Oh boy, yet another Masai Mara report? A return to the Mara, February 2019

[Lyss]

On 7/9/2019 at 12:14 AM, janzin said:

 

 

 

Spectacular! I really like this photo showing their size difference. He's not much bigger than she is, but they are both very lovely, and how exciting that you have documented a pairing that more than likely resulted in the cubs that were born. That's not documentation that gets to happen often with leopards. 

[philw]

On 6/27/2019 at 9:18 PM, janzin said:

Of course we as

Great report Janet

[janzin]

Again, thanks to everyone who followed this report and for all the nice comments! Its really greatly appreciated.

 

Just a brief coda re: September vs. February.

 

Obviously, in September you have the river crossings and in February you don't, so if that's something you want to see, or haven't seen yet, you might prefer September. We saw maybe two or three Wildebeest the entire trip, it was a bit bizarre! However, the Loita migration was somewhere to the east, possibly in Naboisho or even further east, but you never know in advance where they might be at this time of year.

 

The fact that we saw more elephants in September may or may not be just a fluke, or related to where we were, I really don't know.

 

We saw many more zebra, as I mentioned there were zebra by the thousands. Ping insisted they are always there but you just don't see them as clearly when they are mixed in with the wildebeest No matter, it was really a beautiful sight to see (I much prefer zebra to wildebeest, myself

 

We found February much more birdy than September...there were birds everywhere, and many were calling/singing/starting to nest.

 

February was definitely greener and while grass was high in some places, it rarely hindered our sightings. The green was really welcome and obviously the birds liked it too.

 

As for crowds...in the Reserve, we actually and surprisingly found February MORE crowded than September.  Ping told us that most of the camps and lodges were full; he said the best time to avoid crowds is October into November. My theory is that in September, (and probably July/August as well) almost everyone is at the river pretty much all day long, so it was very easy to find sightings away from the river where you were the only vehicle, or maybe with a couple of others. But in February, everyone is dispersed and everyone is looking for the same thing...leopards, lions, and cheetahs. We found the crowds around the leopards most bothersome.

 

However...this really only applies to the Reserve. In the conservancies, since their capacity is strictly limited by the number of camps and beds, its going to be pretty much the same February and September. We never found Mara North to be crowded at all, even around Amani and the cubs or the mating leopards, we never had more than four or five vehicles (and usually less.) And everyone seemed much better behaved than in the Reserve.

 

Finally--the weather was perfect in February, never too hot and the little bit of rain and fog made for some more interesting photography and sunsets. On our September trip we actually had MORE rain, but that also may have been a fluke. Generally Sept. was more hot and humid, with no cloud cover.  But, you really just never know about the weather.

 

I would return in February but probably not stay in the Reserve, I'd stay in conservancies and maybe head one day to the Reserve if there was any particular reason to do so (like the 5 Musketeers.) Although it would be hard not to return to Enaidura! But Ping can also be booked to use a few select camps in the conservancies. I would definitely go back to Serian any time

 

I'm already fantasizing about a return! When can I squeeze it in??

 

 

 

 

[Raelond]

@janzin thank you for pointing out your wonderful trip report and photos.  

[Alexander33]

@janzin

 

Thanks for another wonderful trip report, with so many inspiring photos. We’re headed there next February,  and you’ve got my appetite whetted already!

[solpics]

Janzin thanks for a great trip report.  Your photos were outstanding.  I am a newbie just having booked my first safari for next February. I'll be at Offbeat Mara for 4 of the 14 nights, so I was really interested in your views and comments on the Mara North Conservancy. I am really looking forward to it now.

 

Also, thanks for your comments on your camera gear.  I was concerned about hauling around two cameras and questioning whether to bring my 300mm f2.8, but your photos inspired me to bring it.  I just have to find a way to get on the inter Africa planes with about 20 pounds of photo gear.

[Soukous]

2 hours ago, solpics said:

Janzin thanks for a great trip report.  Your photos were outstanding.  I am a newbie just having booked my first safari for next February. I'll be at Offbeat Mara for 4 of the 14 nights, so I was really interested in your views and comments on the Mara North Conservancy. I am really looking forward to it now.

 

 

Offbeat Mara is a great camp @solpics, all the friends and clients I have booked it for have come back raving about it. I'd be really looking forward to it as well.

[janzin]

4 hours ago, solpics said:

 

 

Also, thanks for your comments on your camera gear.  I was concerned about hauling around two cameras and questioning whether to bring my 300mm f2.8, but your photos inspired me to bring it.  I just have to find a way to get on the inter Africa planes with about 20 pounds of photo gear. 

