GOVERNORS' CAMP

Walking and game reports.

Month: June 2006

Weather and grasslands:

The weather has been fair with intermittent rain in the evenings, a total of 17mm in the last 10 days of May and 26mm for this month. Early morning temperatures average 16ºc and midday temperatures up to 30ºc. The grasses on the lowland plains are still long, yet they are drying out now. Many of the plains game species can be seen being well dispersed to the high ground plains areas where grasses are shorter and more palatable.

The night sky has been full and bright with many good constellations to be seen, Ursa Major (the Big Dipper), Crux (the Southern Cross), Scorpius and the bright star Rigil Kentaurus.

General Game:

Good numbers of Topi can be seen in the Paradise plains and on the grassland areas of Topi plains. A large sized breeding herd of Cape buffalo can be seen on the Bila Shaka plains. Good numbers of Elephant with young can also be seen daily in the Marsh and riverine woodlands; there are a few large males who are in 'Musth' they can not be mistaken with their size, temperament and strong smelling odour. Giraffe with many calves and in good-sized herds can be seen within the woodland fringes of the Marsh and out as far as the acacia woodlands in the conservation areas. Some good-sized breeding herds of Eland can be seen on the paradise plains and in the conservation areas of Koiyaki. A bachelor herd of 12 males can be seen on the shorter grass plains in the northern conservation areas. Waterbuck in good numbers can be seen with in the woodland fringes between the Governors camps, a large satellite herd of males can be seen in the same area as well. Olive Baboons are abundant with a very large troop and many infants that can be seen within the grassland areas close to the riverine woodlands and on the roadside shoulders. Kongoni or Cokes Hartebeest can be seen in small herds within the Paradise and Bila Shaka plains. Spotted Hyenas with many young cubs of varying ages can be seen all over the grassland areas. On the 23rd guests at Governors' Camp witnessed a strange situation at a den site whereby there were 12 adults and five cubs of varying ages, one of the adults then regurgitated a mass of something that was unidentifiable and within seconds a majority of the cubs and some of the adults started to roll about in this regurgitated mass. This phenomenon is a little misunderstood but perhaps one may interpret it as follows: appeasement and submissive behaviour towards the dominant female who may have regurgitated this mass which may have been a 'fur pellet' containing hair, keratin and bone fragments. On the 16th in the grassland plains above the fly over escarpment a hyena was seen carrying in its mouth a partially eaten lion cub.  Bat eared Fox's with pups are more commonly seen on the short grass plains and early mornings are good times to see them. These little canids have an insectivorous diet and to support this they have more teeth than any other heterodont mammal.

New arrivals!

On the 2nd of June a few common Zebra could be been seen filing down from the eastern short grass plains of the Masai conservation areas. By mid month many more can be seen on the Musiara plains, Paradise plains and within the Marsh grasslands, some have been seen crossing at the Paradise crossing points with a few being taken by crocodile, some Zebra have even crossed in the northern reserve boundary crossing points. On the 16th and 23rd quite a few wildebeest have been seen filing down from the Koiyaki conservation area and into the Paradise and Musiara plains. On the 30th an estimated 500 Zebra were seen in the early hours of the morning on the Musiara plains.

The Bila Shaka Lion pride has already had access to the many Zebra that have moved in. On the 23rd a lone Zebra crossed the river at the main crossing points and just before reaching the other side was snatched in the rump by a crocodile that came away with a large portion, the Zebra freed it self and walked away in a poor state minus some of its rump.

Lion:

The Bila Shaka pride of one male four females, four fifteen-month-old male cubs, four twelve-month old cubs three males and one female and are active within the Musiara Marsh and the Bila Shaka plains. They have been seen feeding off Warthogs and the many available Zebra, they apparently do not seem to be interested in the plentiful Waterbuck within their areas. The cubs were looking thin earlier on in the month, which is not unusual for this time of year; these cubs are much improved now. On the morning of the 30th they were seen on the north side of the Marsh with a fresh Zebra, by midday there was very little left.

The Paradise pride of three males, five breeding females, three sub-adults, six eight-month old cubs, four four-month old cubs and one two month old cub. This pride can be seen anywhere between the Rhino Ridge/Paradise plains and around the paradise crossing points on the Mara River. This pride have been actively seen hunting for Topi, there are many Topi in the paradise areas with many males on their territorial 'stomping grounds', on the 12th in the paradise area the three males were seen feeding off the remains of a young hippo carcass. On the 23rd at the paradise crossing point one Wildebeest and one Zebra were killed 100 meters apart.

