A2A Safaris - Kenya Campshttps://us.a2asafaris.com/africa/blog/tags/kenya-campsenCommunity Crafts Make a Huge Impact – Mara Plains, Kenyahttps://us.a2asafaris.com/africa/blog/community-crafts-make-a-huge-impact-%E2%80%93-mara-plains-kenya<div class="body text-field" property="content:encoded"><p><a href="http://www.greatplainsconservation.com/bushbuzz/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/EnE-womens-group-.jpg" rel="shadowbox[sbalbum-9099];player=img;" title="EnE womens group"><img width="150" height="150" src="http://www.greatplainsconservation.com/bushbuzz/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/EnE-womens-group--150x150.jpg" class="attachment-thumbnail" alt="EnE womens group" /></a><br /><a href="http://www.greatplainsconservation.com/bushbuzz/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/Endoinyo-Erinka-group-learning-how-to-make-cushion-covers.jpg" rel="shadowbox[sbalbum-9099];player=img;" title="Endoinyo Erinka group learning how to make cushion covers"><img width="150" height="150" src="http://www.greatplainsconservation.com/bushbuzz/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/Endoinyo-Erinka-group-learning-how-to-make-cushion-covers-150x150.jpg" class="attachment-thumbnail" alt="Endoinyo Erinka group learning how to make cushion covers" /></a><br /><a href="http://www.greatplainsconservation.com/bushbuzz/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/MaraPlains-camp-sokos.jpg" rel="shadowbox[sbalbum-9099];player=img;" title="MaraPlains camp sokos"><img width="150" height="150" src="http://www.greatplainsconservation.com/bushbuzz/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/MaraPlains-camp-sokos-150x150.jpg" class="attachment-thumbnail" alt="MaraPlains camp sokos" /></a><br /><a href="http://www.greatplainsconservation.com/bushbuzz/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/Bridge-into-Mara-Plains_2011.jpg" rel="shadowbox[sbalbum-9099];player=img;" title="Bridge into Mara Plains_2011"><img width="150" height="150" src="http://www.greatplainsconservation.com/bushbuzz/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/Bridge-into-Mara-Plains_2011-150x150.jpg" class="attachment-thumbnail" alt="Bridge into Mara Plains_2011" /></a></p>
<p>The greatest income generator for the local community so far by our camp, beyond the land rent and infrastructure installed by the conservancy collectively, has been through camp ‘sokos’ or craft markets, when local women’s beading groups sell their products to guests directly and keep 100% of the proceeds. This model, which was started at Mara Plains, is now being duplicated by the Olare Motorogi Conservancy Trust and other camps across the region. The fifteen or so groups that that project supports have made many thousands of dollars so far. The women generally spend their money on healthcare, education, school books and uniforms for their children, and a higher standard of living, thus promoting the greater community. This self-help approach is now also giving women the confidence to request adult literacy and business classes, having never had the opportunity to go to school, and Mara Plains is helping them to realize these dreams through vocational training, teacher employment and conservation workshops.</p>
<p>Field trips into the conservancy for local school children in GP cars with GP guides has been a hugely popular project and is a reward for ‘Environment Club’ members who contributed to a successful tree planting program in the school grounds. Most of these children have never before seen the big game on the conservancies that they will one day soon inherit to look after, so for them to learn about it from guides teaching them in Maa is a hugely beneficial experience for them.</p>
<p>The women’s beading group at Endoinyo Erinka is now also doing very well, forming a registered business of their own and receiving international orders through ‘Ethical Fashion Africa’. Group members are setting up their own bank accounts, which is a very empowering move by uneducated women, leading the way for Maasai women across the Mara.</p>
<p>Mara Plains guests have visited this group for over a year, spending time in the homes of the 60+ group members, as well supporting their beading cooperative by buying jewelry and crafts to take home with them.</p>
<p>Mara Plains worked with the women of this group to expand their skill set by investing in a non-electric sewing machine and bringing in tailors to train the women how to use it.</p>
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</div><div class="field-tags field-items"><div class="field-label">Tags: </div><div class="field-item even " rel="dc:subject"><a href="/africa/blog/tags/bushbuzz" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">BushBuzz</a></div><div class="field-item odd " rel="dc:subject"><a href="/africa/blog/tags/community-submitted-news" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Community Submitted News</a></div><div class="field-item even " rel="dc:subject"><a href="/africa/blog/tags/conservation-updates" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Conservation Updates</a></div><div class="field-item odd " rel="dc:subject"><a href="/africa/blog/tags/kenya-camps" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Kenya Camps</a></div><div class="field-item even " rel="dc:subject"><a href="/africa/blog/tags/mara-plains-camp" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Mara Plains Camp</a></div><div class="field-item odd " rel="dc:subject"><a href="/africa/blog/tags/mara-toto" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Mara Toto</a></div></div>Thu, 09 Jan 2014 22:01:52 +0000Anonymous670 at https://us.a2asafaris.com/africahttps://us.a2asafaris.com/africa/blog/community-crafts-make-a-huge-impact-%E2%80%93-mara-plains-kenya#commentsDecember News – ol Donyo Lodge, Kenyahttps://us.a2asafaris.com/africa/blog/december-news-%E2%80%93-ol-donyo-lodge-kenya<div class="body text-field" property="content:encoded"><p><i> ‘View from our plunge pool onto the majestic Kilimanjaro….’</i></p>
<p>Wow, what a month December was at ol Donyo!!</p>
<p>It is strange to think that we are into a new year already as December seems but a blur. The rains blessed us, a little late, but blessed us they did. We now stare out onto lush, emerald green plains as far as the eye can see, all towered over by Kilimanjaro herself, which at this time of year is amazing, clear and almost a guaranteed view in the morning and during the sunset.</p>
<p>The festive season this year all started when we found the perfect Whistling Acacia thorn tree from the area to create into our magnificent ol Donyo Christmas Tree. After the resident ants were allowed to leave, we all took turns to spray each of the thorny globes on the tree Gold.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.greatplainsconservation.com/bushbuzz/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/pic-2.jpg" rel="shadowbox[sbpost-9052];player=img;"><img class="aligncenter size-medium wp-image-9057" alt="OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA" src="http://www.greatplainsconservation.com/bushbuzz/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/pic-2-225x300.jpg" width="225" height="300" /></a><i>‘The team struggle to get the tree into the perfect spot into the lodge—but worth the all the effort, it created an instant festive HIT!’</i></p>
<p>The next challenge was getting it into the lobby in a huge clay pot filled with lava gravel and only then decorating it with painted gourds and lights. There was the occasional “ouch” but all in all we think it turned out great and added a little festive sparkle for the guests.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.greatplainsconservation.com/bushbuzz/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/pic-3.jpg" rel="shadowbox[sbpost-9052];player=img;"><img class="aligncenter size-medium wp-image-9056" alt="OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA" src="http://www.greatplainsconservation.com/bushbuzz/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/pic-3-225x300.jpg" width="225" height="300" /></a></p>
<p><i>‘The finished tree, isn’t she grand?!’</i></p>
<p>We had a lot of fun this Christmas at the lodge especially with ideas on how to make it special for the guests, most of it of course revolved around food!</p>
<p>For Christmas Eve, we decided to do a 5 course dinner at our upper mess dining room. It was the perfect location to highlight the warmth and feeling of Christmas. The table was dressed in gold and reds and a roaring fire with many storm lanterns completed the effect.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.greatplainsconservation.com/bushbuzz/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/pic-4.jpg" rel="shadowbox[sbpost-9052];player=img;"><img class="aligncenter size-medium wp-image-9055" alt="pic 4" src="http://www.greatplainsconservation.com/bushbuzz/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/pic-4-300x200.jpg" width="300" height="200" /></a></p>
<p><i>Home smoked (in Smokey, our Smoker) kingfish with sweet and sour slaw and grilled homemade Rye bread was a part of the festive courses throughout the holiday season</i></p>
<p>The kitchen pulled out all of the stops and guests were treated to curried Pumpkin and Apple Soup, pressed duck terrine with wholegrain mustard and pickles, Pistachio Crusted Tuna with Fennel Gallette and Lemon Aioli, Classic Beef Wellington and last but not least a light and moist whole Poached Citrus Cake.</p>
<p>Christmas day too was filled with fantastic food and surprises as our guests were treated to a surprise bush breakfast, some were hiking and some were arriving that morning, as both groups came over the crest of the hill we were waiting with a full table set up complete with beads and decorations and with Kilimanjaro as the backdrop! Not a bad way to enjoy Christmas breakfast.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.greatplainsconservation.com/bushbuzz/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/pic-5.jpg" rel="shadowbox[sbpost-9052];player=img;"><img class="aligncenter size-medium wp-image-9054" alt="pic 5" src="http://www.greatplainsconservation.com/bushbuzz/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/pic-5-225x300.jpg" width="225" height="300" /></a></p>
<p><i>As all our guests enjoy their ‘Surprise Bush Breakfast’ Santa comes in on Tembo, all decked out in festive cheer………… And a Shuka filled with presents for all!</i></p>
<p>Whilst the guests enjoyed homemade bagels with smoked salmon and scrambled eggs, our very own Stables Santa rode in on a festively decorated Tembo, our biggest white horse, and the guests were treated to presents from the local village including shuka’s, bracelets and tree ornaments.</p>
<p>Christmas Dinner was a traditional feast with too many items to mention, a stand out item was our herb brined turkey, our homemade Christmas pudding and a delicious pumpkin Crème brûlée tart!</p>
<p>It wasn’t all eating over the festive season, there were many opportunities for the guests to get out and stretch their legs and walk off some of the tasty food, at this time of year, the rains have left the area so beautiful and green it is almost a must to hike through the hills and take in the emerald plains and views below. The hike up ol Donyo Waus has proven to be extremely popular, especially around sun set where the mixture of pinks and oranges in the sky compliment the greens of the land.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.greatplainsconservation.com/bushbuzz/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/pic-6.jpg" rel="shadowbox[sbpost-9052];player=img;"><img class="aligncenter size-medium wp-image-9058" alt="OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA" src="http://www.greatplainsconservation.com/bushbuzz/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/pic-6-300x225.jpg" width="300" height="225" /></a></p>
<p><i>Minutes after Bahait the 2 day old Thompson Gazelle was saved… weak and hungry.</i><b><i> </i></b></p>
<p>Due to the rains a lot of our animals have also stretched their legs and moved out to other areas to enjoy the tasty grass and large watering holes, one little Thompson gazelle sadly got left behind and we found him very weak and not doing too well on our air strip. We bought him back to the lodge and we had huge concerns that he would not make it. We estimated him as being only 1 or 2 days old. Our store man, Dan, informed us that when he was a young boy in the bush he raised a Thompson gazelle and he really wanted to try to save this one. By adapting a soda bottle to a feeding bottle using some tyre inner tube, he slowly got the gazelle to take some warm milk. We are very happy to say that after a week, the gazelle is walking around and greeting guests, today he started to graze already and has been christened “Bahati” which in Swahili means Luck!</p>
<p><a href="http://www.greatplainsconservation.com/bushbuzz/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/pic-7.jpg" rel="shadowbox[sbpost-9052];player=img;"><img class="aligncenter size-medium wp-image-9053" alt="OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA" src="http://www.greatplainsconservation.com/bushbuzz/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/pic-7-300x247.jpg" width="300" height="247" /></a></p>
<p><i>Bahati happy and healthy after just a few days…. We are so ecstatic to have him be the newest addition of the ol Donyo family!</i></p>
<p>….and as we leave you with this last picture of healthy, happy and energetic Bahati, we also would like to wish you all the very <i>LUCKIEST</i> of 2014 from ol Donyo Lodge!</p>
