The Lamai Triangle

June in the Lamai Triangle was full of life, surprises, and unforgettable moments. This beautiful area, tucked between the Isuria Escarpment, the Mara River, and the border separating Serengeti from the Maasai Mara, stretches over 776 square kilometres. It’s a mix of open grasslands, woodlands, and river areas, and at this time of year, it started waking up in the most exciting ways.

The land is split in two by a road running from Lamai Gate to Kogatende Bridge. On the southern side of this road, the area is mostly woodland and riverine habitat. The game viewing here was a bit quiet in June. You could still see zebras, impalas, and topis, and near the river, hippos and crocodiles were always around. If you were lucky, you could catch giraffes and elephants near the Kenyangaga drainage line, where they came to drink water or feed along the riverbanks.

But the real action was in the north! This part of Lamai is covered mostly by open grasslands, dotted here and there with small bushy patches. This is where the animals gathered in large numbers, Thomson’s gazelles, zebras, buffaloes, topis, elands, and elephants. And of course, where there is prey, the predators follow. A pride of 16 lions with two strong male leaders rule this land, moving between areas known as Miti Miwili, Korongo la Fisi, and Korongo la Minazi. Right at the edge of the border between Serengeti and Maasai Mara, two massive male lions were also patrolling their territory, crossing between the two reserves like true kings of the wild.

Leopard sightings were also quite good this month. With patience and luck, guests got to see these shy and beautiful cats more than once. But one of the biggest surprises came on June 22nd, when two famous cheetah brothers known for roaming between the Serengeti and Maasai Mara were spotted again for the first time since December. It was a joyful moment for guides and guests alike. The next morning, the brothers were seen again and successfully hunted a male Thomson’s gazelle. They stayed near Alex Walker’s Plain, the same place where they were last seen months ago. It felt like a homecoming.

Then came the most incredible sight of the month. The two cheetah brothers had wandered into leopard territory. Like any wild cats, they started marking the area—rubbing their scent on bushes and trees. One of those trees, a desert date tree, had a leopard resting quietly in the branches above. The cheetahs didn’t know he was there. But the leopard knew. And he wasn’t happy. In one sudden move, he came down the tree and chased the brothers away, defending his space with no fear. It was a rare and thrilling moment to see three powerful predators crossing paths, showing respect and rivalry in their own wild way.

Elsewhere, on the open plains of Kampikampi, something special was happening too. A few elephants were seen coming together, then more joined, and then more until there were about 80 elephants in one place. They touched trunks, made loud trumpet calls, and moved together as one big, united family. It was a peaceful, heart-warming scene and a perfect way to end an evening drive.

Now the land is getting ready. The tall grasses are still waving in the wind, but it won’t be long before the wildebeest arrive. When they do, they will mow down the grass and turn the area into a short grass plain making it even easier to see the big cats that call Lamai home. But even before they come, June has already given us a wild, powerful story that will be remembered for a long time.