Rekero
News
Throughout September the migrating herds have kept us on our feet – some heading west and others south – seemingly back to Tanzania. Local rain did bring back a vast amount of wildebeest around the 19th September. Just in time for regular visitors – The Jackson family and also Will and Donna Hepburne-Scott to see them crossing the river in camp. At the start of the month Bella was seen by clients and staff making a kill on the rocks in The Talek. She hung around for quite a few days to make a second kill in the same area .
Rainee, Rob, Hans, Gerard, Christiane and Jackson, old and new faces of Rekero reunite.
3rd September
Hans and Christiane Doerrie returned to Rekero after 20 years. They stayed at Rekero in 1988. This was at Rekero Cottages – hosted by Gerard’s father – Ron. Their spotter at the time was a young Jackson Looseyia! Also part of the 1988 crew was Philip Kiplangat – he was a night watchman at the time. He moved into the kitchen shortly afterwards and is now the most experienced chef and staff member at Rekero.
4th September
Yael, Liza and Lorraine Raife – all keen photographers – are guided by Daniel Sopia. They witness a cheetah kill after persevering in the hot sun.
Repeat clients – Gerard and Annick Frejaville find a loan female cheetah
Photograph by Annick
whilst being guided by Fred. Fred is convinced she has cubs. They follow her for 5 hours ! They watched her stalk and hunt, until she eventually returned to her hideaway – where they found she had cubs. She had a litter of 6 – however, in the middle of them was a 7m long python that had already killed 2 of the cubs. The Frejavilles and Fred watched as the mother fought with the python, which made off up a tree. The mother then moved all 6 cubs to a place of safety. This was particularly amazing for Gerard and Annick. On one of their previous visits they saw another python killing and eating a Dik Dik – again guided by Fred – pretty unbelievable stuff !
Richard and Faye Michaelides – also repeat clients – saw a leopard kill whilst driving into camp from the airstrip ! Also Joan Williams’ saw 6 leopard in 3 days !!!
8th September
Nancy Phillips and travelling companion Karen Schmidt return to Rekero with a group of friends. They see 2 different black rhino on one morning game drive as well as “our” 3 cheetah brothers. They are also amongst the many guests that benefit from the tremendous luck we are having with leopard sightings this season.
9th September
Jasmine Montgomery and her friend Stephanie spend consecutive evening game drives sitting and relaxing with Snaggle Tooth and his pride of 11 lioness’s and cubs.
Photography MVP
11th September
Mark Wilson and Elizabeth Kirkergaarde followed a young leopard along the ridge just outside camp as she wandered through orange leaf croton.
Photography MVP
14th September
Sandy and Nean, guided by John found Snaggle tooth and one of his lioness’s down by the Mara. In sight on the far bank were the other lioness’s and cubs who had crossed the day before in search of food. The morning light and the crisp clean air gave a great environment.
Photography MVP
18th September
Gary and Barb Lister return to Rekero for a third visit. They are guided by Jimmy. The last time Gary was here he took some amazing photos of 3 cheetah brothers (see archived newsletter for September 2006). Almost on cue – 3 different cheetah brothers appeared on the ridge by camp during lunch. Gary and Barb along with John Minney’s group all hot footed it out of camp to monitor the progress of these cheetah. They watched all afternoon until the brothers made an attempt to kill a young wildebeest. However – the mother came to the rescue and this time the youngster was lucky. Not so the next morning when Gary and Barb picked up the 3 brothers again – near the Rongai River. This time they made a successful kill !
21st September
Will and Donna Hepburne Scott guided by Dickson along with Tim, Kate and Edward Jackson all witness a pretty incredible spectacle as literally hundred's of thousands of wildebeest massed to cross the Rongai River. Despite the fact that this would probably not be considered particularly treacherous - it really demonstrates how these animals are compelled to create safety in numbers in such a situation. To see that amount of wildebeest channel themselves single file was really a sight to behold.
Photographs Rob Stowers
23 rd – 27th September
Rebecca and David Pearse have some great wildlife viewing whilst on their first visit to Rekero. They saw leopard, 3 separate Cheetah (one with cubs), Lions with cibs as well as a mating pair. Below are some of the images from their safari :
Two zebra stallions fighting in the Musiara Marsh area : a baby giraffe ; a male lion growls ; Giraffe watch over the great Mara plains ; a cheetah looks for cover for her and her 5 cubs as heavy rain sets in ; a Ground Hornbill takes flight ; a Crowned Crane grazes and finally a Rock Agama Lizard sits out in the heat of the day.