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</div><div class="field-tags field-items"><div class="field-label">Tags: </div><div class="field-item even " rel="dc:subject"><a href="/africa/blog/tags/bushbuzz" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">BushBuzz</a></div><div class="field-item odd " rel="dc:subject"><a href="/africa/blog/tags/headlines" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Headlines</a></div><div class="field-item even " rel="dc:subject"><a href="/africa/blog/tags/kenya-camps" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Kenya Camps</a></div><div class="field-item odd " rel="dc:subject"><a href="/africa/blog/tags/ol-donyo-lodge" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">ol Donyo Lodge</a></div><div class="field-item even " rel="dc:subject"><a href="/africa/blog/tags/ride-kenya" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Ride Kenya</a></div></div>Wed, 08 Jan 2014 19:27:51 +0000Anonymous652 at https://us.a2asafaris.com/africahttps://us.a2asafaris.com/africa/blog/december-news-%E2%80%93-ol-donyo-lodge-kenya#commentsDecember News – Mara Plains and Mara Toto, Kenyahttps://us.a2asafaris.com/africa/blog/december-news-%E2%80%93-mara-plains-and-mara-toto-kenya<div class="body text-field" property="content:encoded"><p align="center"><i>‘Are there young men and women in Kenya who are willing to raise their voices when mine is carried away in the wind?’ George Adamson</i></p>
<p align="center">A belated ‘Merry Christmas’ and a pre-emptive ‘happy new year’ to you all from the central plains of the Masai Mara.</p>
<p align="center">We are happy to report that the November-December rains seem (famous last words to have past leaving us with clear skies and spotless sunshine. This, combined with the Eden-like surroundings that are more something out of a nature lover’s dream than reality have made this past month almost surreal. The grasslands are still cropped short and <b>very</b> green, the little <i>Sycnium</i> flowers have bloomed like we have never seen before literally covering the plains with spots of white. Thanks to the settling of the dust and the moisture in the air the clarity of the infinite scenery has been one of the highlights of this December, a fitting ending to one of the best years yet.</p>
<p align="center"><a href="http://www.greatplainsconservation.com/bushbuzz/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/Secretary-bird-Melvi-Stokes.jpg" rel="shadowbox[sbpost-9025];player=img;"><img class="size-full wp-image-9028 alignnone" alt="Secretary bird- Melvi Stokes" src="http://www.greatplainsconservation.com/bushbuzz/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/Secretary-bird-Melvi-Stokes.jpg" width="640" height="615" /></a></p>
<p align="center">Since our last report so much has happened here on the Olare-Motorogi conservancy but let’s leave that to our highlights and get on with the past months report of who’s where and doing what in the world of the conservancy’s big cats.</p>
<p align="center">The Moniko Pride.</p>
<p align="center">The conservancy’s (and possibly even the Mara’s) biggest pride has been quite a lot more active this month in terms of their nightly hunting escapades. They are still retreating to their rocky hill safe haven in the mornings at first light and descending again in the evenings, but from the CSI evidence in the first rays of day it looks like they are having to go further afield in their hunts as a result of the wildebeest having finally returned south and others east. It is this time of year, after the ‘Gnu’s’ have left, that one of the northern conservancies best-kept secrets takes place, this is the influx of a regional zebra migration. Every year in December thousands of Zebra appear in the OMC coming down from the north in search of the nutritious green grass that covers the plains. This year we have not seen as many as we did last year, but there are here, helping to keep the pride’s fed and the nights filled with their braying choruses.</p>
<p align="center">The Enkuyeni pride.</p>
<p align="center">Since our last report this pride have not moved much and nor do they need to. The area they have staked out at their November-December refuge and hunting grounds really is perfect lion country – The area around the rocky-crossing. Here there is a confluence of four plains, three streams and the bushy verges that follow these meandering trails. This pride spend their days catnapping in the shady thicker bush before emerging in the evenings to scan the four plains they are currently hunting for the best chances and the best course for their nightly stalks. As is usual for this time of year, with the ‘beesties’ gone south zebra are at the top of the menu but failing these, hunting tactics change and the focus of the conservancy’s lions become the warthogs and topis. (Both of which have increased their chances of survival by filling the ecosystems with mini-them’s, bite-sized morsels for the opportunistic cats)</p>
<p align="center"><a href="http://www.greatplainsconservation.com/bushbuzz/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/Enkuyeni-pride-male-Liliana-Soloman.jpg" rel="shadowbox[sbpost-9025];player=img;"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-9027" alt="Enkuyeni pride male- Liliana Soloman" src="http://www.greatplainsconservation.com/bushbuzz/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/Enkuyeni-pride-male-Liliana-Soloman.jpg" width="640" height="427" /></a></p>
<p align="center">Amazingly the lone Enkuyeni pride male is still very much in charge of his pride despite the huge lion population around them and the coalitions of two or more male lions in the surrounding prides. He must be quite a force to be recond with being able to hold out against superior numbers.</p>
<p align="center">The Eseketa and Motorogi prides.</p>
<p align="center">These two smaller prides of the OMC have as is usually the case been the most difficult to find and view due to their shy nature and the rocky, bushy terrain they call home. In the past weeks we have not had many reports from these two group but we will keep our eyes open and keep watch on them as we move further into the green season.</p>
<p align="center">The coalition of 7 young males.</p>
<p align="center">Again this month these seven have killed another couple of buffalo, for sure they have started to specialize in these huge bovines and by now (unlike their first buffalo kill all those months ago) they have worked out the best way to put the buff down with the least effort and risk. A special moment for all of us following these youngsters came this month when they were found with four females from their original Enkuyeni pride. This is very interesting as in the past when these young males were being kicked out of their pride the females were more than aggressive to them should they even look their way. Now it seems, with the then small cubs now grown and passed danger the lionesses may have accepted and understood that the future power of the conservancy will be held by these seven. Now, as times and hunts become more difficult and both skill and muscle begin to play ever more important rolls in health and survival, hanging out with a gang of strong young males capable of killing buffalo is a good plan.</p>
<p align="center">‘Fig’ the leopardess</p>
<p align="center">We very nearly had to say goodbye to Fig this month, this would have been a very sad day. Fig is one of the OMC regulars; she recently turned two and is a great huntress, fully arboreal during the daylight hours and one of the conservancies biggest ‘posers’. Early in the month the guides started to come in with reports that she may be pregnant with what would be her first litter. Her stomach was swelling, her teats developing and she seemed more fidgety than usual. Then on the morning of the 23<sup>rd</sup> a lioness from the Enkuyeni pride ambushed her while she was posing and cleaning herself. The Lioness was on top of her before she could even try to run, it had her down, managed to bite her badly twice before tossing her into the streambed. It was this fall in the river than may have saved Fig as it gave her time to get away from the lioness hurtling after her and she got up a tree. Over the next four days we have been following her progress with worry. She has one big bite on her back left leg, with obvious canine punchers running very deep, her front right leg was also opened up by what only could have been the lionesses teeth. At the time of writing this report she has done A LOT of very stiff and pained sleeping in trees and has not hunted in four days (that we know of), however she does seem alert and more active now so hopefully all will be well with a very valuable lesson learned- to much preening and vanity can be disastrous.</p>
<p align="center"><a href="http://www.greatplainsconservation.com/bushbuzz/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/Fig-Fran-Soloman.jpg" rel="shadowbox[sbpost-9025];player=img;"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-9029" alt="Fig- Fran Soloman" src="http://www.greatplainsconservation.com/bushbuzz/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/Fig-Fran-Soloman.jpg" width="640" height="477" /></a></p>
<p align="center">Acacia and Namnyak</p>
<p align="center">Fig’s mother and younger sibling have (as with last month) been quite scarce this December, again as we said before more than likely due to the presence of the Enkuyeni lions in their territory. A couple of times this month Namnyak has been found alone and without Acacia, this is an exciting step forward for the youngster as she begins to become more self-reliant. Good luck to her and we feel she may need it considering the Enkuyeni prides recent history of trying to remove the other predators from their range. First they succeeded with Nalepo the cheetress, and then they had a go and almost got Fig.</p>
<p align="center">Yellow</p>
<p align="center">The Central OMC’s leopard ‘pimp’ has also been quiet this month, he was spotted once mating with a female a couple of kilometers upstream from Mara Plains around mid-month and since then has been a bit off the radar. There was a very noisy night just before Christmas when those of us in the camp were appreciating the beauty of a four-foot puff-adder when just across the river from where we were all standing the clear and powerful coughs of a male leopard reminded us of the incredible wild nature of our surroundings. A little later we heard him again calling from the area around Mara Toto so we figured he was having a look around to see if our resident leopardess <i>Pretty Girl</i> (AKA Mystery) was taking calls.</p>
<p align="center">The Cheetah</p>
<p align="center">So finally Narasha has left her two grown cubs. She then moved southwards into the reserve while the male and female remained in the conservancy for the rest of the month. From the reports back they have been doing fine by hunting scrub hares but neither of them seemed too perturbed about being away from their mother. We expect that when these two split up (which will not be too far away) then they will find out what it is like being a single cheetah hunting alone. Narasha on the other hand is doing fine. Her hunts are flawless and once again she has proven to be a very good mother. In three years she has raised four cubs to adulthood. The two that she lost in the second year was only due to her foot being sliced open on what could only have been corrugated iron or glass.</p>
<p align="center">The lone male cheetah briefly mentioned in last month’s report has stayed around the conservancy again this December, on most days he has been easy enough to find thanks to the short green grass, which doesn’t lend much of a hiding place to a large cat or more often than not he can be found by following the tell tail signs from all the other animals as they repeatedly snort ‘cheetah’ and stand erect pointing at the danger.</p>
<p align="center">Amani’s now grown cubs are also not too far from the camps, yesterday morning they were in the reserve south of Mara Toto. They are all fit and healthy and doing fine.</p>
<p align="center"><b><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Some of this month’s highlights.</span></b></p>
<p align="center">The green and flower covered plains scattered with the variety of the Mara’s mammals would be the backdrop for any one of these highlights below.</p>
<p align="center">We have had more than usual sightings of servals cats this month, probably because of the grass being so short and green meaning they don’t blend in as well as they do in other months, but the funny thing about this is that they don’t seem to realize they can be seen quite easily. Hiding behind glass blades thinking that if it can’t see the car, the car obviously can’t see it.</p>
<p align="center"><a href="http://www.greatplainsconservation.com/bushbuzz/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/Blue-headed-tree-Agama-Melvi-Stokes.jpg" rel="shadowbox[sbpost-9025];player=img;"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-9030" alt="Blue headed tree Agama- Melvi Stokes" src="http://www.greatplainsconservation.com/bushbuzz/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/Blue-headed-tree-Agama-Melvi-Stokes.jpg" width="640" height="565" /></a></p>
<p align="center">Having Dereck and Beverly Joubert in camp for four days and listening to their incredible stories and knowledge of the bush stemmed from over 30 years on the front line of nature films and conservation. Anyone worrying about the future of Africa’ s Lions, Rhino and Elephant should spend time with these two. The future of this continent for these key species is far worse than we can imagine and we need more and more people to be aware of this if something is to be done- remember <i>The Lorax</i> from Dr Zeus? ‘<i>Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot nothing is going to get better, it’s not’ </i>Spread the word, look for the stats of the current rates of poaching in Africa.</p>
