Reporting Date: 3rd October 2011.
 

VULTURES  IN THE SERENGETI.

Wildebeests carcasses are at the moment a common feature in the Serengeti plains. Not all of them have died as a result of predators,  natural causes such as fatigue and diseases  also play a big role in reducing their numbers.  This explains the reason why we sometimes  find  fresh deaths with no wounds at all. This has attracted lots of scavengers in the form of vultures  of which about four species are seen on a daily basis  either over-flying the carcasses or actually feasting on them. The species commonly found around the carcasses are,  the white-backed,  ruppels, hooded and lappet-faced. The marabou stork has not been left behind on these scavenging sites although they are a bit disadvantaged as their bill is not adapted for tearing open the carcasses. They have to wait for the vultures to move in first. Together, they all play a major role in decomposing the carcasses of the wildebeests and other mammals that die in the Serengeti and Mara eco-system. 

Reporting Date: 04/10/2011.

It seems over the last one month the lions of Mara have been developing a new character trait of climbing trees. Maybe one of the reasons could be an increase in population of buffalo and elephants in the reserve.

Peter and his two guests were watching a herd of buffalo that were grazing along a lugga when suddenly a lioness was flushed out by some of the buffalo. The lioness walked towards one of the nearby trees and to his guests suprise she started climbing the tree. As she climbed up she kept on moving from branch to branch as though looking for the best view. After enjoying the aerial view the tree offered she decided to take a rest on one of the thick branches.

Reporting Date: 1/10/2011

About a fortnight ago, Daniel and his guests watched a lioness 'playing hide and seek' with her two cubs. The lioness climbed a tree while her three cubs seatchded for her under the tree. Ferdinand and his guests, while on a Full Day excursionn in the reserve observed the same mother lioness resting up a 'sausage tree' (Kigelia africana), only this time the cubs were not in sight. Tree-climbing lions are not very common. While cubs climb trees for fun, adult lions rarely do in nature. It is believed that lions climb trees to get away from tsetse flies or to enjoy a cool breeze.

Tree-climbing lions are more often seen in Lake Manyara National Park than in any other National Park in africa. Uganda is also known for its tree-climbing lions.

Reporting Date: 1st October 2011.

Migration update.

The on-going short rains in the northern parts of Serengeti seems to have confused the wildebeests as they have become attracted to the short green grass  that as emerged as a result. Thousands of these animals had passed  through our camp about two weeks ago on their way to southern Serengeti which is their ancestral lands but  met a hostile environment  as  it is still very dry  towards the place. They therefore decided to turn round and follow the rains north.  Many are now spread out in the open grasslands by the Kopjes near the mara river. Hundreds more have been crossing the river as they come back from the Mara game reserve to feed on the attractive green grass. The area around our camp is also teaming with hundreds of these animals and every day we are treated to sounds of ‘’gnou, gnou’’ as they call each other. The zebras which usually accompany them were the first to venture into the area but not in big numbers, as a result, they are scattered amongst them.

This year it has not been easy to predict the wildebeest movement as it keeps on changing due to the weather changes.