 
 
Photography (above) Martin V Pearse, (below) David V Pearse
Photograph Martin V Pearse
Also big news this month is that Rekero’s very own Jackson Looseyia is presenting Big Cat Live alongside Jonathan Scott, Simon King and Kate Silverton. Big Cat Live will be starting on Sunday 5th October at 6:10pm on BBC 1 and will run until the 12th October. For more information follow the link:
www.bbc.co.uk/bigcat/presenters/jacksonlooseyia
 
Salaams from all at Rekero
Rekero Camp Newsflash
Big Cat Live: 5-12 October
On Sunday 5th October 2008 Jackson Looseyia, who many of you have met over the years, will be presenting Big Cat Live on The BBC. This is The BBC Natural History Unit’s most ambitious outside broadcast ever. Jackson will join regular presenters – Jonathan Scott and Simon King – along with new presenter Kate Silverton. Jackson will be part of the “Other Animals” team – which is likely to predominantly concentrating on Leopard. We have already heard from Jackson that they have had some good leopard sightings close to Rekero Camp. I am sure you will join us in wishing Jackson all the best of luck in his exciting new venture! Keep updated with what is going on by clicking on the link below:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/bigcat/
Kate Silverton and Jackson Looseyia
Rekero Camp Newsleter – August 2008
Click here to download pdf
Rekero Camp Newsleter – July 2008
This month we’ve seen the migration arrive here in the Mara and the unbelievable spectacle of so many wildebeest moving en mass has been breath taking but the arrival of the herds has given the cats the chance to come back in full force.
3rd July
The young female leopard down by The Rongai is seen by the Ball family eating a Tommy in tree. Other Rekero guests stayed with her while she ate and watched two male lions chase her off the kill. They then struggled to get to the kill in the tree !
6th July
The Crosbie-Dawson family see a male lion in a tree; he looked a little uncomfortable and seemed stuck! Unfortunately they had to move on and didn’t see the outcome, as lions are notorious for their inability to climb down, and often end up falling !
Photo : by Annabelle Crosbie Dawson
Manya, Calla, and Andrew had a great viewing over the Mara River as the Wildebeest were seen jumping off the tall banks into the water where the waiting crocs tried their best to drag them down.
7th July
Rob, Gemma and Annabelle watch lions drinking in the Talek and walking through the grass by torch light from the camp fire.
11th July
A noisy night in Rekero with Leopard, Lions, Hyena, Buffalo, Elephants and Hippos coming in and around camp, the resulting noises gave everyone a fantastic audio back drop for their night.
15th July
While at lunch Sue Harper spots the three Cheetah brothers, Snap, Crackle and Pop cross the Talek river, just down from camp.
17th July
Sue and Ed Harper, guided by Fred and with Rakita as spotter, found the three Cheetah boys to the south past The Rongai. They had just brought down a wildebeest and over the next 4 hours they just sat with the cheetahs watching them recover their breath, feed and also seek shelter from the heat of the day by going under their vehicle.
 
Sue films the Cheetahs behaviour to share with her biology students back home.
20th – 23rd July
David and Leslie Irish had an amazing 3 days, aided by Fred. Their relaxed and patient approach to Safari yielded a spectacular visit. While with us they saw the big 5 as well as the 3 cheetah brothers. Other highlights were seeing a Sykes monkey, only a handful of our guides have ever been lucky enough to see a one in the Mara. They also loved watching and taking in the magnitude of the Migration.
 
Images Above: Two of the three cheetahs survey the plains, A young male lion walks past Rekero tent 5, and 3 Black rhino out on the Plains, a male (right) mother (middle) and calf (left) an unbelievable sighting for such a timid solitary animal!
Images Below: A young male play fights with a mature lioness, the young Rongai leopard takes her meal deeper into cover as night draws in.
24th July
A great day of lions, large numbers near camp all day with prides of seven seen up on the ridge opposite camp. One female chose to sleep a little way up in tree to try and get a bit of a breeze.
Also to benefit from the Migration are the Hyenas, Vultures; of which we see Rüppell’s Griffon, African White-backed, White headed and Lappet-faced.