<p align="center">It was definitely an exciting highlight to have a four-month-old lion cub in the bush twenty meters in front of the mess tent for a whole day. The cub was separated from it’s mother and two other siblings when the morning wake-up calls were heading out to the guest tents. The Lioness they lay up for the day in the tickets in front of tent 3 while the cub tucked itself into the bush in front of the public area. The nonchalantness of the waiters was hysterical when at sunset they mentioned like it had slipped their minds, ‘oh yeah, by the way, there is a lion cub in that bush over there’. We love it and this is why we are here.</p>
<p align="center">This December has been one of the best for ‘cat-tricks’. Being in ‘big cat country’ many of our guests will come to stay with the hope of getting to see some of the feline predators this conservancy has become famous for. Most have got more than they could have imagined as in the past weeks seeing Leopard’s, Lions and Cheetah all in one drive (often just minutes apart) has become the norm. We do try very hard not to become too ‘blinkered’ focusing only on the cats but sometimes one just can’t help it. On a couple of days in the past weeks some guests have been lucky enough to witness (in just one drive) not only three cats but also cheetah hunts, ‘attempted’ leopard hunts and serval cats.</p>
<p align="center">Other highlights would be seeing the family herds of elephants finally back in the conservancy (and last night right in the camp). Many of these groups have arrived with new tiny little elephants in tow, heads held low, trunk useless, and very much glued to their mother’s bellies.</p>
<p align="center">Two great snake sightings this month around the camp, we have a new python on the scene, a beautiful 7-foot long female with all the blotches and camouflage spots one can imagine in nature. Completely harmless and stunningly beautiful this snake was slowly cruising along the edges of the riverbank in search of tasty morsels such as mice, monitor lizards, birds and possibly even the occasional fish. We were also very appreciative of the beauty of the large puff adder we found on the edge of the camp although we were more than happy to remove her from the vicinity. This huge snake is again dappled and blotched like the python but much fatter and with a huge triangular head. You will be happy to know she is now far away from here and free to go about her life safe from humans and us from her.</p>
<p align="center">Getting our first harvests out of the vegetable garden in the camp was a moment for all of us in the camp. As of now we have plenty of spinach, basil, cucumbers, broccoli, carrots, dhania and more on the way. Its lucky we used the old Mara Plains tent frames to build the ‘Jurassic park’ fence around the garden as the couple of times the old buffalo bulls have broken their way in (once bending an inch thick metal pole into an ‘S’ bend) they have made the most.</p>
<p align="center">Right then, that’s about it from us here on the plains for this year anyway. Since starting this report this morning we have watched the day heat up and what was a ‘spotless sky’ begin to fill with little puffy clouds. To be honest we actually really would like a couple more inches of rain if existence were to grant this to us but we are not ones to beg and more than anything we are happy with what we have. A beautiful landscape filled with nature in all it’s glory, an amazing camp that stands as a flagship for other ‘green’ camps in Kenya, and then we have the most amazing team of guys who do their bit through thick and thin to make sure the guest’s experiences in these two camps is as best as it can be. Thank you to nature, thank you to our guests for their support and thank you to the Great Plains Mara teams in both camps. You guys are amazing.</p>
<p align="center">HAPPY NEW YEAR!! And may 2014 be the best one yet!</p>
<p align="center"><a href="http://www.greatplainsconservation.com/bushbuzz/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/Ping-and-Dan-Tirian.jpg" rel="shadowbox[sbpost-9025];player=img;"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-9031" alt="Ping and Dan (Tirian)" src="http://www.greatplainsconservation.com/bushbuzz/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/Ping-and-Dan-Tirian.jpg" width="577" height="640" /></a></p>
<p style="text-align: center;" align="center"><strong>PHOTOGRAPHIC CREDITS</strong></p>
<p style="text-align: center;" align="center">Cheetah- Kevin Bishop</p>
<p style="text-align: center;" align="center">Secretary Bird- Melvie Stokes</p>
<p style="text-align: center;" align="center">Enkuyeni pride male- Lianna Solomon (11 years)</p>
<p style="text-align: center;" align="center">Fig- Fran Solomon</p>
<p style="text-align: center;" align="center">Blue-headed tree agama- Melvie Stokes</p>
<p style="text-align: center;" align="center">Ping and Dan- Richard Pye</p>
<p> </p>
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</div><div class="field-tags field-items"><div class="field-label">Tags: </div><div class="field-item even " rel="dc:subject"><a href="/africa/blog/tags/bushbuzz" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">BushBuzz</a></div><div class="field-item odd " rel="dc:subject"><a href="/africa/blog/tags/headlines" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Headlines</a></div><div class="field-item even " rel="dc:subject"><a href="/africa/blog/tags/kenya-camps" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Kenya Camps</a></div><div class="field-item odd " rel="dc:subject"><a href="/africa/blog/tags/mara-plains-camp" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Mara Plains Camp</a></div><div class="field-item even " rel="dc:subject"><a href="/africa/blog/tags/mara-toto" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Mara Toto</a></div></div>Sat, 28 Dec 2013 06:22:45 +0000Anonymous635 at https://us.a2asafaris.com/africahttps://us.a2asafaris.com/africa/blog/december-news-%E2%80%93-mara-plains-and-mara-toto-kenya#commentsMara Plains and Mara Toto report- December 2013https://us.a2asafaris.com/africa/blog/mara-plains-and-mara-toto-report-december-2013<div class="body text-field" property="content:encoded"><p align="center"><i>‘Are there young men and women in Kenya who are willing to raise their voices when mine is carried away in the wind?’ George Adamson</i></p>
<p align="center">A belated ‘Merry Christmas’ and a pre-emptive ‘happy new year’ to you all from the central plains of the Masai Mara.</p>
<p align="center">We are happy to report that the November-December rains seem (famous last words to have past leaving us with clear skies and spotless sunshine. This, combined with the Eden-like surroundings that are more something out of a nature lover’s dream than reality have made this past month almost surreal. The grasslands are still cropped short and <b>very</b> green, the little <i>Sycnium</i> flowers have bloomed like we have never seen before literally covering the plains with spots of white. Thanks to the settling of the dust and the moisture in the air the clarity of the infinite scenery has been one of the highlights of this December, a fitting ending to one of the best years yet.</p>
<p align="center"><a href="http://www.greatplainsconservation.com/bushbuzz/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/Secretary-bird-Melvi-Stokes.jpg" rel="shadowbox[sbpost-9025];player=img;"><img class="size-full wp-image-9028 alignnone" alt="Secretary bird- Melvi Stokes" src="http://www.greatplainsconservation.com/bushbuzz/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/Secretary-bird-Melvi-Stokes.jpg" width="640" height="615" /></a></p>
<p align="center">Since our last report so much has happened here on the Olare-Motorogi conservancy but let’s leave that to our highlights and get on with the past months report of who’s where and doing what in the world of the conservancy’s big cats.</p>
<p align="center">The Moniko Pride.</p>
<p align="center">The conservancy’s (and possibly even the Mara’s) biggest pride has been quite a lot more active this month in terms of their nightly hunting escapades. They are still retreating to their rocky hill safe haven in the mornings at first light and descending again in the evenings, but from the CSI evidence in the first rays of day it looks like they are having to go further afield in their hunts as a result of the wildebeest having finally returned south and others east. It is this time of year, after the ‘Gnu’s’ have left, that one of the northern conservancies best-kept secrets takes place, this is the influx of a regional zebra migration. Every year in December thousands of Zebra appear in the OMC coming down from the north in search of the nutritious green grass that covers the plains. This year we have not seen as many as we did last year, but there are here, helping to keep the pride’s fed and the nights filled with their braying choruses.</p>
<p align="center">The Enkuyeni pride.</p>
<p align="center">Since our last report this pride have not moved much and nor do they need to. The area they have staked out at their November-December refuge and hunting grounds really is perfect lion country – The area around the rocky-crossing. Here there is a confluence of four plains, three streams and the bushy verges that follow these meandering trails. This pride spend their days catnapping in the shady thicker bush before emerging in the evenings to scan the four plains they are currently hunting for the best chances and the best course for their nightly stalks. As is usual for this time of year, with the ‘beesties’ gone south zebra are at the top of the menu but failing these, hunting tactics change and the focus of the conservancy’s lions become the warthogs and topis. (Both of which have increased their chances of survival by filling the ecosystems with mini-them’s, bite-sized morsels for the opportunistic cats)</p>
<p align="center"><a href="http://www.greatplainsconservation.com/bushbuzz/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/Enkuyeni-pride-male-Liliana-Soloman.jpg" rel="shadowbox[sbpost-9025];player=img;"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-9027" alt="Enkuyeni pride male- Liliana Soloman" src="http://www.greatplainsconservation.com/bushbuzz/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/Enkuyeni-pride-male-Liliana-Soloman.jpg" width="640" height="427" /></a></p>
<p align="center">Amazingly the lone Enkuyeni pride male is still very much in charge of his pride despite the huge lion population around them and the coalitions of two or more male lions in the surrounding prides. He must be quite a force to be recond with being able to hold out against superior numbers.</p>
<p align="center">The Eseketa and Motorogi prides.</p>
<p align="center">These two smaller prides of the OMC have as is usually the case been the most difficult to find and view due to their shy nature and the rocky, bushy terrain they call home. In the past weeks we have not had many reports from these two group but we will keep our eyes open and keep watch on them as we move further into the green season.</p>
<p align="center">The coalition of 7 young males.</p>
<p align="center">Again this month these seven have killed another couple of buffalo, for sure they have started to specialize in these huge bovines and by now (unlike their first buffalo kill all those months ago) they have worked out the best way to put the buff down with the least effort and risk. A special moment for all of us following these youngsters came this month when they were found with four females from their original Enkuyeni pride. This is very interesting as in the past when these young males were being kicked out of their pride the females were more than aggressive to them should they even look their way. Now it seems, with the then small cubs now grown and passed danger the lionesses may have accepted and understood that the future power of the conservancy will be held by these seven. Now, as times and hunts become more difficult and both skill and muscle begin to play ever more important rolls in health and survival, hanging out with a gang of strong young males capable of killing buffalo is a good plan.</p>
<p align="center">‘Fig’ the leopardess</p>
<p align="center">We very nearly had to say goodbye to Fig this month, this would have been a very sad day. Fig is one of the OMC regulars; she recently turned two and is a great huntress, fully arboreal during the daylight hours and one of the conservancies biggest ‘posers’. Early in the month the guides started to come in with reports that she may be pregnant with what would be her first litter. Her stomach was swelling, her teats developing and she seemed more fidgety than usual. Then on the morning of the 23<sup>rd</sup> a lioness from the Enkuyeni pride ambushed her while she was posing and cleaning herself. The Lioness was on top of her before she could even try to run, it had her down, managed to bite her badly twice before tossing her into the streambed. It was this fall in the river than may have saved Fig as it gave her time to get away from the lioness hurtling after her and she got up a tree. Over the next four days we have been following her progress with worry. She has one big bite on her back left leg, with obvious canine punchers running very deep, her front right leg was also opened up by what only could have been the lionesses teeth. At the time of writing this report she has done A LOT of very stiff and pained sleeping in trees and has not hunted in four days (that we know of), however she does seem alert and more active now so hopefully all will be well with a very valuable lesson learned- to much preening and vanity can be disastrous.</p>
