April 2009 : Grumeti Reserves, Tanzania

An Incredible Big Cat Month

The big cats have certainly made April a month to remember here in the Serengeti. The good soaking rains have ensure that the plains are full of lush green grass and the large herds of zebra, topi, thomsons gazelles and eland, down near Farufaru and Sabora camps, have provided a splendid backdrop for some sensational cat viewing.

The Nayasarori pride of lions showed off their newest arrivals this month… 4 new cubs, spotty and full of life.

A female cheetah and her 4 cubs were seen down at Nayasarori, she has moved onto our concession from the national park.

No fewer than 8 leopard sightings also had us jumping for joy, especially as most of those were a female with a 3 to 4 month old cub!

 

The Guide Training Course is Over!

April saw the end of another successful 6 month guide training course. 4 new guides are now prepped and ready, after a bit of leave in May, for our traditional busy season beginning in June.

This month saw the guides complete their final evaluation drives and we also spent a day down in the Serengeti National Park, visiting the black rhino project, Maasai paintings and Maasai Gong Rocks at Moru Koppies.

We also spent 2 days up in northern Ikorongo, camping next to the Grumeti River, near to a waterfall.

Great fun was had by all and we look forward to another training course after the busy season is over, beginning around November. Thanks to Claire Franz for the picture of all the guides!

 

The World’s Tallest Animal

The Maasai giraffe is a very special animal in this country as it is Tanzania’s national animal and truly holds a very special place in the hearts of the Tanzanians. Its good looks, graceful gait, gentle demeanour and interesting social structure make it a highlight on most game drives out here. Its lofty presence (up to 5.5 m tall) out on the plains ensures it is the quintessential African silhouette.

Watching the bulls sparring or fighting, also referred to as necking, is always interesting. Giraffe are non-territorial and bulls fight for a position on a hierarchy. Their very unpredictable herd movements are referred to as fluid social structure with individuals and small groups coming and going constantly. They are appropriately described as being physically and socially aloof! The herds here at SGR have congregated into the 50’s but are encountered more regularly in smaller groups of 10 – 20.

The horn development in giraffe is both unique and interesting. The giraffe calf (6 feet tall at birth) is born with its horns fully intact; the horn develops sooner than in any other animal, being present even in the embryo! They are pure cartilage at this stage and are folded back onto the top of the head to make it a little easier for the mother when she gives birth. What happens over the next 4–5 years for bulls or 7–8 years for cows is a calcification of the horns, the bone producing tissue on the tips of the horns and the bone growing upwards from the skull fusing and forming solid horns.

 

The Perfect Pair

The 2 territorial cheetah males who have, over the last 2 years, provided us with about 80% of our cheetah viewing, have not been seen as regularly during April. The core of their territory is the Sasakwa plains, the longer grass now making it a challenge to spot them. When they are found they continue to impress, the 2 brothers striding confidently across the savannah. Both very relaxed and completely habituated to the Land Rovers.

The Cheetah Cubs

Sticking with the world’s fastest animal we return to a handful of sightings this month of the mother cheetah and her 4 offspring. These cubs, presumed to be about 7 to 8 months old, were an absolute delight to watch. They were little balls of energy as they played, stalked and wrestled with each other. This is all fun and games now but a vital part of their development and these newly acquired skills will need to be honed over the next year or so to ensure that they become confident and efficient hunters.

 

The Birds

To conclude this month we include some notes on our feathered friends. Another great month and we add some more new birds to our list ...Collared Pratincole, Glossy Ibis, Little Stint and African Grass Owl.

The barn swallows were seen in flocks of thousands as they prepare for their annual migration to Europe. It is a time of fattening up and feeding, getting ready for the long flight north. They will be joined by birds from Southern Africa, making a 12 000km (7500 miles) journey in about 34 days. That is an average of 350km / 220 miles per day!

Picture to the right are some White-faced Whistling ducks.

All the weavers are all frantic with nest building again. The colonies of perfectly woven homes, usually overhanging water, are now numerous. Pictured here are some village weavers on a flypast.

This entry & all photographs were submitted by Lee Fuller All photographs were taken on location 30 April 2009 Singita Grumeti Reserves