Seeing Spots!

For the last two decades, the population of cheetahs in the Mara has increased markedly. There is a fear that the cheetah population is facing a threat of inbreeding. These three brothers have a home range in the central part of the Mara. (Picture in front of my safari Land Rover.)

This year's Great Migration

This year, the great migration arrived at the Mara from the Serengeti earlier than usual. During the first week of June, the herds were already in the Masai Mara. Having arrived early, there are signs that the herds will leave earlier -- before end of October. Already most of the population have crossed the border. This photo shows that the herds have just dispatched from a meeting in the Mara plains and the next conference will be held in the Serengeti.

My Brother's Wedding

On September 11, 2010, our family, relatives and friends were all happy to welcome a new bride into the family. My younger brother, Simore, married a young maiden from another village 5 milies from Oltorotua.

It was a big party with about 200+ attendants. We butchered 6 lambs alongside cakes, soft drinks, chips and tea. Here are a few photos.

Looking Up to See a Lion

I was driving a family of tourists from Switzerland in the Masai Mara and trying to spot a leopard for my guests. When I looked up at a tree, I thought I saw a leopard and drove towards it. When we got closer, were realized it was a lioness, not a leopard. This is very uncommon behavior with lions in the Mara but with my experience in the bush, I have two thoughts about this sighting:

1. It is the rainy season and the grasses are tall. Lions need higher lookouts to locate prey.
2. The tall grasses harbor flies. These flies cause much discomfort to lions.

When a lioness has to be above the grass, she usually climbs rocks or kopjes. (A kopje is a small knob or hill.) With no kopjes nearby, the lioness was forced to climb a tree. And here is the photo I took of her.

A New Home

We will soon begin our house but first we are building a kraal for the cattle and other livestock. This kraal is not made with the traditional spiky fence from acacia tree branches with thorns 1½ to 2 inches long. Although the thorns may seem long and intimidating, that kind of fence gives limited protection from predators, especially lions, that roam the Kenyan plains at night. This kraal has barbed wire for better protection. At the right is a photo.

Helping each other in the Mara

The Maasai Mara is home to thousands of wild animals and without a single petrol station, restaurant, or store. It's sort of an unwritten rule to help people in trouble.

I met the people in a white minibus stuck in the mud. I towed them out with my four by four Land Rover. The driver/guide and all his guests were very grateful. One of my guests took the picture.

September Update from the Mara

When I talk to guests, I usually learn on my safari Land Rover steering wheel, as you see me in this photo. Here are a few of the things I have been telling them during the Great Migration this year.

It has been quite dry in the Mara during this great migration season. It has been difficult to monitor the actual movements of the herds. Instead of clustering as one bigger group as usual, the herds have formed smaller groups and are widespread all over selected locations with remnants of tall grass.

Black rhinos were almost extinct but conservation has helped bring them back. Now there are about 33 black rhinos living naturally in the Masai Mara Game Reserve, Kenya. Rhinos are the only animals being monitored by a special team of Rangers. This mature female is called SIXTEEN, she was counted rhino number 16. The baby is called SOILA. They have a territory not far from my Safari Camp (Siana Springs).

Giraffe are known to have a social grouping system of temporary association herds. As a way of showing dominancy, males perform a NECKING fight. A good necker is ranked higher in the group. During this fight, the guy on the left won.

Visit Siana Springs to find out much more!