<p align="center"><a href="http://www.greatplainsconservation.com/bushbuzz/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/Fig-Fran-Soloman.jpg" rel="shadowbox[sbpost-9025];player=img;"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-9029" alt="Fig- Fran Soloman" src="http://www.greatplainsconservation.com/bushbuzz/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/Fig-Fran-Soloman.jpg" width="640" height="477" /></a></p>
<p align="center">Acacia and Namnyak</p>
<p align="center">Fig’s mother and younger sibling have (as with last month) been quite scarce this December, again as we said before more than likely due to the presence of the Enkuyeni lions in their territory. A couple of times this month Namnyak has been found alone and without Acacia, this is an exciting step forward for the youngster as she begins to become more self-reliant. Good luck to her and we feel she may need it considering the Enkuyeni prides recent history of trying to remove the other predators from their range. First they succeeded with Nalepo the cheetress, and then they had a go and almost got Fig.</p>
<p align="center">Yellow</p>
<p align="center">The Central OMC’s leopard ‘pimp’ has also been quiet this month, he was spotted once mating with a female a couple of kilometers upstream from Mara Plains around mid-month and since then has been a bit off the radar. There was a very noisy night just before Christmas when those of us in the camp were appreciating the beauty of a four-foot puff-adder when just across the river from where we were all standing the clear and powerful coughs of a male leopard reminded us of the incredible wild nature of our surroundings. A little later we heard him again calling from the area around Mara Toto so we figured he was having a look around to see if our resident leopardess <i>Pretty Girl</i> (AKA Mystery) was taking calls.</p>
<p align="center">The Cheetah</p>
<p align="center">So finally Narasha has left her two grown cubs. She then moved southwards into the reserve while the male and female remained in the conservancy for the rest of the month. From the reports back they have been doing fine by hunting scrub hares but neither of them seemed too perturbed about being away from their mother. We expect that when these two split up (which will not be too far away) then they will find out what it is like being a single cheetah hunting alone. Narasha on the other hand is doing fine. Her hunts are flawless and once again she has proven to be a very good mother. In three years she has raised four cubs to adulthood. The two that she lost in the second year was only due to her foot being sliced open on what could only have been corrugated iron or glass.</p>
<p align="center">The lone male cheetah briefly mentioned in last month’s report has stayed around the conservancy again this December, on most days he has been easy enough to find thanks to the short green grass, which doesn’t lend much of a hiding place to a large cat or more often than not he can be found by following the tell tail signs from all the other animals as they repeatedly snort ‘cheetah’ and stand erect pointing at the danger.</p>
<p align="center">Amani’s now grown cubs are also not too far from the camps, yesterday morning they were in the reserve south of Mara Toto. They are all fit and healthy and doing fine.</p>
<p align="center"><b><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Some of this month’s highlights.</span></b></p>
<p align="center">The green and flower covered plains scattered with the variety of the Mara’s mammals would be the backdrop for any one of these highlights below.</p>
<p align="center">We have had more than usual sightings of servals cats this month, probably because of the grass being so short and green meaning they don’t blend in as well as they do in other months, but the funny thing about this is that they don’t seem to realize they can be seen quite easily. Hiding behind glass blades thinking that if it can’t see the car, the car obviously can’t see it.</p>
<p align="center"><a href="http://www.greatplainsconservation.com/bushbuzz/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/Blue-headed-tree-Agama-Melvi-Stokes.jpg" rel="shadowbox[sbpost-9025];player=img;"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-9030" alt="Blue headed tree Agama- Melvi Stokes" src="http://www.greatplainsconservation.com/bushbuzz/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/Blue-headed-tree-Agama-Melvi-Stokes.jpg" width="640" height="565" /></a></p>
<p align="center">Having Dereck and Beverly Joubert in camp for four days and listening to their incredible stories and knowledge of the bush stemmed from over 30 years on the front line of nature films and conservation. Anyone worrying about the future of Africa’ s Lions, Rhino and Elephant should spend time with these two. The future of this continent for these key species is far worse than we can imagine and we need more and more people to be aware of this if something is to be done- remember <i>The Lorax</i> from Dr Zeus? ‘<i>Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot nothing is going to get better, it’s not’ </i>Spread the word, look for the stats of the current rates of poaching in Africa.</p>
<p align="center">It was definitely an exciting highlight to have a four-month-old lion cub in the bush twenty meters in front of the mess tent for a whole day. The cub was separated from it’s mother and two other siblings when the morning wake-up calls were heading out to the guest tents. The Lioness they lay up for the day in the tickets in front of tent 3 while the cub tucked itself into the bush in front of the public area. The nonchalantness of the waiters was hysterical when at sunset they mentioned like it had slipped their minds, ‘oh yeah, by the way, there is a lion cub in that bush over there’. We love it and this is why we are here.</p>
<p align="center">This December has been one of the best for ‘cat-tricks’. Being in ‘big cat country’ many of our guests will come to stay with the hope of getting to see some of the feline predators this conservancy has become famous for. Most have got more than they could have imagined as in the past weeks seeing Leopard’s, Lions and Cheetah all in one drive (often just minutes apart) has become the norm. We do try very hard not to become too ‘blinkered’ focusing only on the cats but sometimes one just can’t help it. On a couple of days in the past weeks some guests have been lucky enough to witness (in just one drive) not only three cats but also cheetah hunts, ‘attempted’ leopard hunts and serval cats.</p>
<p align="center">Other highlights would be seeing the family herds of elephants finally back in the conservancy (and last night right in the camp). Many of these groups have arrived with new tiny little elephants in tow, heads held low, trunk useless, and very much glued to their mother’s bellies.</p>
<p align="center">Two great snake sightings this month around the camp, we have a new python on the scene, a beautiful 7-foot long female with all the blotches and camouflage spots one can imagine in nature. Completely harmless and stunningly beautiful this snake was slowly cruising along the edges of the riverbank in search of tasty morsels such as mice, monitor lizards, birds and possibly even the occasional fish. We were also very appreciative of the beauty of the large puff adder we found on the edge of the camp although we were more than happy to remove her from the vicinity. This huge snake is again dappled and blotched like the python but much fatter and with a huge triangular head. You will be happy to know she is now far away from here and free to go about her life safe from humans and us from her.</p>
<p align="center">Getting our first harvests out of the vegetable garden in the camp was a moment for all of us in the camp. As of now we have plenty of spinach, basil, cucumbers, broccoli, carrots, dhania and more on the way. Its lucky we used the old Mara Plains tent frames to build the ‘Jurassic park’ fence around the garden as the couple of times the old buffalo bulls have broken their way in (once bending an inch thick metal pole into an ‘S’ bend) they have made the most.</p>
<p align="center">Right then, that’s about it from us here on the plains for this year anyway. Since starting this report this morning we have watched the day heat up and what was a ‘spotless sky’ begin to fill with little puffy clouds. To be honest we actually really would like a couple more inches of rain if existence were to grant this to us but we are not ones to beg and more than anything we are happy with what we have. A beautiful landscape filled with nature in all it’s glory, an amazing camp that stands as a flagship for other ‘green’ camps in Kenya, and then we have the most amazing team of guys who do their bit through thick and thin to make sure the guest’s experiences in these two camps is as best as it can be. Thank you to nature, thank you to our guests for their support and thank you to the Great Plains Mara teams in both camps. You guys are amazing.</p>
<p align="center">HAPPY NEW YEAR!! And may 2014 be the best one yet!</p>
<p align="center"><a href="http://www.greatplainsconservation.com/bushbuzz/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/Ping-and-Dan-Tirian.jpg" rel="shadowbox[sbpost-9025];player=img;"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-9031" alt="Ping and Dan (Tirian)" src="http://www.greatplainsconservation.com/bushbuzz/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/Ping-and-Dan-Tirian.jpg" width="577" height="640" /></a></p>
<p style="text-align: center;" align="center"><strong>PHOTOGRAPHIC CREDITS</strong></p>
<p style="text-align: center;" align="center">Cheetah- Kevin Bishop</p>
<p style="text-align: center;" align="center">Secretary Bird- Melvie Stokes</p>
<p style="text-align: center;" align="center">Enkuyeni pride male- Lianna Solomon (11 years)</p>
<p style="text-align: center;" align="center">Fig- Fran Solomon</p>
<p style="text-align: center;" align="center">Blue-headed tree agama- Melvie Stokes</p>
<p style="text-align: center;" align="center">Ping and Dan- Richard Pye</p>
<p> </p>
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</div><div class="field-tags field-items"><div class="field-label">Tags: </div><div class="field-item even " rel="dc:subject"><a href="/africa/blog/tags/bushbuzz" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">BushBuzz</a></div><div class="field-item odd " rel="dc:subject"><a href="/africa/blog/tags/kenya-camps" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Kenya Camps</a></div><div class="field-item even " rel="dc:subject"><a href="/africa/blog/tags/mara-plains-camp" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Mara Plains Camp</a></div><div class="field-item odd " rel="dc:subject"><a href="/africa/blog/tags/mara-toto" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Mara Toto</a></div></div>Sat, 28 Dec 2013 06:22:45 +0000Anonymous557 at https://us.a2asafaris.com/africahttps://us.a2asafaris.com/africa/blog/mara-plains-and-mara-toto-report-december-2013#commentsCurious what ol Donyo Lodge & Mara Plains are really like??https://us.a2asafaris.com/africa/blog/curious-what-ol-donyo-lodge-mara-plains-are-really<div class="body text-field" property="content:encoded"><p>This says it all!</p>
<p>Our great friend, and support, Bert Duplessis of Fish Eagle Safaris just received this amazing feedback from his recent travelers, M/M Najarian:</p>
<p><em>“We loved Ol Donyo. Our suite consisted of three large rooms and was extremely comfortable. There were many activities to keep us busy, and the service was great. We enjoyed game drives, hiking, horse back riding, sundowners, and exploring the lava tubes. We saw lots of “soft” animals but few large predators. However, we loved seeing many large giraffes and elephants as well as lots of birds and herbivores, which is what we expected. Happily, we did actually see three cheetahs hunting at dusk. They’ve recently made their home around Ol Donyo, and it seems like they are successful and staying. Our hosts, Ray and Alyssa, were fantastic and always trying to make sure our stay was perfect. Ray is a terrific chef, and the food was spectacular. Overall, the service was great. We loved our 3 days at Ol Donyo. </em></p>
<p><em>As great as Ol Donyo was, I enjoyed Mara Plains Camp even more. I really think Mara Plains Camp may be the best overall safari experience in the entire Masai Mara. Our tent (if you could call it that) was gorgeous. Large, extremely comfortable, great shower and bathroom facilities, king bed, large sitting area, brass tub…the works!!! Our hosts, Richard and Lorna, were terrific and always made sure all our needs were meet perfectly. They even lent us a super high-powered camera. Overall, the service was spectacular and the food was delicious and abundant. Still, the highlight of the trip was the game viewing on the Mara plains. Our guide, Duncan, was extremely friendly and knew the Mara like the back of his hand. We saw everything. Lions, leopards, cheetahs, huge crocs, hyenas, jackals, even a serval cat (can you believe that?), elephants, hippos, and every kind of plant eater you can think of. Believe it or not, we also witnessed and filmed a fight between several lionesses and a large male leopard. The girls had him cornered in a riverbank and were attempting to kill him for territorial rights. Luckily, after several scraps, the leopard was able to get away and up a tree. Overall, I’m going to try to convince anyone I talk to go on Safari at Mara Plains Camp. We enjoyed it immensely. It was even better than we expected (and we expected a lot). We also became good friends with another honeymoon couple that had the same itinerary as we did at Ol Donyo and Mara Plains. They also witnessed our cat fight.</em></p>