26th July
Sandy and John see a female cheetah in the morning, on a small kill (a hare) and watch her walk off through the grass before crossing the Talek River and bounding up the opposite bank. And that evening see a female leopard on a Tommy kill.
A common Bulbul attacks its own reflection in the vehicles wing mirror while guests are enjoying a picnic breakfast.
Rakita watches a cheetah rest under his window.
 
Salaams from all the Rekero Team.
Rekero Camp Migration Newsflash
July 2008
The migration is now starting to arrive in full flow. Wildebeest and zebra are following the rains north across the Mara plains and have to brave the river crossings. An exciting time ahead for all those coming on safari at this spectacular time of year. The predators have waited for over half a year for the migration to return and will be looking forward to taking advantage of nature’s rather large mobile larder !
Photographs : Annabel Crosbie Dawson , Martin Vivian Pearse
Rekero Camp Newsletter – June 2008
Photo : Martin Pearse
June has been a fantastic start to the season. The plains are a golden glow with swaying grass which was going to push our guides observational skills to the limit to see what they could find! But right from the beginning we seemed to be seeing more leopard, lions and cheetah than anyone had hoped for. The plains game are starting to gather with the smaller Loita migration of zebra and wildebeest from the East having arrived and sightings of the larger migration from the Serengeti being seen on the southern plains. The famous crossings of the Mara River have already started!
8th June
Our first arrivals, Mike and Jo Strong set off to break ground, they found the Paradise plains teaming with game, and in the midst of it all two lions mating, and looking on, not far off, five male lions sat in the shade.
Photo : Martin Pearse
9th June
The Haggard family had a great morning’s drive, they saw two male lions on a kill made the night before, a small group of hyena came back looking for a meal but the two big males lions kept them well at bay before the hyenas gave up and headed on. The Haggards also saw a Cheetah on a termite mound ove-looking the plains; but she wasn’t hunting just surveying the plains. Further on they saw another kill, but with no predators in sight the vultures were feeding on the kill, two lappet faced vultures flew in and bossed all the other vultures off the kill. On the way back in to camp just as the sun was dropping Mike and Jo Strong followed three female lions stalking wildebeest, unfortunately the females lost the element of surprise and after a small chase left the wildebeest to stampede away.
That evening a Yellow Winged Fruit Bat flew into the mess tent just when the table was being laid, he flew around and around and unfortunately couldn’t find his way out again. He eventually tired and Martin had to help him out.
Photo : Martin Pearse
10th June
Because of the lush grass, large herds of Elephants are happily roaming the plains. A smaller herd came and visited camp in the early afternoon, they drank on the far bank before slowly working their way down the Talek river feeding and wading across to our side of the bank as the guests had Tea and Brownies before their afternoon game drives.
Photo : Martin Pearse
Our first sighting of Bella, Rekero Camp’s semi resident leopard, she was found by Mike and Jo Strong, who seemed to have an eye for leopards as they saw three different leopard in three days. She looked hungry and after a while climbed down the tree and set off determinedly across the plains into the evening.
 
Photos : Martin Pearse
11th June
In the evening after dinner there were so many elephants in camp, that we couldn’t get back to our tents. After watching and listening to the elephants feeding we decided the elephants weren’t going anywhere fast and so we had to do shuttle runs of people to tents using the Game Drive vehicles.
15th June
A smaller visitor came in to camp; a beautiful tree frog was seeking shelter from the sun and had a little trip around the office tent before being caught and released into a shadier part of camp.
 
Photos : Martin Pearse
19th June
Kim Stone-Wigg, a friend of Rekero, who helped out last season and has spent family holidays here in the past, teams up with her old friend and field guide Jimmy to see what she could find. On Paradise plains they spotted a cheetah keeping a low profile in the grass and seemed to be stalking some Impala. After a failed attempt the Cheetah moved on closer to the Mara River, John and Doreen Lloyd soon took over from Kim and followed the Cheetah with Henry their guide, and witnessed a new stalk and the successful kill of a Thompson Gazelle.
 
Photos : Martin Pearse
Kim and Jimmy had travelled over to the Mara River and managed to watch 300 Zebra cross at Main Crossing, the large crocodiles started to slide into the river and move into position. The larger Zebras, although being attacked by the crocodiles managed to cross, a few smaller zebras however didn’t do so well, nor did the far smaller Thompson’s gazelles who, after watching their first few pioneers get eaten by the crocodiles, decided not to cross.
