The Explorer
February 2002
News from the Bush!

The drive across the open rolling plains of Gol and up into The Ngaroi is at its most breathtaking with Wildebeest and Zebra herds in their hundreds of thousands scattered amongst the new emerald grasses and wild flowers of the short grass plains. First recorded Wildebeest birth in The Ngaroi this year happened on the 16th January on the plains in front of camp on a sunny but cool morning under a clear blue sky.

Despite increased activity from Hyaena during the previous evenings Night Game Drive the new born calf in typical Wildebeest fashion was up on its wobbling legs within five minutes to join with its mother and immerse themselves back into the herd.

Zebra and Gazelle calving were also in abundance with young ones numbering well across the plains. During one groups exciting encounter with a Lion kill a new born Grants Gazelle was spotted just 4 metres from the feasting lions hiding amongst a thicket of shrubs. Lying stock still the young one miraculously escaped detection whilst the concerned Grants Mother snorted loudly from a safe distance in an attempt to keep the lions attention away from the hidden baby.

The concern for the delay in the rains appearing this year has been well and truly quashed with deluges recorded across the Serengeti from Moru to Kirawira and all the way north to Lobo and Kleins.

Historically this is the time for the short rains which brings life to the parched grasslands across the Serengeti in short sharp relatively light bursts however this year we are witnessing an increased amount of rain falling during the short storms.

Despite the wetness of the plains game viewing has been little affected with great sightings across the board!

Godfrey and Mzee had a lot of success on their last safari with Cheetah presenting themselves nicely, one individual Cheetah, safe during the heat of the day away from the sleeping Lions and Hyaena, put on a hunt spectacle that lasted for well over an hour resulting in the despatch of a full grown Thomson's Gazelle.

Naiman has also been doing rather well with his private safaris with the last one bringing in 4 of the Big Five on the first days drive from the arrival airstrip to camp!

Sebastian, just prior to his departure for the Olympic Award ceremonies also came up trumps during the Levene Safari with one of the guests coining a new phrase for Elephant close encounters whilst videoing the mock charge of one Matriarch! Watch this space for the announcement of the phrase after the censors have made their decision!!

True Walking Safaris and Fossil Beds!

As mentioned in the January Explorer, Phillip Ashby's expertise conducting our foot safaris has been highly praised by all that have had the pleasure to walk with him this season. Phillip's guiding abilities revolve around getting up close and personal with whatever game presents itself on his guided walks.

However this past month Phillip has added the category of Archaeologist to his CV with the exciting discovery of Fossil Remains exposed under a small cliff along one of Phillip's favourite walking routes! So far femurs and jawbones from as yet unidentified animals have been exposed after the hard rains.

We hope to be able to invite a team of specialists to view the fossil bed in the not too distant future and will keep you all posted as to the findings.

Conservation Award and Butterfly's

As we report, Sebastian is collecting his Spirit of the Land award from the Olympic Committee in Salt Lake after which he continues on with a short promotional tour in west and central USA before returning to Tanzania with a small team lead by Brad Stirn to collect butterflies.

The safari throughout Central and Northern Tanzania will be Brad's second adventure with us and as such will be a pioneering safari for a larger group of scientists that will return towards the end of the year.

Zanzibar or Mafia??

The Spice Isle of Zanzibar has always been a logical extension for our guests wishing to combine a little Arabic/Swahili culture with white sand beaches at the end of a safari.

This season however has seen increased interest and bookings for the more exclusive island destination of Mafia. Kinasi Lodge on the edge of the sparkling Indian Ocean waters at Chole Bay is our recommendation as an alternative to the better-known hotels on Zanzibar.

Diving on the reefs of the Mafia Marine Reserve is said to be the best on the eastern coast of Africa whilst the Persian ruins close by add a historical flavour to possible activities. Mafia has been part of the Arabia monsoon trade routes for the past 2000 years and easily lends itself as a cultural and Diving/Snorkelling alternative to the better-known Zanzibar.

News from Olerai

The silly season as we affectionately refer to the months of December until March has firmly taken hold of us all here at 'Olerai' with back to back journeys of between 2 to 11 guests on safari for up to 15 days! The overall results have been as exceptional as ever however between KLM losing bags and the Rain Gods doing there best we have had our work cut out to maintain a trouble free month!!

Marianne and I slipped out to The Ngaroi for a mid- season inspection of the crew and guides who all performed faultlessly! The added bonus of being surrounded by herds of Wildebeest and Zebra and sun- downers on top of The Ngaroi Kopjes made it all the more enjoyable!

Marianne finished off her Ngaroi experience with an early morning wake up call from a small herd of Elephants feeding close to her tent, which, much to the scepticism of Phillip and I, turned out to be true!!

And finally, having left Jo behind for the above inspection it seemed only appropriate in an industry that sells romanticism, to use Valentines Day as an excuse to drop everything and fly to the Western Corridor of the Serengeti for a surprise safari along the Grumeti River! Hunter (aged 1 and 1 week) added his input to the romantic interlude and luckily behaved himself (mostly), this puts him in good stead for the next family safari, which includes Hannah, and Jamie at the beginning of March when we will all be at The Ngaroi!

With warm wishes,

Gary