<p><em>Thus, we loved our trip. We would rate Ol Donyo as a terrific place to go to view “soft” game, relax, and enjoy various outdoor activities, like hiking and horseback riding, while also viewing the animals. Mara Plains Camp was an absolutely incredible “Big Game” safari experience that was also completely luxurious and intimate with fantastic guiding on the game drives. Bert, thanks so much for setting up the trip of a lifetime, and let me know if you’d like to chat so I can give you even more details.”</em></p>
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</div><div class="field-tags field-items"><div class="field-label">Tags: </div><div class="field-item even " rel="dc:subject"><a href="/africa/blog/tags/kenya-camps" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Kenya Camps</a></div><div class="field-item odd " rel="dc:subject"><a href="/africa/blog/tags/mara-plains-camp" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Mara Plains Camp</a></div><div class="field-item even " rel="dc:subject"><a href="/africa/blog/tags/ol-donyo-lodge" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">ol Donyo Lodge</a></div><div class="field-item odd " rel="dc:subject"><a href="/africa/blog/tags/read-guest-feedback" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Read Guest Feedback</a></div></div>Fri, 13 Dec 2013 17:36:37 +0000Anonymous411 at https://us.a2asafaris.com/africahttps://us.a2asafaris.com/africa/blog/curious-what-ol-donyo-lodge-mara-plains-are-really#commentsNovember News – Mara Plains & Mara Toto Camps, Kenyahttps://us.a2asafaris.com/africa/blog/november-news-%E2%80%93-mara-plains-mara-toto-camps-kenya<div class="body text-field" property="content:encoded"><p align="center"><em>“And I dream of the vast deserts, the forests, and all of the wilderness of our continent; wild places that we should protect as a precious heritage for our children and for our children’s children. We must never forget it is our duty to protect this environment”</em> (Nelson Mandela)</p>
<p>This past month has once again proven to those of us here that one of the best times to be in the Mara is from the end of October through November. Why? For the most part, the little bit of rain we get is not enough to affect drives and activities, and in fact it serves to turn the plains green, the flowers bloom, the migratory birds arrive, the full abundance and variety of species visible at any one time is incomparable to anywhere else in Africa, the huge numbers of wildebeest and zebra are everywhere and many of the antelope are calving creating crèches full of life and bounce and also adding to the ease and menu for the huge numbers of predators in the area. This year we have another extra special reason for why it has been spectacular.</p>
<p>At the end of October we saw that the Mara reserve was empty and many of the southern end of the migration was crossing back into Tanzania. We all felt “well, that’s about it for this year’s migration”… other than the tens of thousands of animals still up in the Olare-Motorogi Conservancy, which we assumed were to be the larger than average Lloita migration. Then, in the last week or so of October, we heard a rumor from the Sand River area that many of the departed beests and zebra were back in Kenya due to lack of rain and grazing in the northern Serengeti. Then the same happened on the Mara River where huge groups started crossing back northwards again following the showers we had been lucky enough to have in Kenya. The result was huge river crossings, plenty of action and even more wildebeest in the conservancy than we had ever had at this time of year in past years and amazingly, with very few people here to witness it. In the past week, well into December, guests have been watching river crossings of thousands of animals and they are the only car there – an experience far from the mess in the reserve in the height of high season.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.greatplainsconservation.com/bushbuzz/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/Dec-crossings.jpg" rel="shadowbox[sbpost-9003];player=img;"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-9006" alt="Dec crossings" src="http://www.greatplainsconservation.com/bushbuzz/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/Dec-crossings.jpg" width="640" height="243" /></a></p>
<p>Around the 4<sup>th</sup> December, the plains around the Mara were dry, brown and cropped short. The wildebeest in front of the mess tent either had their heads down munching on what remained or they were waiting, looking hopefully to the northeast. Then came the first rumbles of thunder and the promise of rain as dark clouds rolled in. Like last year, the November rains came a month later than is typical, but the downpours are making up for lost time.</p>
<p>Onto the characters and sightings of this story from the past month.</p>
<p>The Moniko pride has, since our last report, not moved much from their namesake hill where they have been quite easily found in the mornings and evenings and from where their hunts begin and end. The large part of this pride (4-5 lionesses, 12 sub-adults and cubs and 2 pride males) are found here all quite happily lounging in the croton thickets in the peace and quiet of their rocky hillside. Over the past month this pride has been watched on a number of occasions after dark when they spread out and set up for their hunts, though it seems the early part of the night is not usually that successful for them.</p>
<p>The Enkoyeni pride has spent much of the last month in the southern end of their range around the leleshwa thickets and rocky crossing. They, like their eastern neighbors above, have been very successful in their hunting, making the most of all the wildlife that is naturally channeled past their diurnal refuge into the confluence of the Ntiakitaik River and the western tributaries where they face running the gauntlet of the river crossings. At times this pride (3 lionesses, 11 sub-adults and cubs (the two smallest ones have just been introduced) and still only one male) have been found with kills up towards the dikdik crossing, but they always move south again soon after first light. This is more than likely because of the seven young male, ex-pride members who have moved into the Enkoyeni’s old stronghold north of dikdik crossing. This ‘gang’ of seven seem to be doing very well in this time of plenty. The guides have called them ‘wabarubaru’, meaning ‘the young ones’.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.greatplainsconservation.com/bushbuzz/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/Zebra-at-Sunset.jpg" rel="shadowbox[sbpost-9003];player=img;"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-9007" alt="Zebra at Sunset" src="http://www.greatplainsconservation.com/bushbuzz/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/Zebra-at-Sunset.jpg" width="640" height="427" /></a></p>
<p>We are happy to report that the new (4-months-old) Eseketa pride is still in the Eseketa valley, and for them to be able to hold onto this territory there must be some formidable females among them and also one or two very strong males. At last count this pride is made up of 4 lionesses, 12 sub-adults and cubs and possibly only one male, but counting this pride (much like the Motorogi pride) is often difficult due to the nature of the valley they call home. Eseketa means the rough or rocky place in Maa.</p>
<p>The least known pride in the OMC would have to be the Motorogi pride, and other than some sightings in the mornings along the Nontopesi stream they have, for the most part, been quiet. The exception came one evening this month when they decided to target the prize bull belonging to one of the rich local politicians who was illegally grazing his herds in the conservancy at night. We bet they enjoyed that immensely, our condolences to the owner for his loss.</p>
<p>Nguro and Jicho, the female and young male pair surviving from the Prideless Females lineage, have stayed around this month and we have been finding them regularly on the Kereput stream around Albitzia. These two, unlike the other lions with the security of prides, tend not to go retreat into the bush until well into mid-morning. Rather, they seem happy to sit in the sun in the open plain, watching around them until they are sure they can head for the shade and rest, safe in the knowledge that their landlord pride (Moniko) are already cat-napping and not looking to cause them trouble with an ambush.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.greatplainsconservation.com/bushbuzz/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/Migration-over-the-bridge.jpg" rel="shadowbox[sbpost-9003];player=img;"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-9008" alt="Migration over the bridge" src="http://www.greatplainsconservation.com/bushbuzz/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/Migration-over-the-bridge.jpg" width="640" height="427" /></a></p>
<p>Interestingly, November has been relatively quiet on the cheetah sightings. There has been a big male around the central OMC for most of the month doing little circuits between Naronyo hill and rocky crossing. This speedster has been having it very easy thanks to the huge numbers of Topi calves and gazelle fawns, and he killed one of them only hours ago on Porini hill as ours guests looked on. Up on the Olkuroto Plains there have been sightings of some other unidentified individuals, which is very exciting for us.</p>
<p>In the reserve Narasha has been doing well. The last time she was found by Great Plains guides she was still with her adult ‘cubs’. The time for these two to move on has come and gone, but obviously not according to them.</p>
<p>A quick report on the two orphaned cheetah cubs that were picked up by Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) after their mother, Nalepo, was killed by lions in November: After a bit of a search and a little undercover work (which found some serious corruption in the Nairobi orphanage) we found the two cubs alive and safe in a large-ish pen with fresh hay to lie on and a warm shelter to live in. Thanks to the pressure put on KWS to look after these two cubs they were in as good a condition as we could have hoped for, but we now know that KWS have no intention of reintroducing them to the wild – a very sad realization to discover the wildlife service is more interested in orphans as money earners rather than to release them as the wild animals they are.</p>
<p>The OMC and reserve leopards have once again been very active on our sightings register this past month. Fig (now nearly two-years-old) has been a regular find along the Eseketa stream around the hammerkop crossing. Like the other predators in the area she is making the most (almost too much) of all the baby animals around her. Observing the impact that Fig alone has on the topi calf population shows clearly the benefits of synchronized birthing among antelopes.</p>
<p>Acacia and her 6-month-old cub, Namnyak, have been quieter this last month most likely because of having the Enkoyeni lions right in the middle of their territory. When they have been spotted it has often been on the little tributary running north of Lone Tree Hill or in the thickets of Warbergia and euclia trees just upstream of Porini crossing. Once, around mid-month, these two were found in the company of Yellow, the resident male, who according to the monkeys, later that night passed by Mara Plains before continuing onto the kereput stream and his extensive range beyond. A ‘leap’ of leopards is a rare and wonderful thing to find.</p>
<p>Mystery, the resident female Leopard from around the two camps has been quiet this month compared to October when she was a regular sighting with her little cub. Through November we found her only a few times, sneaking around, hiding, being shy and sadly we have not seen her cub since last month. We can always be positive and hope.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.greatplainsconservation.com/bushbuzz/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/Giraffe-and-a-tree.jpg" rel="shadowbox[sbpost-9003];player=img;"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-9009" alt="Giraffe and a tree" src="http://www.greatplainsconservation.com/bushbuzz/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/Giraffe-and-a-tree.jpg" width="640" height="330" /></a></p>