Photo : Martin Pearse
Returning from the morning game drive there was a lioness sat on her own a few minutes from camp. On the afternoon drive, while looking for her near to where she had been seen in the morning, the Lloyds found a lioness with 3 cubs, only a month or two old.
 
Photos : Martin Pearse
Over the afternoon both the Lloyds and Kim managed to see a big male leopard sleeping in the sun by the river, a large herd of elephants crossing the plains, buffalo wallowing in a deep gully not far from the lioness with cubs and found fresh black rhino midden. So close to the big five in one afternoon!
Photo : Martin Pearse
20th June
Plains game are really thriving - with the long grass and large herds of eland and Topi roaming the plains are a spectacular sight, prompting some of the more experienced guides, such as John and Jimmy to comment that these are some of the largest herds they have ever seen.
The Babington family came on a flying visit and only stayed for one night. After a successful game drive of elephants, buffalo, giraffe and lions we couldn’t have asked for a better sun downer, on a small eastern plain near the Mara River a young leopard was sat on a termite mound, not far away two male lions sat looking at impala, eland and ostrich. In the mix a few spotted hyena turned up and started to trot amongst the plains game. Just as the sun was about to set and a hippo and small calf came emerged from the river.
Photo : Martin Pearse
22nd June
A really busy day had by all, while Gerard returns to camp from Rekero Cottages, a few of the staff accompanying him in the vehicle are lucky enough to see a Servel kill a White Browed Coucal just outside Rekero Camp. Ray and Carol George see the big 5 on their afternoon game drive, Giraffe cross the Talek River in front of Rekero, followed not long after by 10 zebra including a very young foal. That night a Leopard came into camp and everyone had a great audio of his rasping call in the midnight hours.
23rd June
Bataluer eagle flies down the river being mobbed by smaller birds, she had to just dodging a weaving and flew really low in attempt to get away, just managing to keep hold of the snake she had clasped in her beak.
Photo : Martin Pearse
24th June
Sat around the fire, a few splashes were heard in the Talek River, upon inspection 10 hyena are seen walking along the opposite bank, one by one they crossed the river as we watched by torch light, and walked up the near bank. They gathered round watching us by the camp fire before trotting off into the darkness.
Moon rise, Photo : Martin Pearse
25th June
While out down by the Mara watching crocodiles sunning, Martin and John heard a commotion in the water downstream. As they watched, a big bull hippo bounded around the pod whilst all the other hippos were making a lot of noise. Finally the bull hippo slowed and stood still it was only then that it could be seen he had something in his mouth, at first it was thought a crocodile had got to close and felt threatened but it soon emerged that a hippo calf had got on the wrong side of a new territorial bull. Unfortunately the calf did not survive. This was a real reminder of how some animals struggle to survive.
27th June
Whilst around the camp fire the local Hyena clan could be heard in very high spirits. A quick investigation with the torch revealed up to 10 all surrounding a hippo that was seeking the sanctuary of the river. During dinner their cackling continued and eventually tailed off. The next day, whilst at lunch, the same hippo was seen out of the water on the opposite bank. It had a very bad injury to it's shoulder. This is likely to have been caused by the hyena's the previous evening. Hippos do not like being in the water when they have injuries like this as the fish irritate them nibbling at the wound.
We are looking forward to the imminent arrival of the herds of Wildebeest and hope to bring news of this very soon.
Salaams from all at Rekero.
Rekero Camp Newsletter February 2008
Photos : Pam Keeble
We have had another exciting month in the Mara with guests enjoying a great variety of game and some exciting experiences on their drives. This seems to have been the month for cats, with excellent Leopard, Serval, and Cheetah sightings, as well as a sighting of the elusive Caracal, guests have also had the pleasure of watching numerous lions mating, as well a Hippo! The weather has been beautiful with some rain, so the Mara is looking incredibly green, but with perfect clear sunny days. As well as activity outside of camp there has been a lot within the camp, which we often forget to report. We have a group of dwarf Mongoose who seem to have taken up residence here and are often seen by guests near the mess area and around tents 5 and 6, as well as being seen drinking by the river on occasions, and two leopard tortoise's, as well as numerous species of birds. We have also had some fantastic river crossings by camp including Giraffe, Zebra and Cheetah!
