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January started as a dry and dusty month with cool mornings (averaging at 16ºC) and warm days (averaging 31º C). Towards the end of the month some consistent late afternoon and evening rain showers arrived, clearing the air, settling the dust and bringing on a new green flush of growth to the plains.



The new growth in the grasslands has sustained many zebra, wildebeest and small breeding herds of eland who were grazing throughout the Musiara and Paradise Plains areas. In the woodlands around the river, family units of elephant were seen (averaging 12 in number) with some very young calves. There are also a few Musth males wandering about from herd to herd. The Warburgia trees are continuing to fruit, keeping the elephant families well fed.



In Little Governors' Camp there are some very fruitful Warburgia trees and two elephant in particular have been visiting camp everyday, three times a day to feast on the fallen fruits, much to the delight of guests and camp staff alike. We have had some other wonderful sightings in camp this month; some guests at Il Moran were very priviledged one quiet afternoon when they watched a mother hippo give birth to a tiny baby on the banks of the Mara River opposite their tent.


Giraffe with young in crèches are well spread out in the woodlands surrounding the camps. Groups of males in varying ages have been sparring, pushing against one another and swinging their necks at each other to swipe their opponent with the protrusions on their heads. Giraffes have seven vertebrae in their long necks and can deliver a solid thump to a rival male.



Other residents of the woodland verges are impala, bushbuck and Olive Baboons and the marsh grasslands are home to Bohors Reedbucks. Large numbers of topi and Cokes Hartebeest and their three month old calves graze throughout the plains.



The short grass plains are home to Thomson Gazelles in loose associated breeding herds, with bachelor males living on the periphery of the herds. The males constantly need to work to hold their territory and they do this by marking grass stems with a secretion from their pre-orbital glands. Once a territory is marked the males will often try to herd females into the centre of it. Gestation for the female Thomson Gazelle is 5½-6 months and they will typically come into oestrus within two weeks of calving. This means that females are able to have two offspring in just over a year. Females that are isolated from a herd are often not far from their fawns hidden in the grass. Grants gazelles in smaller herds are also found on the short grass plains. It is not uncommon to see the two species intermixed although the Grants is not such a selective feeder or as water dependant as the Thomson, so will tolerate a harsher environment and will browse more readily.



Serval Cats have been seen in the long grasses of the plains and we have had some wonderful sightings of a Caracal cat in the rocky habitats. Bat Eared Foxes have been out on the ridges looking for harvester termites and dung beetles to feed on. On the 21st a large African Rock Python was seen near the old airstrip at Bila Shaka.



There have been many changes within the Bila Shaka / Marsh Pride (of four females and nine cubs) this month. We are delighted to report that one of the females has two new cubs which we estimate are one month old. One of the three dominant males has disappeared and the two brothers remain in control of the pride. One of the males is mating with one of the younger females so there may be more cubs yet to come. They have been feeding well off eland and zebra. On the morning of the 27th they killed three zebra. One of the females had been sick and sadly she died on the 19th, there are no reports of the fate of her six month old cubs.



The Paradise/Ridge pride of 4 males, sometimes 5, and seven females are being seen daily. On the 30th many members of this pride moved over to the conservancy side and just latterly 2 females have returned to the plains. They have been feeding off zebra and eland.



The resident leopards of our area on the Mara are also thriving. Kijana, the young male, has been hunting on the fringes of the marsh and riverine woodland. A young female has been patrolling the croton thickets adjacent to the river and a female with two cubs is resident on the banks of the Talek River. Another female has been hunting around the luggas.