<p>The sighting of the month from Mara Plains was when Kali, the huge resident male leopard on the Olare River, was found having a bit of a fling with a leopardess, but the five lionesses and sub-adults of the Double-Crossing pride heard the chorus of growls. The lionesses stalked in and charged, the two leopards split and scattered, the leopardess headed upstream but the lions wanted Kali. They chased him into a small gully, where they surrounded him before jumping in on top of him. Huge snarls and roars followed before seconds later Kali literally popped out of the gully like a cork from a bottle. He took off down the river with the lionesses RIGHT behind him. The first refuge he came to was a slight overhang in the riverbank with a couple of roots across its access. He jumped into this spot and the lionesses tried to get at him but he let rip with the most fearsome combinations of teeth and claws from all four feet as he lay on his back, keeping his spine firmly against the riverbank. The lionesses backed off, keeping him pinned down, their faces bloody and covered in mud, unsure what to do next. Over the next half an hour the lions went at him twice more and we thought after the second attempt that he was finished. He had five lionesses ON TOP of him, all biting and clawing, but amazingly, despite the onslaught, Kali beat the lionesses off one at a time until they stood back, looking around through battered faces with what seemed like the realization that there is perhaps nothing more vicious than a cornered huge male leopard. After this, the lionesses began to call for back up, roaring and marking the area around where Kali was crouched, snarling like a demon. They were calling the pride males. Kali obviously worked this out too and in the short time it took for the lionesses to be preoccupied calling for the males he crept out of the river overhang, but he did not run. He quietly, and without showing any limps or weakness, climbed the riverbank. At the top, rather than bolting for the nearest tree, he stopped, turned and looked back with blue rage in his eyes that we will never forget. Then, as the male lions finally came trotting through the bush, Kali took off. The lionesses heard him go and gave chase, but too late. He went up a Euclea tree like nothing had happened, leaving the lionesses furious at the bottom. What happened next was like a scene from one of those angry couples talk shows – the lionesses went at the male lions, unleashing their rage in a full attack, obviously full of pent-up anger at their quarry getting away. “Where the hell have you been you lazy (<i>bleep bleep bleep bleep)</i>!!!”. The male lions took the attack, stunned by the female’s aggression, before fighting back in full force, causing the unruly lionesses to split and run in all directions. This incredible sequence ended with the ‘lazy, slow and overfed’ Double Crossing males stalking around marking every bush and stick they saw in attempts to reassure themselves and the lionesses of their dominance and prowess.</p>
<p>Onto some of the memorable moments of the past month.</p>
<ul><li>One was getting reports in that the wild dog were back in the Mara. Some of you may remember when we had three dogs run right past the camp two years ago, well these three males seem to have found a female companion. They were found near sandriver before they headed north and then back south again. We hope this may be the beginning of a central Mara pack.</li>
<li>We have had a great month for snakes, as it got hotter and dryer before the rains we started seeing the eastern green snakes more regularly, then we saw two green night adders, then we found (and safely removed from the camp) a beautiful female puff-adder who was making the most of the grass rat colony near the fire pit. Finally, as the rains started we followed the chirping of the birds near the office and found the stunning python (one of our residents) slowly creeping out of a hole and heading for the trees, a sure sign that the rain are upon us.</li>
<li>More migrant birds have arrived, the most recognizable being the Abdim’s stalks, Senegal and Black-winged lapwings.</li>
<li>The Warthogs have, in the past week flooded the market with mini-pigs we have been counting 6-8 in the litters, in a week or two they will be down to 4-5 and less.</li>
<li>We had a Zorilla in the camp for a couple of days this month, this little ‘striped pole-cat’ or ‘skunk’ was first found when he was trying to dig up the rats on the lawn just before first light, then again the next night when he leapt into the river below the bridge and swam across.</li>
<li>Soon the Elephant families will be arriving back in the central Mara again after their ‘vacation’ in the hills to the north and east, we look forward to having them back.</li>
<li>One morning near the end of the month we got a call in from Mara Toto to say that they had a lioness with a kill almost inside the camp so that was exciting.</li>
</ul><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.greatplainsconservation.com/bushbuzz/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/eagle-owl.jpg" rel="shadowbox[sbpost-9003];player=img;"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-9011" alt="eagle owl" src="http://www.greatplainsconservation.com/bushbuzz/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/eagle-owl.jpg" width="427" height="640" /></a></p>
<p><i>Sawa</i> (OK), that’s about it for now. Sorry that the report was late this month, but we have been doing our bit to help two very impressive young ladies who are <span style="text-decoration: underline;">RUNNING</span> 400KM from our sister camp, Ol Donyo Lodge in the Chyulu Hills, to Mara Plains in the Masai Mara. Can you imagine running a marathon every day for two weeks? Crazy, yes, but they are doing it for the best reasons one can – to raise awareness and funding for the area they are running through – all community land, owned by different clans of Maasai. There is a hope that through the great efforts of Dudu (one of Great Plain’s relief managers) and AJ, (a very driven friend of hers from Nairobi), they can raise enough funds to kick-start a community conservation plan that hopes to link and protect the Tsavo-Chyulu-Amboseli ecosystem all the way to the Masai Mara.</p>
<p>This area would include over 2 million acres of community land managed by <i>the Big Life Foundation</i>, then continuing to the area west of Lake Magadi, past Lake Natron (the famous flamingo breeding area) on the floor of the Great Rift Valley, to the incredible Nguruman mountains and Lloita Hills (teaming with wildlife and covered in forest and rivers), then stretching all the way to the Mara. Should the hard work of the community members, conservation bodies and the incredible efforts of Dudu, AJ and their sponsors succeed, they will be creating what could be one of Africa’s largest conservation corridors, running the length of the Kenya/Tanzania border. And the best thing about this project is that both the Maasai community land-owners and the wildlife are the beneficiaries.</p>
<p>The best place to read about this area, and the possibilities and hopes for the future of it, is on the BIG LIFE or SORALO websites and blogs:</p>
<p><a href="http://www.biglife.org">www.biglife.org</a></p>
<p><a href="http://www.soralo.com">www.soralo.com</a></p>
<p>To support Dudu and AJ go to <a href="http://charity.bushfit.org./support-us/">http://charity.bushfit.org./support-us/</a> It’s one of the most worthwhile causes we know.</p>
<p>In the days since starting this report the rains have really kicked in and the plains are now lush and green. As a final farewell, there are ten giraffe crossing the horizon in front of the breakfast table, as Lorna finishes throwing her solar-powered fairy lights at the ‘Christmas tree’ that sticks out through the mess tent deck.</p>
<p>From all of us at Mara Plains and Mara Toto, we wish you a very Merry Christmas and a wonderful start to the New Year.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.greatplainsconservation.com/bushbuzz/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/Grass-and-flies-in-the-sunset.jpg" rel="shadowbox[sbpost-9003];player=img;"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-9010" alt="Grass and flies in the sunset" src="http://www.greatplainsconservation.com/bushbuzz/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/Grass-and-flies-in-the-sunset.jpg" width="427" height="640" /></a></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>Photographic credits.</strong></p>
<p style="text-align: center;">Fig’s kill- Laurence Clauhaut</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">Crocodile attack- Lorna Buchanan-Jardine</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">Zebra sunset- Richard Pye</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">View through the bridge- Richard Pye</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">Giraffe- Richard Pye</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">Verreaux eagle owl- Richard Pye</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">Bugs in the sunset- Lorna Buchanan-Jardine</p>
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</div><div class="field-tags field-items"><div class="field-label">Tags: </div><div class="field-item even " rel="dc:subject"><a href="/africa/blog/tags/bushbuzz" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">BushBuzz</a></div><div class="field-item odd " rel="dc:subject"><a href="/africa/blog/tags/headlines" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Headlines</a></div><div class="field-item even " rel="dc:subject"><a href="/africa/blog/tags/kenya-camps" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Kenya Camps</a></div><div class="field-item odd " rel="dc:subject"><a href="/africa/blog/tags/mara-plains-camp" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Mara Plains Camp</a></div><div class="field-item even " rel="dc:subject"><a href="/africa/blog/tags/mara-toto" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Mara Toto</a></div></div>Fri, 13 Dec 2013 15:11:26 +0000Anonymous412 at https://us.a2asafaris.com/africahttps://us.a2asafaris.com/africa/blog/november-news-%E2%80%93-mara-plains-mara-toto-camps-kenya#commentsMara Plains and Mara Toto wildlife report- November 2013https://us.a2asafaris.com/africa/blog/mara-plains-and-mara-toto-wildlife-report-november-2013<div class="body text-field" property="content:encoded"><p align="center"><b><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="http://www.greatplainsconservation.com/bushbuzz/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/Figs-kill1.jpg" rel="shadowbox[sbpost-9003];player=img;"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-9005" alt="Figs kill" src="http://www.greatplainsconservation.com/bushbuzz/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/Figs-kill1.jpg" width="640" height="618" /></a></span></b></p>
<p align="center"><em>“And I dream of the vast deserts, the forests, and all of the wilderness of our continent; wild places that we should protect as a precious heritage for our children and for our children’s children. We must never forget it is our duty to protect this environment”</em> (Nelson Mandela)</p>
<p>This past month has once again proven to those of us here that one of the best times to be in the Mara is from the end of October through November. Why? For the most part, the little bit of rain we get is not enough to affect drives and activities, and in fact it serves to turn the plains green, the flowers bloom, the migratory birds arrive, the full abundance and variety of species visible at any one time is incomparable to anywhere else in Africa, the huge numbers of wildebeest and zebra are everywhere and many of the antelope are calving creating crèches full of life and bounce and also adding to the ease and menu for the huge numbers of predators in the area. This year we have another extra special reason for why it has been spectacular.</p>
<p>At the end of October we saw that the Mara reserve was empty and many of the southern end of the migration was crossing back into Tanzania. We all felt “well, that’s about it for this year’s migration”… other than the tens of thousands of animals still up in the Olare-Motorogi Conservancy, which we assumed were to be the larger than average Lloita migration. Then, in the last week or so of October, we heard a rumor from the Sand River area that many of the departed beests and zebra were back in Kenya due to lack of rain and grazing in the northern Serengeti. Then the same happened on the Mara River where huge groups started crossing back northwards again following the showers we had been lucky enough to have in Kenya. The result was huge river crossings, plenty of action and even more wildebeest in the conservancy than we had ever had at this time of year in past years and amazingly, with very few people here to witness it. In the past week, well into December, guests have been watching river crossings of thousands of animals and they are the only car there – an experience far from the mess in the reserve in the height of high season.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.greatplainsconservation.com/bushbuzz/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/Dec-crossings.jpg" rel="shadowbox[sbpost-9003];player=img;"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-9006" alt="Dec crossings" src="http://www.greatplainsconservation.com/bushbuzz/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/Dec-crossings.jpg" width="640" height="243" /></a></p>
<p>Around the 4<sup>th</sup> December, the plains around the Mara were dry, brown and cropped short. The wildebeest in front of the mess tent either had their heads down munching on what remained or they were waiting, looking hopefully to the northeast. Then came the first rumbles of thunder and the promise of rain as dark clouds rolled in. Like last year, the November rains came a month later than is typical, but the downpours are making up for lost time.</p>
<p>Onto the characters and sightings of this story from the past month.</p>
<p>The Moniko pride has, since our last report, not moved much from their namesake hill where they have been quite easily found in the mornings and evenings and from where their hunts begin and end. The large part of this pride (4-5 lionesses, 12 sub-adults and cubs and 2 pride males) are found here all quite happily lounging in the croton thickets in the peace and quiet of their rocky hillside. Over the past month this pride has been watched on a number of occasions after dark when they spread out and set up for their hunts, though it seems the early part of the night is not usually that successful for them.</p>