7th February
Ken and Marta Johnson and their friends Jane and Clark Hinkley were out on a drive and saw a huge python as well as seeing two leopards, one of which had made a warthog kill and had taken it up a nearby tree.
8th February
Our regular guests Sir Charles and Lady Margaret Pringle who are guided by Jimmy and Rakita had an amazing morning drive coming back after a few hours having seen Leopard, Cheetah and Serval!
9th February
After hearing numerous stories of Leopard sightings Rob and Claire stepped out of camp to see if they could find them, after just a 15 minute drive with Risa as the spotter there was a beautiful male leopard laying under some brush, how Risa spotted him I do not know, as you can see below he was well camouflaged! On the way back to camp there was a great sighting of a Serval cat, which seems to have included the Rekero area in its territory as he is quite regularly seen.
Photo : Claire Allard
11th February
Terry and Carol Young and friends Nick and Liz Scrimshaw, who had John guiding them had an exciting morning’s drive. John took them to an area called main crossing as he had noticed over the days that there was a significant herd of Zebra wanting to cross the Mara river. After a time John noticed that whilst the Zebra were on the opposite side of the river to the car that there were lions on both sides of the river, just waiting patiently.....as the Zebra start to cross the lions made their move steadily following a distance behind them, as they reach the other side two lions managed to take down a young Zebra each, which just happened to take place either side of their vehicle!
 
Photos : Nick Scrimshaw
There was more excitement a little closer to camp that afternoon, during tea guests were treated to a Leopard casually walking just on the other side of the river in full view of everyone at the mess tent!
13th February
Carole Steppe, who has spent time with us before brought her friends David and Susie, saw a lioness take a new born Impala, who had been hidden in the grass by its mother. The lioness picked the Impala up and carried it a little way before putting it on the ground, everyone was then expecting that the Impala would be killed but instead the lioness proceeded to lick it. After a short time somehow it managed to escape her paws and run a a little way, soon to be recaptured, but again she made no attempt to kill it, sometimes mothers will catch a small Impala and take it to her cubs for them to "experiment" with, but, it seemed in this case that was not the motivation. Following on from that whilst having sundowners they were entertained by two male Hippo tussling with each other!
Photo : David Mason
14th February
Whilst sitting at the breakfast table with the Watts family we suddenly saw about 10 Zebra cross the Talek, the water has been fairly fast flowing from the rain we have had so it was hard work getting across, but the group seemed to be doing well until one decided to turn around and come back the other way, to its detriment it was pulled a little down river by the current into a calmer stretch or water, we then lost sight of it behind some rocks, and did not see it come up the bank or go further down river, so we can only assume that a crocodile was lying in wait.
15th February
We thought we could not compete with a Zebra crossing at breakfast but, this morning we witnessed the three big Cheetah brothers: Tom, Dick and Harry crossing the Talek; it makes you realise how vast their territory stretches, we then had a magnificent view of them strolling along the plains.
The Watts family who were only able to stay with us for two days managed to see the "big 5" as well as 4 Serval cats and a Caracal with two cubs, which are incredibly difficult cats to see, it just highlights what amazing game viewing opportunities there are in just a short space of time!
17th February
Another regular guest of Rekero's, Pam Keeble, was here being guided by Fred, and saw amongst many things a Serval eating a Cobra! A brave cat.....
Serval – Photo by Pam Keeble
20th February
Dick and Carol Caughey arrived from Ol Kiombo airstrip having seen three different Leopard on the fifteen minute drive to camp!
24th February
5th time repeat visitor Terry Begg and his friends embarked on a morning game drive with Fred and James. After a short time they came across the three largest cheetah brothers that are often seen in the area. (there are actually 3 groups of 3 cheetah brothers that are seen around The Mara - they seem to have covered vast distances over the months). This was in the vicinity of Rhino Ridge. Initially it looked like they were focussed on taking a Grant's gazelle. However - one of the three split off and made a run for a Reed Buck. This pushed it directly towards the other two cheetah who took their chance and made the kill. It is fascinating to have been able to follow the story of these three cheetah brothers over the last couple of years - let's hope their success continues.
27th February
Fran and John Loveland and Claire had a treat when they spotted a cheetah, moments from camp trying, unsuccessfully, to find a meal.
