rhino has been seen quite often within Paradise and on the western side of Rhino Ridge, being a browser it is often seen within the Croton thickets near the Mara River. On the 29th a female and male Rhino were seen at Paradise.

Lion:

The Bila Shaka/Marsh pride has been seen within the Bila Shaka river bed and East of the Musiara Marsh and also as far as the Koiyaki conservation area that abuts the Musiara reserve boundaries. The three 26 month old sub adult males who had moved out towards the Paradise area last month have been seen together with other members of the pride. The three new males that have come into this pride are now confirmed that they are not from the Paradise area and have perhaps come in from the Masai conservation areas. The four 23 month old sub adult females and one male can often be seen with the other breeding females. One of the breeding females had been seen with two cubs which were only barely three weeks old but sadly these two were killed by one of the new males and this unfortunately is a result of infanticidal activity from the present new incoming males. Infanticide is recognised in many other species of cats and also other mammals to include certain primates. These lion have been seen feeing off Zebra and Buffalo. The Single female with her male and female eleven-month-old cubs who had integrated with the Bila Shaka pride have still been seen apart and can be more often seen north east of the Marsh and as far as into the conservation areas, on the 23rd they were seen not far from other members of the Bila Shaka but for the last month and since the three new males that came in they have not really been seen together with the Bila Shaka pride.
New arrivals

Four females and four cubs which are estimated at 3–4 months old have arrived into the Marsh area this month and can be seen in the grasslands on the western side of the Musiara marsh, they also go as far as the windmill. In the late evening of the 25th they had killed a Zebra behind the woodland of IL Moran and later on at night one could hear rallying whoops from a large clan of spotted Hyena which must have driven them off their kill because early in the morning driver guides saw two cubs still up a Diospyros tree and three of the females were spread out to 100 meters or so away, driver guides then counted over 30 spotted hyena altogether on the around the remains of the zebra kill.

The Paradise pride of three males, five breeding females, three sub-adults, six 17 month old cubs, four 13 month old cubs, one 11 month old cub and two 7 month old cubs. The three males have been seen within the Paradise and Rhino ridge areas and as far as the conservation areas. The three males, five females and 11 of the cubs are more often seen together although this pride can be seen with some of the pride members being far apart, on the 26th five females and 11 cubs were seen at the Paradise crossing points on the remains of a hippo.

The Rhino ridge pride of now three breeding females and two males have been seen on the Topi plains, the three 20-month-old cubs have not been seen this month. On the 26th two females and the two males were seen with the remains of a female giraffe they had killed near the Ker and Downey crossing which is south east of the Topi plains.

The Single Gorge/Acacia pride of 5 breeding females, three 9-month-old cubs and two males. What are more often seen together are the two males and three females of which one of the females is in oestrous. Another female has been seen on her own and quite a distance from the others so we are not sure if she has very young cubs in tow or whether she is looking to cub down. These lion are commonly seen in the Eastern Koiyaki Acacia woodland areas and on the ‘fly over’ plains in Koiyaki.
An aged male lion has been frequently seen in the Diospyros woodland on the ‘fly over’ and it is suggested that this may well be the ousted Bila Shaka male.

Cheetah:

Honey’s three 14-month-old male cubs are looking very well and appear to be healthy, they can be found on the plains below Kichwa Tembo and Little Governors Camp.
The single male has been seen again within the eastern grassland areas of the reserve and will often be seen in the conservation areas, he has been seen feeding off Impala and Thomson gazelle.
A single female is being seen often at Paradise and the double crossing areas. She was last seen on the 24th on the paradise plains where she was witnessed running down a female Thomson Gazelle after a very short chase.

Leopard:

Very good Leopard sighting this month, perhaps the best sightings so far this year.

The single Female who has two 8 month old cubs a male and female have again been seen often close to Governors’ IL Moran camp and the junction to Little Governors’. Frequently they are all seen within the camp itself. Last months report stated that the cubs were 12 months old but now by being able to view them more readily as they are accepting and are more relaxed to vehicle traffic it is apparent that they are more closely aged at 8 months of age.

The Male at the paradise crossing points near the Serena pump house has now been seen more often again, on the 25th he was seen with a Thomson Gazelle kill in a croton thicket. Zawadi has been seen again in the conservation areas below Figtree ridge. On the 24th and 26th were specifically two good days that guests revealed good viewing. The Female and two cubs estimated at seven months have been sighted again more frequently this month within the top northern plains of paradise and the bottom of the Bila Shaka river bed.

Walking in Koiyaki Conservation Area.

The walking area lies north east of the Masai Mara game reserve.

With the weather improving in the latter half of the month, the walking safaris have been quite busy. The grass is still long and with heavy dews in the early morning, walking can be wet, this wetness tends to dry off at about 10.30am. A few Zebra will be seen on the grassland plains, Topi are still prevalent particularly the solitary territorial males who stand out like pedicels. Good numbers of impala will also be found in the acacia Gerrardii woodlands along with small herds of Defassa Waterbuck. Giraffe are seen in good herd numbers as they move from woodland to woodland and latterly appear to be quite good time keepers as to where and what they are feeding off, at approximately 9.30 am they are in the acacia Hockii woodlands. Some good views of a female Serval and her two cubs that are estimated at 3 months old have been seen on the grassland plains below the ‘fly over’ ridge. Lion are being seen more frequently this month and the three Lionesses and two male are more seen in the north eastern areas of where the walks take place. On the 24th three lionesses were seen on the plains above the fly over and on the 26th three lionesses and a male were seen near to the salt lick pool which lies to the north of the acacia woodlands. On the 27th walkers spooked a lioness in the one of the many croton thickets in the area and the Lion was a much surprised as every one else!

Silver backed Jackals are also frequently seen with early mornings being goodtime to see them.

Governors’ Camp Report brought to you by Africa Uncovered in association with the rangers and staff at Governors’ Camp, Masai Mara, Kenya.