During the last month of June we have enjoyed an absolute bumper time in the bush. The old saying goes that a picture speaks a thousand words so I apologise in advance for some rather sparse text on the following pages.

The stars of the June show are none other than the Wildebeest, all 1.3 odd million of them! They are without doubt a keystone species in an ecosystem also reliant on the more traditional factors of fire and elephants to shape the terrain. The abundant hooves churning up the soil like a disc plough, tons of dung acting as fertilizer, a multitude of hungry mouths chopping down on the grass, and the rutting bulls horning the small trees and shrubs all adjust and affect the ecosystem. They came through Sabora camp, like they do every year, but an old bull decided to take to a swim this year – falling into the pool while taking a drink!

Their movement this year has been different from usual, coming onto our areas at Nyasarori in vast numbers during the end of May, and then all heading west, but returning rapidly east and north in huge numbers after very heavy rain (3 inches in 1 storm) in Ikorongo (our northern areas). The plains south of Sasakwa were literally covered wall to wall in Wildebeest on the morning after the rains; certainly the most concentrated and numerous as I have ever seen them!

The Maasai Giraffe have been abundant and daily sightings of these savanna skyscrapers have been a joy for all. Arguably the most recognizable silhouette in Africa, they provide great sundowner companions.