Notes from a Maasai Warrior

Seeing Spots!

2010-10-29T04:31:00.000-07:00

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

2010-10-03T12:35:00.000-07:00

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

2010-10-02T10:10:00.000-07:00

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

2010-03-22T14:18:00.000-07:00

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

2010-02-09T15:26:00.000-08:00

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

2009-09-22T11:23:00.000-07:00

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

2009-09-18T06:57:00.000-07:00

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!

Photo of my family

2009-08-11T04:39:00.001-07:00

Here is a photo I took of Mereso, wife Susan, and my son. We conducted the official naming ceremony for the baby yesterday. It was like a family and friends come together. We butchered two goats for the ceremony.

The proposed name for the baby is LESIAMON, named after my grandfather. This name is derived from "ESIAMO" which means delegation. LE is a prefix meaning of. Thus the name "LE+ SIAMON" means "HOST OF DELEGATIONS."

We also have two Meresos in our extended family. Therefore, during the last Mereso's birthday anniversary, my mum proposed an additional name. This name is "SANAU," meaning "The beautiful one." Most likely all the three girls (Meresos) will be attending the same school, so we thought the names might confuse the teachers because they will all have the same last name of LIARAM.

New Family Member

2009-07-29T04:41:00.000-07:00

In the night of 23rd July, 2009, Susan and I were blessed to have a baby boy. I received the news while I was on a game drive the following morning. He joins sister Mereso, who is now two years old. I got home to see my son on July 27. Everyone is in good health. You can see what a fine young men he is in this first picture of him.

2009-03-20T08:40:00.000-07:00

I have been busy since my last post on this blog. I passed the exam for my silver certificate in guiding and needed to write a short bio for the Heritage Hotels web site. Here is what I wrote:

Jackson Minteeng Liaram, a Maasai born in the Mara, worked as a Herdsboy before he started going to school. Looking after cattle is when he enjoyed learning the general behaviors of wildlife. He never thought that this knowledge would be of great help in the future.

After graduating from high school, he was enrolled at Mara Intrepids Camp as a Volunteer Camp Naturalist and Guide in 2003/04. This is where he got in touch with other experienced guides like Paul Kirui.

In mid-2005, he was enrolled at The Koiyaki Guiding School pioneer class. After the one year course, Jackson graduated as a Professional Safari Guide and Member of KPSGA Bronze Level.

Jackson thereafter joined up again with Mara Intrepids Camp where he was employed as a Guide/Naturalist. After three years in the field of guiding, he sat for his Silver Examination and passed. He is now based at Siana Springs Intrepids Camp as a Safari/Driver Guide.

You can find out more about Heritage Hotels in Africa at http://www.heritage-eastafrica.com.

A new photo of me

2008-08-03T03:27:00.000-07:00

A friend took this photo of me at Siana Springs Camp in the Masai Mara where we work.

Hello! Jambo!

2008-06-16T07:19:00.000-07:00

I work at Siana Springs Intrepids camp as a nature specialist. We are getting busy now, with tourists eager to see the Great Migration of thousands of animals across the plains of southwest Kenya.

Weather is good for now. It is sunny with some wind during the day. In the mornings it is about 15 degrees Celsius. That's about 60 degrees Fahrenheit. Not much rain. This is good for safaris and game viewing.