The maternity/ridge pride of 27 members; including two males, eight breeding females, eleven sub adults and six cubs of which four are estimated at five months old. We understand that there are some new editions within this pride. We are unsure of age groups or numbers at this stage as this pride has not been seen often enough this month.

The Rhino ridge pride of 2 breeding females, 2 males and 3 eight-month-old cubs are concentrated within the Rhino ridge, southern side plains of Bila Shaka and have again been seen far as Topi plains. They have been feeding off Zebra, warthog and Topi.

The Single Gorge pride of 5 breeding females and a 'new' male. The lioness that has six six-month old cubs has been seen seldom this month and on the 16th a hyena was seen with the remains of a young cub in its mouth on the grassland plains above the fly over.

4 females and the male were seen with a Zebra kill on the 29th but there were 25 Hyenas sitting in a line like spectators so perhaps they robbed the Hyenas of their kill?

Two mature nomadic males with blond manes were seen in the marsh area on the 20th and 21st but were later seen the other side of the river.

Cheetah: 

A single female with five cubs estimated at two months old have been seen frequently in the grassland plains below Kichwa Tembo Camp, she was last seen on the morning of the 30th with a Thomson Gazelle kill.

The lone male; He is often seen within the Marsh woodlands and concentrates on the many impala that utilise these woodlands; on the 15th he had killed a male impala. He is also seen in the open plains areas to the north where there are good numbers of Thomson Gazelles.

A young female has been sighted more frequently latterly near the Musiara gate and also north of the windmill. On the 29th she was last seen with a Thomson Gazelle near to the Musiara gate.

Two males have been sighted north east of the windmill areas and have been successfully hunting Thomson and Grant's gazelle and on the evening of the 19th were seen with a male Impala kill.

The coalition of the three males have been reported to have moved to the other side of the Talek River and we have no further details other than to what we have heard.

'News flash'

Leopard:

Zawadi and her six-month-old cub have been sighted in the rocky escarpment north of the windmill. There have been many excellent sightings through out this month and on the 28th they were both seen in the rocky escarpment with a grants Gazelle kill.

A young and shy female has been seen on a few occasions within the Croton scrub areas at the paradise crossing points; she was last seen on the 29th near the Serena pump house area at paradise.

The IL Moran female has been rarely seen during good daylight hours although the good sightings seem to be at night, she is more often heard within the camp. In the last three days of the month she has killed two Dik Diks near to IL Moran Camp

A male has also been seen in the woodland areas of Paradise plains, the last good sighting of this male was on the morning of the 30th.

Another male has been seen near the crossing points on the Paradise plains.

With the length of the grass as it is now sightings are a little more difficult.

Walking in the Koiyaki Conservation Area.

Walks have progressed well this month with many taking part. The grasses here are still long in some areas where there is no competition with lives stock; where as in the livestock ridden areas the grasslands are considerably shorter, these shorter grassland plains still favour Thomson and Grant's gazelle. Little rain has fallen some areas and this has brought on the acacia Gerrardii to flower.

Many Zebra from the east side of the conservation area have been seen filing down since 2nd but the majority of them came through towards mid month. A few Wildebeest have also been coming through but not as many as last year. The grassland plains above the 'fly over' the Spotted Hyena clan have been very active in feeding off Zebra, wildebeest and Topi. On the 28th at 5.30am 25 hyenas were all sitting up in a line like spectators at a foot ball match, on approaching closer we encountered a male lion and four lionesses feeding off the remains of a zebra. As the light improved we noticed that many of the larger adult Hyenas were clad in red coats we then assumed that the Hyena had perhaps initially killed the Zebra and were then run off by the male lion and the 4 lionesses.

Many elephant have been seen in the acacia woodlands with a large male in Musth so he is being given a wide berth. A reasonable size breeding herd of Buffalo have kept moving about in the acacia woodland area as the longer red oat grasses are more suitable for them with their harder mouths. A few solitary bulls can also be seen in the acacia woodlands. On the 18th in the late morning 4 lionesses and the male were seen on the Olare Orok River near to the Governors' Fly Camp.