Photo : Claire Allard
28th February
Whilst on a game drive with John and Rakita, Dick and Joni Chappa, Georgia Ball and Claire spotted the most recent additions to the ridge pride, 6 lion cubs, a few months old at most, they were incredibly entertaining to watch, still very wobbly on their feet, jumping and biting each other, before trying to find their mother for a suckle, the males were spotted close by, one of which is famous in camp as he has a tooth that has somehow been damaged and hangs neatly from his mouth!
 
Photo : Claire Allard
Until next month Salaams form all at Rekero!
Its been a very difficult start to the year for Kenya, we are all deeply saddened by the problems that have arisen since the elections and the effect this has had on the country, but hope that the issues will be resolved shortly.
Life in the Mara and Rekero is as peaceful as always, with exceptional game viewing and very few vehicles to share the game with!
We had fun and games in camp (quite literally) with the Petrie family who stayed with us at the beginning of January, Risa and several other spotters spent afternoon’s whittling spears and daggers out of wood with Lucy and John’s 5 children, and taught them to use a bow and arrow, so all in camp were particularly cautious when walking to the mess tent for tea!
Friday 18th January 2008
Gerard and Annick Frejaville have visited Rekero Camp many times and are regularly guided by Fred. They seem to have the most incredible luck whenever they go out on a game drive. On only their second afternoon they saw the three cheetah brothers kill a baby Thompson's Gazelle! During their stay they also had fantastic sightings of Leopard and Black Rhino - which have been quite consistent this month.
Photo: Annick Frejaville
Saturday 19th January 2008
Canadian brothers Chris and Jim Dean and their traveling companion Joanne Embree have quite an action packed morning. Not only that but Gerard and Annick are close by to witness the same events. It starts off with another cheetah kill - the three brothers again take down a baby wildebeest. After this everyone decides to take their picnic breakfast. Only a short while after they have sat down a clan of about 20 Hyena are seen gathering on the horizon. Everyone quickly packed up their things and set off to investigate. Gerard and Annick arrived just in time to see the hyena steal a warthog kill from some lions. The hyena weren't satisfied with their quarrie and moments later spotted another warthog. They gave chase, but the warthog very quickly went into hiding underground. This didn't deter the hyena and one managed to dig fairly vigorously and drag the warthog out! It was only seconds before the rest of the clan piled in for as much as each of them could grab; an incredible period of game viewing in The Mara and even Dickson Keretu (guiding the Canadians) said he hadn't seen action like that in such a short period of time!
Photo: Chris Dean
Tuesday 22nd January 2008
Chris and Adrienne Tye were being guided by the experienced James Sengeny. They came across a full grown hippo that was out of the river, not only that, but 5 lions gave chase. Initially it looked like the hippo didn't think the lions were serious - little did it know! The 5 lions then proceeded to try their best to bring the beast down as it tried it's best to make it's way to the river, clambering all over the back of the animal. Eventually it made it to the sanctuary of the river and needless to say the battle was over.
Sunday 27th January 2008
Neil and Elizabeth Johnson and their daughter Lottie spotted 18 lion on their morning game drive looking content and full, it never ceases to amaze us just how many prides of lion there are in the area and how well they are all doing.
Monday 28th January 2008
On this particular afternoon a leopard was spotted by Ian Johnson who is involved with the filming of the BBC’s Big Cat diary, she was seen with a Impala kill up a tree initially, and then, after patiently waiting, guests were entertained by her antics around their vehicles; according to the Johnson family who joined Ian she was acting as if undertaking a Big Cat Diary audition! We have spotted her several times since, so it seems she has made the area part of her territory.
31st January 2008
On a sadder note, The Clements family were out on a evening game drive and spotted the lioness’ with the 9 cubs whom we mentioned in December’s newsletter, sadly there seem now to be only 6, they had been seen attempting to cross the river into another prides territory several weeks ago, which is always a dangerous gamble. It is still an incredible achievement to keep 6 safe with the number of predators around. The third lioness who is with the group is due to give birth shortly, which is great news.
Catlin Lepper was joined on an afternoon game drive by Rob and Claire - whilst taking a break from the vehicle to stretch their legs and take a look at a small pod of Hippo, Jimmy their guide calmly pointed to the river bank they were standing by, everyone looked across and within 10 feet was a huge crocodile crawling its way down to the river, it soon noticed the group and after freezing for several seconds, took a giant leap into the river, it is incredible how fast they can be!