My experience on several trips to Africa (including two to the Mara) is that most of the bush planes don't weigh your camera bag. They are surely used to photographers with a lot of gear. SafariLink did not. (They will only weigh it in Wilson, anyway, as there are no scales at any of the Mara runways.) If its a backpack just walk on like it isn't heavy. It goes on the floor in the back of the small planes (Cesna-type) or under your feet on the larger plane like we had this time (See my first page post with photos.) However, Air Kenya DID weigh my bag this last time. They asked me for $90 for overweight and I was ready to pay it, but a bit of cash, about $10 from my driver got that shut down quickly (I didn't encourage this...my driver/escort just did it.) My camera bag also weighs about 22 lbs. One thing also, is that if your actual "checked" bag is very light/underweight, they are less likely to have an issue.

[solpics]

15 hours ago, janzin said:

My experience on several trips to Africa (including two to the Mara) is that most of the bush planes don't weigh your camera bag. They are surely used to photographers with a lot of gear. SafariLink did not. (They will only weigh it in Wilson, anyway, as there are no scales at any of the Mara runways.) If its a backpack just walk on like it isn't heavy. It goes on the floor in the back of the small planes (Cesna-type) or under your feet on the larger plane like we had this time (See my first page post with photos.) However, Air Kenya DID weigh my bag this last time. They asked me for $90 for overweight and I was ready to pay it, but a bit of cash, about $10 from my driver got that shut down quickly (I didn't encourage this...my driver/escort just did it.) My camera bag also weighs about 22 lbs. One thing also, is that if your actual "checked" bag is very light/underweight, they are less likely to have an issue.

@janzinThanks for the suggestion, I was thinking along the same lines.  It's funny, one of the TOs I was working with suggested that I wear my camera and the 300 f2.8 around my neck because they won't weigh me, but I thought that would look a little obvious having a camera and a 5 1/2 lb lens around my neck.

 

@Soukous  That's great to hear about offbeat Mara.  I was going to skip the Mara and go from Uganda to the Serengeti, but I heard really good things about the conservatory, the camp, and they have a stay 4 pay for 3 deal.  In the Tanzania, I will be staying at Lemala camps in Seronera, Ndutu and the crater.  I've heard good things about them also.

[Soukous]

3 hours ago, solpics said:

 

@Soukous  That's great to hear about offbeat Mara.  I was going to skip the Mara and go from Uganda to the Serengeti, but I heard really good things about the conservatory, the camp, and they have a stay 4 pay for 3 deal.  In the Tanzania, I will be staying at Lemala camps in Seronera, Ndutu and the crater.  I've heard good things about them also.

 

Good choices all around @solpics Lemala run an excellent operation.

[khakialahari]

On 7/12/2019 at 4:51 AM, janzin said:

The rains let up and we headed out for our afternoon drive; the plan was to again stay out for a night drive and come back late for dinner.

 

I don't think we had any particular plan this evening, we just headed out to see what we might find. We first headed to the rock outcrop where we'd seen the leopards yesterday.

 

We found a pair of Dik-diks there. Hmmm would be good for leopard dinner...but the leopards weren't around.

 

 

Some Woodpeckers.

 

 

A bit later we found a lone cheetah who was hunting. But just then...the rains came down again. James put down the plastic top and sides of the vehicle and we followed the cheetah for awhile. Soon the rain stopped and the cheetah did too.

 

Looking a bit bedraggled.

 

 

Looking better after some grooming!

 

 

Light was getting low but we followed her a bit into the sunset.

 

 

Until it was just too dark to photograph her.

 

 

But we had a spectacular moonrise! Another favorite photo from the trip.

 

 

Our night drive began in earnest and we once again tried to find Aardvark. We weren't successful...again...but we did find another mammal we were super excited to see. Our first Zorilla--sometimes called Striped Polecat.  Some of you may remember that @Tom Kellie always yearned to see a Zorilla; I shouted to Alan "I have to get a photo for Tom!"

 

Well, I didn't do too well. This is a "proof of life" photo   Maybe I'd get a better one tomorrow night

 

 

We also saw many Springhares. This critter is not uncommon to see at all, but very difficult to photograph as they are always bounding away rapidly. So I was chuffed to get this.

 

 

No Servals tonight, and no Aardvarks either. But still a success! We got back to Serian just as the other guests were having dessert.

omg, your photos are incredible. i really hope @Tom Kellie is sitting in a (whats the plural for zorilla? zorilli?) right now. zorillicia! enjoying this so much. your photos are incredible.

[janzin]

Thanks @khakialahari! Although Tom Kellie doesn't come to the site anymore, I was able to email him with news of my zorilla sighting and sent him a photo