<p>The Enkoyeni pride has spent much of the last month in the southern end of their range around the leleshwa thickets and rocky crossing. They, like their eastern neighbors above, have been very successful in their hunting, making the most of all the wildlife that is naturally channeled past their diurnal refuge into the confluence of the Ntiakitaik River and the western tributaries where they face running the gauntlet of the river crossings. At times this pride (3 lionesses, 11 sub-adults and cubs (the two smallest ones have just been introduced) and still only one male) have been found with kills up towards the dikdik crossing, but they always move south again soon after first light. This is more than likely because of the seven young male, ex-pride members who have moved into the Enkoyeni’s old stronghold north of dikdik crossing. This ‘gang’ of seven seem to be doing very well in this time of plenty. The guides have called them ‘wabarubaru’, meaning ‘the young ones’.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.greatplainsconservation.com/bushbuzz/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/Zebra-at-Sunset.jpg" rel="shadowbox[sbpost-9003];player=img;"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-9007" alt="Zebra at Sunset" src="http://www.greatplainsconservation.com/bushbuzz/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/Zebra-at-Sunset.jpg" width="640" height="427" /></a></p>
<p>We are happy to report that the new (4-months-old) Eseketa pride is still in the Eseketa valley, and for them to be able to hold onto this territory there must be some formidable females among them and also one or two very strong males. At last count this pride is made up of 4 lionesses, 12 sub-adults and cubs and possibly only one male, but counting this pride (much like the Motorogi pride) is often difficult due to the nature of the valley they call home. Eseketa means the rough or rocky place in Maa.</p>
<p>The least known pride in the OMC would have to be the Motorogi pride, and other than some sightings in the mornings along the Nontopesi stream they have, for the most part, been quiet. The exception came one evening this month when they decided to target the prize bull belonging to one of the rich local politicians who was illegally grazing his herds in the conservancy at night. We bet they enjoyed that immensely, our condolences to the owner for his loss.</p>
<p>Nguro and Jicho, the female and young male pair surviving from the Prideless Females lineage, have stayed around this month and we have been finding them regularly on the Kereput stream around Albitzia. These two, unlike the other lions with the security of prides, tend not to go retreat into the bush until well into mid-morning. Rather, they seem happy to sit in the sun in the open plain, watching around them until they are sure they can head for the shade and rest, safe in the knowledge that their landlord pride (Moniko) are already cat-napping and not looking to cause them trouble with an ambush.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.greatplainsconservation.com/bushbuzz/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/Migration-over-the-bridge.jpg" rel="shadowbox[sbpost-9003];player=img;"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-9008" alt="Migration over the bridge" src="http://www.greatplainsconservation.com/bushbuzz/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/Migration-over-the-bridge.jpg" width="640" height="427" /></a></p>
<p>Interestingly, November has been relatively quiet on the cheetah sightings. There has been a big male around the central OMC for most of the month doing little circuits between Naronyo hill and rocky crossing. This speedster has been having it very easy thanks to the huge numbers of Topi calves and gazelle fawns, and he killed one of them only hours ago on Porini hill as ours guests looked on. Up on the Olkuroto Plains there have been sightings of some other unidentified individuals, which is very exciting for us.</p>
<p>In the reserve Narasha has been doing well. The last time she was found by Great Plains guides she was still with her adult ‘cubs’. The time for these two to move on has come and gone, but obviously not according to them.</p>
<p>A quick report on the two orphaned cheetah cubs that were picked up by Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) after their mother, Nalepo, was killed by lions in November: After a bit of a search and a little undercover work (which found some serious corruption in the Nairobi orphanage) we found the two cubs alive and safe in a large-ish pen with fresh hay to lie on and a warm shelter to live in. Thanks to the pressure put on KWS to look after these two cubs they were in as good a condition as we could have hoped for, but we now know that KWS have no intention of reintroducing them to the wild – a very sad realization to discover the wildlife service is more interested in orphans as money earners rather than to release them as the wild animals they are.</p>
<p>The OMC and reserve leopards have once again been very active on our sightings register this past month. Fig (now nearly two-years-old) has been a regular find along the Eseketa stream around the hammerkop crossing. Like the other predators in the area she is making the most (almost too much) of all the baby animals around her. Observing the impact that Fig alone has on the topi calf population shows clearly the benefits of synchronized birthing among antelopes.</p>
<p>Acacia and her 6-month-old cub, Namnyak, have been quieter this last month most likely because of having the Enkoyeni lions right in the middle of their territory. When they have been spotted it has often been on the little tributary running north of Lone Tree Hill or in the thickets of Warbergia and euclia trees just upstream of Porini crossing. Once, around mid-month, these two were found in the company of Yellow, the resident male, who according to the monkeys, later that night passed by Mara Plains before continuing onto the kereput stream and his extensive range beyond. A ‘leap’ of leopards is a rare and wonderful thing to find.</p>
<p>Mystery, the resident female Leopard from around the two camps has been quiet this month compared to October when she was a regular sighting with her little cub. Through November we found her only a few times, sneaking around, hiding, being shy and sadly we have not seen her cub since last month. We can always be positive and hope.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.greatplainsconservation.com/bushbuzz/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/Giraffe-and-a-tree.jpg" rel="shadowbox[sbpost-9003];player=img;"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-9009" alt="Giraffe and a tree" src="http://www.greatplainsconservation.com/bushbuzz/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/Giraffe-and-a-tree.jpg" width="640" height="330" /></a></p>
<p>The sighting of the month from Mara Plains was when Kali, the huge resident male leopard on the Olare River, was found having a bit of a fling with a leopardess, but the five lionesses and sub-adults of the Double-Crossing pride heard the chorus of growls. The lionesses stalked in and charged, the two leopards split and scattered, the leopardess headed upstream but the lions wanted Kali. They chased him into a small gully, where they surrounded him before jumping in on top of him. Huge snarls and roars followed before seconds later Kali literally popped out of the gully like a cork from a bottle. He took off down the river with the lionesses RIGHT behind him. The first refuge he came to was a slight overhang in the riverbank with a couple of roots across its access. He jumped into this spot and the lionesses tried to get at him but he let rip with the most fearsome combinations of teeth and claws from all four feet as he lay on his back, keeping his spine firmly against the riverbank. The lionesses backed off, keeping him pinned down, their faces bloody and covered in mud, unsure what to do next. Over the next half an hour the lions went at him twice more and we thought after the second attempt that he was finished. He had five lionesses ON TOP of him, all biting and clawing, but amazingly, despite the onslaught, Kali beat the lionesses off one at a time until they stood back, looking around through battered faces with what seemed like the realization that there is perhaps nothing more vicious than a cornered huge male leopard. After this, the lionesses began to call for back up, roaring and marking the area around where Kali was crouched, snarling like a demon. They were calling the pride males. Kali obviously worked this out too and in the short time it took for the lionesses to be preoccupied calling for the males he crept out of the river overhang, but he did not run. He quietly, and without showing any limps or weakness, climbed the riverbank. At the top, rather than bolting for the nearest tree, he stopped, turned and looked back with blue rage in his eyes that we will never forget. Then, as the male lions finally came trotting through the bush, Kali took off. The lionesses heard him go and gave chase, but too late. He went up a Euclea tree like nothing had happened, leaving the lionesses furious at the bottom. What happened next was like a scene from one of those angry couples talk shows – the lionesses went at the male lions, unleashing their rage in a full attack, obviously full of pent-up anger at their quarry getting away. “Where the hell have you been you lazy (<i>bleep bleep bleep bleep)</i>!!!”. The male lions took the attack, stunned by the female’s aggression, before fighting back in full force, causing the unruly lionesses to split and run in all directions. This incredible sequence ended with the ‘lazy, slow and overfed’ Double Crossing males stalking around marking every bush and stick they saw in attempts to reassure themselves and the lionesses of their dominance and prowess.</p>
<p>Onto some of the memorable moments of the past month.</p>
<ul><li>One was getting reports in that the wild dog were back in the Mara. Some of you may remember when we had three dogs run right past the camp two years ago, well these three males seem to have found a female companion. They were found near sandriver before they headed north and then back south again. We hope this may be the beginning of a central Mara pack.</li>
<li>We have had a great month for snakes, as it got hotter and dryer before the rains we started seeing the eastern green snakes more regularly, then we saw two green night adders, then we found (and safely removed from the camp) a beautiful female puff-adder who was making the most of the grass rat colony near the fire pit. Finally, as the rains started we followed the chirping of the birds near the office and found the stunning python (one of our residents) slowly creeping out of a hole and heading for the trees, a sure sign that the rain are upon us.</li>
<li>More migrant birds have arrived, the most recognizable being the Abdim’s stalks, Senegal and Black-winged lapwings.</li>
<li>The Warthogs have, in the past week flooded the market with mini-pigs we have been counting 6-8 in the litters, in a week or two they will be down to 4-5 and less.</li>
<li>We had a Zorilla in the camp for a couple of days this month, this little ‘striped pole-cat’ or ‘skunk’ was first found when he was trying to dig up the rats on the lawn just before first light, then again the next night when he leapt into the river below the bridge and swam across.</li>
<li>Soon the Elephant families will be arriving back in the central Mara again after their ‘vacation’ in the hills to the north and east, we look forward to having them back.</li>
<li>One morning near the end of the month we got a call in from Mara Toto to say that they had a lioness with a kill almost inside the camp so that was exciting.</li>
</ul><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.greatplainsconservation.com/bushbuzz/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/eagle-owl.jpg" rel="shadowbox[sbpost-9003];player=img;"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-9011" alt="eagle owl" src="http://www.greatplainsconservation.com/bushbuzz/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/eagle-owl.jpg" width="427" height="640" /></a></p>
<p><i>Sawa</i> (OK), that’s about it for now. Sorry that the report was late this month, but we have been doing our bit to help two very impressive young ladies who are <span style="text-decoration: underline;">RUNNING</span> 400KM from our sister camp, Ol Donyo Lodge in the Chyulu Hills, to Mara Plains in the Masai Mara. Can you imagine running a marathon every day for two weeks? Crazy, yes, but they are doing it for the best reasons one can – to raise awareness and funding for the area they are running through – all community land, owned by different clans of Maasai. There is a hope that through the great efforts of Dudu (one of Great Plain’s relief managers) and AJ, (a very driven friend of hers from Nairobi), they can raise enough funds to kick-start a community conservation plan that hopes to link and protect the Tsavo-Chyulu-Amboseli ecosystem all the way to the Masai Mara.</p>
<p>This area would include over 2 million acres of community land managed by <i>the Big Life Foundation</i>, then continuing to the area west of Lake Magadi, past Lake Natron (the famous flamingo breeding area) on the floor of the Great Rift Valley, to the incredible Nguruman mountains and Lloita Hills (teaming with wildlife and covered in forest and rivers), then stretching all the way to the Mara. Should the hard work of the community members, conservation bodies and the incredible efforts of Dudu, AJ and their sponsors succeed, they will be creating what could be one of Africa’s largest conservation corridors, running the length of the Kenya/Tanzania border. And the best thing about this project is that both the Maasai community land-owners and the wildlife are the beneficiaries.</p>
