Singita Grumeti & Lamai
Singita Grumeti & Lamai: November 2024
In November, Grumeti came alive with unforgettable moments. The short rains poured in, bringing a fresh vibrancy to the land. The Grumeti River, once dry, began flowing gently again, the water sparkling under the sun. This brought a wave of life to the plains game - zebras, topis, and gazelles filled the open fields, grazing peacefully as they moved across the vast landscape. The landscape, teeming with life and bursting with colour, serves as a testament to nature's resilience. Everything seems in sync, reminding us that the wilderness, in all its untamed beauty, reaches its fullest potential when it is allowed to flourish naturally and without interference. At the moment, there is no better place to be than Grumeti!
November sightings snapshot for Grumeti:
Lions:
November has been a spectacular month for lion sightings on the reserve.
- The Butamtam Pride has been seen in the southern part of the Sasakwa plain, rarely venturing into the central area. Their large territory, stretching to the Serengeti boundary, remains undisturbed.
- The Kombre Pride's females and cubs have been seen east of Sasakwa Lodge, while their four male lions are expanding their range onto Sasakwa plain, possibly seeking more territory.
- The Sabora Pride has been spotted close to the camp often, with some guests even seeing them drink from the nearby waterhole.
- The Sabora West Pride roams the area near the Mbuni Crossing and Serengeti boundary.
- The Ridge Pride has been seen between Sasakwa Dam and Sabora plain, using the abundant resources in the area.
Leopards:
This month has been extraordinary when it comes to leopard sightings. The elusive nature of these magnificent cats usually makes them a rare sight, but we were fortunate enough to encounter them more frequently, offering us some truly unforgettable glimpses of their beauty and behaviour.
- One remarkable sighting took place in the Albizia woodland, just to the east of Sasakwa Lodge. The Kombre male was seen with a female, and to our delight, they were mating. This intimate moment hints at the exciting possibility of new cubs in the coming months, a prospect that fills us with anticipation and hope for the future of these incredible creatures.
- In another part of the reserve, along the Raho drainage upstream of the Kigelia Crossing, just near the Serengeti boundary line we observed a mother leopard and her cub. Both appeared in excellent condition, healthy and thriving in their natural environment.
Cheetahs:
In Grumeti, the plains are covered with bright green grass which attracts more plains game especially gazelles. These numbers have brought more cheetah to the reserve.
- One cheetah, a female, was seen south of Sasakwa plain, near the edge of the Serengeti and Grumeti Reserves. She moved gracefully through the grass, as always, alert and ready to hunt.
- Meanwhile, across the open plains of Sasakwa and Sabora, another cheetah, the experienced Junior Veteran, was seen moving confidently through the area.
Elephants:
In November, we witnessed something truly remarkable, a record breaking number of elephants.
- It was an unforgettable experience to see such large herds, with nearly a hundred elephants gathered in one place. During the heat of the day, we saw these magnificent creatures gathering at the Sasakwa Dam. They came in large groups to drink and many took the opportunity to wallow in the mud to cool off. In the afternoons, the elephants were also seen in the Grumeti River, right in front of Faru Faru Lodge. They were busy drinking from the river and moving through the dense vegetation. As the sun began to set, Kombre drainage line just east of Sasakwa lodge became the best spot for elephant viewing. The golden light of the setting sun made the scene even more magical. On the eastern side of the game reserve, Ikorongo area, smaller herds were seen along the Manchira and Rokare Rivers. These herds made it clear that the elephants were making the most of the abundant resources in the area.
Buffalos:
Buffalos were spotted in large herds across the game reserve, as they often are.
- On the Sasakwa plain, a massive herd of around 400 buffaloes was seen grazing together. Not far from there, another large group of buffaloes was moving between the Kombre drainage and the Albizia woodland east of the Sasakwa Hill, peacefully making their way all the way through to the albizia woodland. In the Grumeti River region, just west of Faru Faru Lodge, a decent herd of buffaloes was seen moving around, making their presence known. Meanwhile, the Sabora area had its usual large herd, this time grazing on the Fisi and Sabora plains, which they seem to call home. There was also a small herd seen near the Nyasirori ranger post just to the south of Sabora camp, roaming the high ground and areas north of the Serengeti boundary line.
Rhino:
- Rhinos Eric and Laikipia were witnessed mating in August, October, and once again this month. Each time, there was hope that Laikipia would conceive, bringing the promise of a new arrival. Their bond was growing stronger with each encounter, and we anticipate a successful pregnancy.
October sightings snapshot for Lamai:
Lions:
- This month, the Kigelia Pride, with its 12 powerful members, dominated the Lamai Triangle, where they were seen almost every day. However, amidst the pride’s steady rule, a lone nomadic lion was also spotted.
Leopards:
- In the early mornings, two leopards were seen north of the camp, their sleek bodies moving silently through the grass. Among them was Kunta, a familiar figure, known for his stealth and grace. After each sighting, Kunta and the other leopard retreated toward the riverine forest, seeking refuge in the dense cover where the Mara River meets the Daraja Jeusi drainage.
Cheetahs:
November has been an exciting month for cheetah sightings in Lamai Triangle.
- The three brothers returned after their journey south. Although there are other cheetahs in the region, these three brothers are recognized as the most legendary figures in the area.
Elephants:
This month, elephants were seen roaming in various parts of the area.
- Small herds gathered north of Mara River Tented Camp, while others wandered across the Kampikampi open plain and into the nearby woodlands. A larger herd was seen along the Daraja Mbili drainage. In the east smaller herds were seen, calmly traversing the area.
Buffalo:
- Decent breeding herds of buffaloes were seen, with notable groups near Daraja Jeusi, Daraja Mbili, and the Kenyangaga plains. The largest herd, around 200 buffaloes, roamed the Kenyangaga plains, while the Daraja Jeusi herd numbered about 100.
Plains game:
- The game viewing was exceptional, with thousands of zebras grazing alongside topis, a few resident wildebeests, and gazelles roaming the short grass plains. Giraffes were frequently spotted near the Mara River and Kenyangaga drainage, their tall frames standing out against the landscape. The area was alive with wildlife, creating a stunning scene of nature in motion.
Other interesting sightings:
- Flocks of cattle egrets were a common sight during the evening game drives, always seen gracefully flitting around the elephants and buffalo herds. Their white feathers contrasted beautifully against the herds, creating a peaceful and captivating scene as the sun set, adding a touch of serenity to the day's end.