Big Cat stories from the Mara, Kenya

#MAASAI MARA #Kenya#Big Cats
Big Cat Stories from the Mara
The best place to observe the Big Five of the Mara is a Conservancy surrounding the Maasai Mara National Reserve.
So, here we are, all set to go to the Olare Motorogy Conservancy.
We have to travel from Oserengoni Conservancy near Lake Nawasha to Olare Motorogy.
This beautiful acacia tree provides shade, while we wait for a small plane to take us to the Motorogy Conservancy.
In two hours time, we land at the Mara Oler Orok airstrip.
A scattered group of topi antelopes near the airstrip gather together on a mound as the plane arrives.
At the KIcheche bush camp where we are staying, Charles is our safari guide cum driver. Charles has the experience of 25 years in guiding tourists.
Chui, the leopard, is sleeping on the strong branch of an acacia tree. Weaver bird nests hang by her side.
'It's moving."
"Yeah, it's waking up".
"The kill is also on the tree, right?"
"It's not fallen now".
"What kill is it? Baby Impala. She got the baby from the Impala"
"How many leopards in the conservation Charles?
We normally see this mother. We have another one, another
three single females and a male, like five of them.
But they are all related. Three of them are, four of them are related to this, ohh and one is from a different family.
A spotted hyena has smelt the kill and is on its way to share spoils. Hyenas cannot climb trees. So it will wait under the tree.
Charles informs us that the leopard is a her. because she has a cub which is hiding from the hyena.
But not in the tree. The mother will go down the tree only when the hyena is safely away.
"Yeah, but she's just left her cub and slept?"
As night falls, we decide to look around for the leopard and cub next day, if possible.
The leopard is down from the tree after eating, but she is still wary of the hyena.
Charles, who is familiar with all the leopards in the Conservancy, tells us that the leopard has a cub about six
weeks old. Hyenas can attack cubs, but this one is old enough to run and hide.
The tail is an important part of a leopard's communication toolkit. A raised tail often indicates excitement and
alertness.
As the tourists watch, the leopard walks away to the den, where a cub is waiting.
Next, the Simba lion story.
"very hungry these ones. Can see the belly".
The Mara has approximately 900 lions. Most of them live in conservancies.
"Is another one coming?"
The lionesses are getting ready for a hunt in the night.
Next day, the lionesses are off to join their pride where other members are resting.
The pride has had a meal in the night. The lion is licking his beard and do not miss the blood on the lioness.
Charles tells us they killed a warthog in the night. After hyenas eat the leftover bones, there will be nothing left of the warthog. There is an inset of a warthog.
Time to look for the third big cat, Duma, the cheetah.
The cheetah has spotted a topi at a distance and is trying to reach the target taking cover of the jeeps.
Alas! Chiti! You have been spotted!
"Oh, if it knew the cheetah was there, it would have left. Sometimes they tend to come very close, but they keep distance
just to let the predator know they have been spotted."
"He's looking in the wrong direction completely."
She has decided to stalk the impalas now.
Again, she has been seen by the impalas.
Better luck in the night cheetah.
Time for us to say bye bye to Motorogy Conservancy and take the Safari Link plane to Nairobi.
Join this channel to get access to perks:
/ @susansharma-wildbytestv

[@ShivaniThakur-zq7yb]

best place to spot all three big cats. will definetely for conservancy when I visit Masai Mara

[@shashisharma1345]

Leopard, Lion and Cheeta are the trinity at Masai-Maran. Seeing them in close proximity is a treat for the eyes. The cubs and their movements will steal all hearts

[@garythegman9680]

B.S.