<p>The best place to read about this area, and the possibilities and hopes for the future of it, is on the BIG LIFE or SORALO websites and blogs:</p>
<p><a href="http://www.biglife.org">www.biglife.org</a></p>
<p><a href="http://www.soralo.com">www.soralo.com</a></p>
<p>To support Dudu and AJ go to <a href="http://charity.bushfit.org./support-us/">http://charity.bushfit.org./support-us/</a> It’s one of the most worthwhile causes we know.</p>
<p>In the days since starting this report the rains have really kicked in and the plains are now lush and green. As a final farewell, there are ten giraffe crossing the horizon in front of the breakfast table, as Lorna finishes throwing her solar-powered fairy lights at the ‘Christmas tree’ that sticks out through the mess tent deck.</p>
<p>From all of us at Mara Plains and Mara Toto, we wish you a very Merry Christmas and a wonderful start to the New Year.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.greatplainsconservation.com/bushbuzz/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/Grass-and-flies-in-the-sunset.jpg" rel="shadowbox[sbpost-9003];player=img;"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-9010" alt="Grass and flies in the sunset" src="http://www.greatplainsconservation.com/bushbuzz/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/Grass-and-flies-in-the-sunset.jpg" width="427" height="640" /></a></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>Photographic credits.</strong></p>
<p style="text-align: center;">Fig’s kill- Laurence Clauhaut</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">Crocodile attack- Lorna Buchanan-Jardine</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">Zebra sunset- Richard Pye</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">View through the bridge- Richard Pye</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">Giraffe- Richard Pye</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">Verreaux eagle owl- Richard Pye</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">Bugs in the sunset- Lorna Buchanan-Jardine</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">
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</div><div class="field-tags field-items"><div class="field-label">Tags: </div><div class="field-item even " rel="dc:subject"><a href="/africa/blog/tags/bushbuzz" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">BushBuzz</a></div><div class="field-item odd " rel="dc:subject"><a href="/africa/blog/tags/kenya-camps" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Kenya Camps</a></div><div class="field-item even " rel="dc:subject"><a href="/africa/blog/tags/mara-plains-camp" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Mara Plains Camp</a></div><div class="field-item odd " rel="dc:subject"><a href="/africa/blog/tags/mara-toto" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Mara Toto</a></div></div>Fri, 13 Dec 2013 15:11:26 +0000Anonymous409 at https://us.a2asafaris.com/africahttps://us.a2asafaris.com/africa/blog/mara-plains-and-mara-toto-wildlife-report-november-2013#commentsGreat Plains wins 2013 PURE awardhttps://us.a2asafaris.com/africa/blog/great-plains-wins-2013-pure-award<div class="body text-field" property="content:encoded"><p><a href="http://www.greatplainsconservation.com/bushbuzz/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/Unknown.png" rel="shadowbox[sbpost-8896];player=img;"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-8909" alt="Unknown" src="http://www.greatplainsconservation.com/bushbuzz/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/Unknown.png" width="90" height="118" /></a></p>
<p><strong>GREAT PLAINS CONSERVATION IS THE “MOST LIFE-ENRICHING EXPERIENCE”</strong></p>
<p>Great Plains Conservation is thrilled to receive the award for Most Life-Enriching Experience at the inaugural and prestigious PURE Awards 2013 last night at the close of the PURE Life Experiences show at the Palais des Congrès, Marrakech.</p>
<p>The award is described by PURE as <em>“truly transformational, thought-provoking and perspective-shifting travel experiences that help the individual reconnect with both themselves and the world around them.”</em></p>
<p>The selection process is rigid, starting with initial nomination by ‘PUREists’, a collection of the world’s elite buyers and sellers of experiential travel services. It is then judged by a distinguished panel of visionaries in travel: oceanographer and explorer, Sylvia Earle; actor and director, Edward Norton; environmental entrepreneur, Colin Bell; award-winning author and adventurer, Richard Bangs; and sustainable architect, German del Sol.</p>
<p>On describing Great Plains Conservation’s co-founders, Dereck and Beverly Joubert, Sylvia Earle commented: “The Jouberts convey their passion and deeply held conservation ethic and respect for the natural world that is unsurpassed, no matter what the setting, but especially in their beloved African plains. This is conveyed to those fortunate enough to travel in their presence.”</p>
<p>Dereck Joubert, Great Plains Conservation CEO, feels particularly honoured and says the award “encapsulates exactly what we set out to do at Great Plains Conservation: create experiences which spotlight the spiritual, personal, cultural and environmental Africa. Through these experiences we change lives and create conservation ambassadors – a positive outcome in the face of many challenges on the continent.”</p>
<p>All at Great Plains Conservation would like to thank the judges and all the PUREists that kindly nominated us for this award.</p>
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</div><div class="field-tags field-items"><div class="field-label">Tags: </div><div class="field-item even " rel="dc:subject"><a href="/africa/blog/tags/botswana-camps" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Botswana Camps</a></div><div class="field-item odd " rel="dc:subject"><a href="/africa/blog/tags/bushbuzz" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">BushBuzz</a></div><div class="field-item even " rel="dc:subject"><a href="/africa/blog/tags/conservation-updates" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Conservation Updates</a></div><div class="field-item odd " rel="dc:subject"><a href="/africa/blog/tags/duba-plains-camp" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Duba Plains Camp</a></div><div class="field-item even " rel="dc:subject"><a href="/africa/blog/tags/get-involved" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Get Involved</a></div><div class="field-item odd " rel="dc:subject"><a href="/africa/blog/tags/great-plains-branding" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Great Plains Branding</a></div><div class="field-item even " rel="dc:subject"><a href="/africa/blog/tags/kenya-camps" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Kenya Camps</a></div><div class="field-item odd " rel="dc:subject"><a href="/africa/blog/tags/mara-plains-camp" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Mara Plains Camp</a></div><div class="field-item even " rel="dc:subject"><a href="/africa/blog/tags/media-centre" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Media Centre</a></div><div class="field-item odd " rel="dc:subject"><a href="/africa/blog/tags/ol-donyo-lodge" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">ol Donyo Lodge</a></div><div class="field-item even " rel="dc:subject"><a href="/africa/blog/tags/read-guest-feedback" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Read Guest Feedback</a></div><div class="field-item odd " rel="dc:subject"><a href="/africa/blog/tags/ride-kenya" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Ride Kenya</a></div><div class="field-item even " rel="dc:subject"><a href="/africa/blog/tags/safari-experiences-news" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Safari Experiences News</a></div><div class="field-item odd " rel="dc:subject"><a href="/africa/blog/tags/selinda-camp" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Selinda Camp</a></div><div class="field-item even " rel="dc:subject"><a href="/africa/blog/tags/selinda-canoe-trails" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Selinda Canoe Trails</a></div><div class="field-item odd " rel="dc:subject"><a href="/africa/blog/tags/selinda-explorers-camp" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Selinda Explorers Camp</a></div><div class="field-item even " rel="dc:subject"><a href="/africa/blog/tags/zarafa-camp" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Zarafa Camp</a></div></div>Fri, 15 Nov 2013 16:18:45 +0000Anonymous363 at https://us.a2asafaris.com/africahttps://us.a2asafaris.com/africa/blog/great-plains-wins-2013-pure-award#commentsol Donyo Lodge horseback fly camping previewhttps://us.a2asafaris.com/africa/blog/ol-donyo-lodge-horseback-fly-camping-preview<div class="body text-field" property="content:encoded"><p>Fans and friends,</p>
<p>Those of you who keep up with all things Great Plains know that we recently decided to amend Ride Kenya a bit. We still have the magnifcent 25 horse stable based at ol Donyo Lodge, but in lieu of our advanced only multi-day safaris,we will now be offering slightly more accessible overnight horseback itineraries for guests of ol Donyo Lodge. Stay at the lodge a couple nights, head out by horseback and stay in our fly camp for a couple nights. Perfect mix for a truly one-of-a-kind place like ol Donyo and the Chyulu Hills.<br />
To that end, we’ve just now done a test run of our new fly camp gear. Ray & Alyssa along with David and Nicola set it up under the stars, added hot water, cold drinks, good company, new linens and strapping horses and were on their way. It was a great success, and an easy to arrange adventure. It is available to guests at no extra cost, but must be booked in advance.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.greatplainsconservation.com/bushbuzz/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/fly-camping2.jpg" rel="shadowbox[sbalbum-8866];player=img;" title="OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA"><img width="150" height="150" src="http://www.greatplainsconservation.com/bushbuzz/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/fly-camping2-150x150.jpg" class="attachment-thumbnail" alt="Arriving at camp by horseback" /></a><br /><a href="http://www.greatplainsconservation.com/bushbuzz/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/flycamping1.jpg" rel="shadowbox[sbalbum-8866];player=img;" title="OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA"><img width="150" height="150" src="http://www.greatplainsconservation.com/bushbuzz/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/flycamping1-150x150.jpg" class="attachment-thumbnail" alt="Guest tent scene" /></a><br /><a href="http://www.greatplainsconservation.com/bushbuzz/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/flycamping3.jpg" rel="shadowbox[sbalbum-8866];player=img;" title="OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA"><img width="150" height="150" src="http://www.greatplainsconservation.com/bushbuzz/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/flycamping3-150x150.jpg" class="attachment-thumbnail" alt="Close up of guest tent" /></a></p>
<p><em>Sample itinerary</em></p>
<p><em>Day 1- Arrive at ol Donyo Lodge, settle into suites. Afternoon horse ride of 2.5 hours, designed to select the horse for each rider, and to allow riders to get accustomed to the terrain and riding with wildlife. Sundowners back at the lodge.</em><br /><em>Day 2- Morning ride with packed breakfast- about 4 hours riding before arrival into crater camp for lunch. Enjoy lunch in camp, followed by a short siesta, and then afternoon climb of the nearby crater or exploration of the lava tube caves beneath. Sundowners in fly camp.</em><br /><em>Day 3- Full day ride into Chyulu East National Park, with picnic lunch. As the horses rest at lunchtime, take a short walk into one of the mist forests atop the Chyulus, stretching tired legs and enjoying the lush forest environment and its many exotic insect, bird and plant residents. Ride or drive back to the crater fly camp in the late afternoon.</em><br /><em>Day 4- Morning ride back to ol Donyo Lodge, taking the horses back to the stables before heading into the lodge for a shower, and relaxing lunch by the pool. Enjoy an afternoon massage, followed by any afternoon activity offered at ODL e.g. Mountain bike ride to Kopjes, walk around the forest tracking elephants, another horse ride, game drive, relaxation by the hide.</em></p>
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</div><div class="field-tags field-items"><div class="field-label">Tags: </div><div class="field-item even " rel="dc:subject"><a href="/africa/blog/tags/bushbuzz" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">BushBuzz</a></div><div class="field-item odd " rel="dc:subject"><a href="/africa/blog/tags/kenya-camps" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Kenya Camps</a></div><div class="field-item even " rel="dc:subject"><a href="/africa/blog/tags/ol-donyo-lodge" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">ol Donyo Lodge</a></div><div class="field-item odd " rel="dc:subject"><a href="/africa/blog/tags/ride-kenya" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Ride Kenya</a></div><div class="field-item even " rel="dc:subject"><a href="/africa/blog/tags/safari-experiences-news" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Safari Experiences News</a></div></div>Mon, 11 Nov 2013 19:33:49 +0000Anonymous364 at https://us.a2asafaris.com/africahttps://us.a2asafaris.com/africa/blog/ol-donyo-lodge-horseback-fly-camping-preview#comments