Reporting Date: 29/03/2012.

Maasai Mara National Reserve is not very busy now and game drives are fantastic. Wildlife sighting out in the field can be enjoyed with just a car or two and you take you time and really enjoy. Alex and  a family of three enjoyed the two brother cheetah lying under a shady tree. The morning seemed  successful to these brothers as they had buldging bells signs of heavy breakfast. They lied motionless except for the heavy breathing and change of bed. The guests really enjoyed the close encounter.

Reporting Date: 27/03/2012

The long rains are due in April and the hot and dry season continue to bite the maasai mara. The grass is enough but dry and water supply is adequate throughout the reserve and good for the animals. The weather affects not only the vegetation but also the animals  forceing them to browse and graze close to watering point incase they need to drink or take a quick wallow. This is evident when today Ferdinand and his guest came across an elephant herd wallowing in a shallow pan. The young ones in the herd seemed to enjoy more than a lot as they repeatedly rolled on their back with their trunks raised up in the water. The guests had nice moments taking pictures of the actions at the same time watching.

Reporting Date: 26th march 2012

Waiting by the river.

On a morning game-drive along  the banks of the Mara river, we came upon a crocodile waiting in the river which  is home to some of the biggest Nile crocodiles in the Serengeti. Many times we have found them floating with only their back showing, as was the case today, and that is the way they deceive and trap animals coming to drink water. The crocodiles of the mara river have over the years eaten thousands of wildebeests that cross their way in the waters. At the moment they are waiting for food to come to them again as from the months of June onwards when we expect the migration.

Reporting Date: 26th march 2012

Waiting by the river.

On a morning game-drive along  the banks of the Mara river, we came upon a crocodile waiting in the river which  is home to some of the biggest Nile crocodiles in the Serengeti. Many times we have found them floating with only their back showing, as was the case today, and that is the way they deceive and trap animals coming to drink water. The crocodiles of the mara river have over the years eaten thousands of wildebeests that cross their way in the waters. At the moment they are waiting for food to come to them again as from the months of June onwards when we expect the migration.

Reporting Date:  24.03.2012
 

Peter and his four guests were on an early morning gamedrive and were hoping to see some off the big cats still active. After driving for a short while they came across three Cheetah's trying to hunt some Thompson Gazelle but were not lucky. The drive continued and just before 8 a.m Peter saw a Leopard on a tree but when he drove closer it turned out to be a Cheetah. His guests were excited by this sighting and after a while she jumped down and started heading towards Peter's jeep. Everyone thought she would just walk-by but that was not the case. She jumped on the bonnet of the car and later on the roof. Everybody was quiet at first but later relaxed after realising that the Cheetah meant no harm. So comfortable was she that Peter had to start his engine to make her come down!

Cheetah normally make use of high points to have an aerial view of the grassy plains to help them locate prey.

Reporting Date:  23.03.2012.
 

The day begun with a clear blue sky. Ferdinand and his guests set out on a full-day game drive and by 10 oc'lok the sun was already at its peak. Due to this soaring heat Ferdinand decided to concentrate his game viewing along streams and water points hoping to find alot plains game. After having lunch the search continued but to their suprise they found two adult lions quenching their thirst.

During the day lions tend to rest under thickets to avoid the hot sun and if too hot they can walk to water holes to drink.

Reporting Date: 23rd march 2012

The one that roared in the night.

We heard the roaring of a lion during the night till the early hours of the morning, the sound was just next to the camp. In the morning we decided to look around for him.  Just two minute's drive away from the camp we found him, at first in the open but later he moved  next to a bush when the sun rose higher. When the guests saw him, they said “you are the one who disturbed our sleep, we’ve seen you at last’’ He was a  young nomadic lion with some short blonde mane.

Reporting Date:21st march 2012

THE “GARDENERS” OF THE SAVANNAH.

Normally the giraffe’s height enables them to command an extensive view of the plains and the bushlands, their height also enables them to browse on the higher levels of the trees and bushes up to a certain level where they can no longer browse. It is for this reason that many of the trees of the Serengeti have got a browse-line at the bottom forming some umbrella shape. This has led to the giraffes being nicknamed the “gardeners of the savannah”.  On this particular day we found a male giraffe standing in the shade next to a “Balanite” tree motionless as if in deep thoughts.

Reporting Date:  20.03.2012

Elephants are the heaviest land mammals weighing between 4-6 tonnes. They have such big bodies which require them to feed all day long. They can spend 18-20 hours feeding but usually take short breaks and rest below trees with good shade or head down to water holes.

Its not common to find this giant fast asleep because of its weight. In-case of any danger it may a long time to get back on its feet making it vulnerable. Ellys tend to be at ease in areas where they know its 100% safe hence can fall asleep after a long hard day under the scorching sun.

Reporting Date:  18.03.2012

Yes they do! A lions main diet is flesh. After making a kill lions tend to start eating the internal organs of the animal which may be worm infected. Due to this it is common to find lions eating grass which may help remove the worms and fur. They select broad grass blades and later regurgitates all the grass it ate hoping all the worms and fur will have been removed.