Game Report from Governors Camp
Feb 11th, 2010 by janieharmsen
Camp fire at Little Governors Camp
There have been some good rains throughout January with hotter and dryer weather towards the end of the month. Temperatures have been climbing to 33 degrees celcius. The Mara River has been rising with waters filling up to half way up its banks which has made life rather diffidult for the resident crocodiles and hippos. The crocodiles have been passing their time on top of the banks or in the forest while the hipos have been moving towards the slowest running waters.
Forest life:
Thousands of caterpillars have hatched and matured leaving the forest full of silk threads hanging from trees. The Klaas Cuckoo and Greater Spotted Cuckoo, two of the few birds that can andle the caterpillars toxicity, have been feasting on them. Visitors have been treated to a beautiful display of butterflies including Swallowtails, Zebra Whites, Blue Tigers, Diadems, Orange Tips and Monarchs.
Hot air balloon over the Mara
Wildlife:
The grasslands have been growing a little longer and are just the right height for most of the plains game. When it becomes too long the grazers will migrate to the rivers where the hippos have been feeding. The grazers will be able to spot predators in the shorter grasses.
There have been plenty elephant sightings this month with large herds, followed by bulls, moving through the Musiara Marsh and then into the forest to feed on the new growth of Teclea. Three local bulls have been seen in the forest around Little Governors Camp.
A large herd of about 400 buffalo have been moving betweeen the Musiara Marsh, the park gate and Rhino Ridge.
Now that the buffalos have moved on the rhinos have been visible from the balloon flights. There have also been some great camp sightings with a male, female and calf been seen opposite the river bank.
The lion prides have been spending more time apart as the game becomes more sparse - needing to cover more ground. They have occassionally come together for social interaction or if there is a kill. The Paradise Pride managed to kill a hippo and were feeding on it for days.
A young cheetah and her cub have been spotted and Shakira and her two cubs are still on the Trans-Mara side of the river. There have also been sightings of another female cheetah traversing the boundary of the reserve. The three resident cheetah brothers have moved towards Keekarok on the Burrungat Plains. The longer grasses here are providing good cover - although their prey is starting to move onto the shorter grasses.
The leopards have become more brazen allowing for some great sightings.