Photo: Claire Allard
We have been spoilt by the great variety of animals seen from camp, Ann and Tom Mercer who have been to Rekero many times spent an hour or so after lunch watching giraffe debating whether to cross the river just near the mess tent, after much deliberation they all made it tentatively to the other side!
There seems to be as much night time activity as always, Hippo and Buffalo are enjoying the lush grass around the camp, Elephant have been heard passing through and just last night lion were calling very close to the tents, in response the Zebra started braying joined by baboons barking, it made for a restless nights sleep!
We have had some fantastic storms, with lighting illuminating the night sky which is always exciting to watch from the camp fire. The Mara is looking wonderfully green in comparison to other areas further North, looking back at last years newsletter its hard to believe what a contrast we are experiencing now, in January 2007 the Talek river was literally bursting its banks which meant game drives had to be conducted in more limited areas, most noticeably we could not cross over the river, this year levels are normal so we are able to game drive around the Rongai river, with guests enjoying breakfast’s on lookout hill; a beautiful area very popular with our guides, Leopard and Black Rhino have been seen in recent weeks along with the Rongai pride, a large group of lion, all of which look like they have been through the wars but obviously still doing well there!
photo: Rob Stowers
Due to the clear days we have experienced this month we have had beautiful sunrises and sunsets which of course aside from the animals is a classic image of Africa, and you never get tired of seeing them!
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Photo: Rob Stowers
Until next month, Salaams from all at Rekero!
Rekero Camp Newsflash
Two regular repeat clients – Gerard and Annick Frejaville were considering cancelling their trip to The Mara, however after reassurance from the Rekero team that The Mara game reserve was unaffected by the recent political issues in the country they decided to travel. As well as barely seeing another tourist they saw three cheetah brothers make kills on consecutive days. Below are some of the highlights :
Rekero Camp
New Year 2008 News Letter
Happy Christmas !
There has been a lot going on in Rekero Camp since the last news letter. The most notable change from this time last year is the weather ! Exactly a year ago The Talek was close to bursting it’s banks, whereas now the situation could not be more different. When camp opened on the 7th December there was hardly a green blade of grass to be seen. Since then, we have been lucky enough to receive enough rain to make the whole Mara green and lush again, without it causing any of the problems associated with the wet weather last year. There have been some amazing sunrises and sunsets – about as typically African as you can get.
There was some very enthusiastic Maasai singing at sundowners on the beach by the river followed by plenty of fun and games after dinner.
Some of the wildlife highlights over the festive period have included – a Zebra giving birth on Rhino Ridge – seen on the 22nd December by The Russell family with James Sengeny as their guide.
Repeat guests – The Keebles were incredibly lucky on their 2 night stay – not only did they see the Big 5, but they saw 3 Cheetah kill a wildebeest and a leopard kill an Impala on the same morning’s game drive !
Over New Year the camp was taken over by a family group organised by Debo Gage. They took a very pleasant walk in the bush on New Year’s Eve. On New Year’s day half the group visited Daniel Sopia’s village where his brother was getting married. While the other half went for a game drive. The game drivers were lucky enough to see a hippo being born while there was a lot learnt by the wedding guests at the Sopia Boma.
Young Maasai Bride - Photo : Rob Stowers
Another wildlife highlight was a good scrap between two Lioness’ and Hyenas. Approximately 11am in the bright sunhsine two Lioness’ were found finishing off a Zebra kill. They were surrounded by about 10 Hyena and 50 to 75 vultures. After chasing off a rival clan of Hyena the group waiting in the wings had managed to build up enough courage to go in to grab what was left. After much whooping and cackling they took their chance and swiped what was left. They weren’t the only ones doing the swiping as one of the front line took an angry paw in the face from one of the lioness’. The altercation didn’t last long. One of the Hyena’s took one last blow before the cats ran for the hills – they’d certainly had the lions share anyway and this left the scavengers fighting amongst themselves for about the next 20 minutes !!
Photo : Claire Allard
One other exciting piece of news is that one of the local prides of lions are currently raising 9 cubs ! They’ve been seen on a number of occasions out in the open playing and fighting in the mornings and evenings. Let’s hope they manage to survive against the ever difficult odds.
Photo : Claire Allard
Happy New Year from all the Rekero team !
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