May 2025
Singita Grumeti & Lamai
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Singita Grumeti & Lamai: May 2025
May has been a wet month, which is quite normal since it usually marks the end of the rainy season. During this time, the weather often changes quickly. In the afternoons, scattered thunderstorms appear in the sky. These storms create a beautiful and dramatic scene, with dark clouds rolling in and flashes of lightning lighting up the horizon. The sound of thunder echoes over the wide plains, and the smell of fresh rain fills the air.
However, the rains have caused many puddles and small pools of water to form all around the area. Because of this, animals do not need to visit the Grumeti River as often. They can find water nearby, so fewer animals were seen at the riverbanks this month. Even so, the open grass plains are full of life. The rain has helped the grass grow thick and green, providing plenty of food for grazing animals. Flowers are blooming, and many insects are buzzing around, enjoying the fresh plants. Birds, zebras, topi, Thomson’s gazelles and small herds of wildebeest move freely across the land. Predators like lions and hyenas are also nearby, watching carefully as they search for their next meal.
The combination of plants and animals, along with the dramatic weather, made this month a wonderful time to see the beauty of nature. The sights and sounds of the rainy season are truly something special to witness.
Here’s a May sightings snapshot for Grumeti:
Lions:
May was nothing short of spectacular when it came to lion activity, with sightings of six distinct prides spread across the concession. The presence of these regal predators infused the entire reserve with a palpable sense of excitement, making it a great month for game viewing. A standout highlight was witnessing all six prides in different areas, still feasting on buffalo - a prey species that has become their staple diet in the lead-up to the return of the Wildebeest Migration.
- Momukomule Pride provides great sightings north of Sasakwa hill and around Sasakwa hill and inside the rhino sanctuary. The pride looks healthy with one of the females seen with three cubs of two to three months old.
- Butamtam Pride has been seen along the Sasakwa plains and the plains south of Sasakwa hills. The four new males have been keeping both the Momukomule and Butamtam Prides on different territories.
- Ridge Pride has been frequently seen at Sasakwa hill and they have been between Milele, Kilima and Sabayaya.
- Sabora Pride has been seen more often around Sabora camp and the western part of the camp with the extension territory south along Nyasirori plains. The whole pride has been seen in a very good condition.
- Nyasirori Pride made a brief return to the concession but most of the prides movements have been inside the Serengeti National Park this month.
- The West, Gambaranyera and Kawanga Prides haven’t been seen in the concession as most of their territory has been wet and, with the plains game avoiding the area, it has made these prides follow them to other areas.
Leopards:
The month of May has unfolded with a remarkable abundance in leopard sightings. A steady rise in their appearance has graced the landscape, offering a rare and captivating glimpse into nature’s quiet resurgence.
- Mbogo Drainage female and her two subadults have been spotted more frequently around Faru Faru Lodge.
- Momukomule male has been seen on the northern side of Sasakwa hill.
- Subadult female from Mazingira female (weaned) seen below Sasakwa hill, in between Sasakwa Lodge and Serengeti House.
- Grumeti North male was seen this month after we had lost sight of him for about three or so months. He looks well fed and in very good condition.
- A skittish young male has been seen north-west of Sabora camp.
- An adult male was seen at the junction of Fort Ikoma Road and Sand Road.
- A shy female was seen inside the rhino sanctuary, we suspect this is the new female in the area with no territory yet.
- An adult male was seen east of the rhino sanctuary.
Cheetahs:
- One adult male was seen east of Sasakwa hill. The sightings will improve as the tall grass starts to diminish.
Elephants:
Due to the substantial rainfall during the month of May, the herds have become increasingly scattered, breaking into smaller groups. The widespread availability of lush, green grass throughout the concession has allowed them to disperse more freely across the open plains, along the Grumeti River, and throughout many tributaries. This abundance of grazing opportunities has significantly influenced their movement patterns, reducing the need for large congregations in specific areas.
- Singita Explore and the areas west of it had significant number of these humble giants which made an impressive scene for viewing them on the open plains of Gambaranyera and Kawanga.
- Sabora plains continued to be one of the routes for the herds moving off the ridge hills into the open plains into Raho drainage. It’s been an epic sight with the herds crossing the open plains.
- In Ikorongo the sightings of decent herds have been scattered from the east and the western side of Bangwesi hill and along the Rokare drainage.
- The central areas of the reserve had very large herd movements. Pundamilia and Nyati plains, Momukomule drainage, and Mazingira woodland had small to medium sized herds, spotted moving slowly and quietly along the wooded areas on their way to the plains.
- There were also herds seen west of Faru Faru Lodge, Grumeti River and along Mbogo drainage.
Buffalos:
The month has been teeming with buffalo activity. As the open plains become increasingly waterlogged from seasonal rains, they’ve transformed into ideal grazing grounds for these massive herbivores. The lush, moisture-rich grasslands now offer abundant forage, attracting large buffalo herds to feed and roam. Meanwhile, temporary pools and mud-filled wallows scattered across the open plains have become essential. Not only do they serve as vital watering holes to quench the animals' thirst, but they also offer relief from the midday heat.
- The plains of Sasakwa had a large herd that was roaming between Old School, Sasakwa Dam and below Kilima and Milele Villas. The movement of these herds of large bovines provided spectacular views from Sasakwa hill.
- The western part of the concession was not short of these large herds as the plains of Sabora and Gambaranyera have been great areas for the big herds.
- A big herd was seen along Grumeti River and the Triangle areas that stretched to Romoti woodland.
- A large herd has been seen more frequently west of Faru Faru and along Beribai plains. This herd hasn't been moving big distances for the whole month of May.
- The Nyati and Pundamilia plains have been hosting the large herd that has been moving between the plains, and Grumeti River, and the boundary of Serengeti National Park.
- A large herd was spotted west of Bangwesi hill and on the northern side of the Mbega Bridge.
- A small herd was spotted on the plains of Pofu at Ikorongo.
- A bachelor groups has been spotted on the plains of Sasakwa, west of Sabora camp, and along Grumeti River and Chui drainage.
Rhino:
Two animals in the enclosure were spotted several times - all in good health.