Saw the Big 5 in one day in the Mara last week!
Jul 15th, 2014, 02:55 AM
#1
Saw the Big 5 in one day in the Mara last week!
I had been seeing posts about the migration being early in the Mara this year and on 6/20 decided to book a trip leaving 7/2 (I had to time it between doing payroll at work). I emailed a camp about rates and was quoted almost June rates and then decided to email Bill Given at The Wild Source to see if he could get me in a better camp for the same rate. He came up with a great plan of staying in a 3 bedroom house with your own vehicle and full staff etc. in the OOC. All game drives were in the Mara as they are not a member of the OOC. My two daughters were able to join me and we had the best time there.
The guides were fantastic, Fred and Mpatinga. We saw 5 different leopards, 5 different cheetahs and over 60 different lions. Fred would say - today we will go look for a *whatever* and we almost always found it. That's what happened on the Big 5 day. He said we would head over towards the Sand River on the Tanzania border to see if we could see a black rhino. And we did. We were stopping under a tree to have breakfast and Fred said - There's a rhino! We were amazed! We followed him for awhile to take some pictures and then just watched as he walked across the plains. He finally walked into an area that was real brushy and full of trees where he disappeared. We had already seen elephants and buffalo and lions and finished the day with a leopard. Fred and Mpatinga had not seen the Big 5 in one day in a long time so we were all very excited.
As for the migration being early, yes it was definitely going on. Wildebeest and zebras everywhere. We saw a couple of small crossings and Fred estimated 13,000 to 15,000 at one crossing. Epic!
We were the only people at many of the sightings. Two times with gorgeous leopards (during the day, not at night), the black rhino, cheetah chase/almost kill, an altercation with lions and an injured buffalo, 4 week old cubs of the Marsh Pride, lots of lions/groups of lions, and we went out of our way to flag down another vehicle to come watch a cheetah kill.
It was a spectacular trip. But I do think the flights are longer getting home than they are going over. The last flight was 3 hours and felt like 10. But we made it and it was totally worth it. And now, it's back to the real world.
The guides were fantastic, Fred and Mpatinga. We saw 5 different leopards, 5 different cheetahs and over 60 different lions. Fred would say - today we will go look for a *whatever* and we almost always found it. That's what happened on the Big 5 day. He said we would head over towards the Sand River on the Tanzania border to see if we could see a black rhino. And we did. We were stopping under a tree to have breakfast and Fred said - There's a rhino! We were amazed! We followed him for awhile to take some pictures and then just watched as he walked across the plains. He finally walked into an area that was real brushy and full of trees where he disappeared. We had already seen elephants and buffalo and lions and finished the day with a leopard. Fred and Mpatinga had not seen the Big 5 in one day in a long time so we were all very excited.
As for the migration being early, yes it was definitely going on. Wildebeest and zebras everywhere. We saw a couple of small crossings and Fred estimated 13,000 to 15,000 at one crossing. Epic!
We were the only people at many of the sightings. Two times with gorgeous leopards (during the day, not at night), the black rhino, cheetah chase/almost kill, an altercation with lions and an injured buffalo, 4 week old cubs of the Marsh Pride, lots of lions/groups of lions, and we went out of our way to flag down another vehicle to come watch a cheetah kill.
It was a spectacular trip. But I do think the flights are longer getting home than they are going over. The last flight was 3 hours and felt like 10. But we made it and it was totally worth it. And now, it's back to the real world.
Jul 18th, 2014, 05:43 AM
#2
sundowner: This sounds fantastic. We are in the process of doing some research and there is so much info it's overwhelming. Sounds like we need to reach out to Bill Given.
I noticed that you live in TX. What part of TX? We are also in TX in the DFW area.
I noticed that you live in TX. What part of TX? We are also in TX in the DFW area.
Jul 18th, 2014, 08:40 AM
#3
I'm in the San Antonio area.
Info on Africa trips overwhelming? I have to agree!!! I just returned from my 13th trip (annual trips) and still know very little.
I learned a lot about the OOM this year because we were out all day (left at 6:15 am and got back after dark) and that gave lots of time chatting with our guides.
Info on Africa trips overwhelming? I have to agree!!!
I just returned from my 13th trip (annual trips) and still know very little. I learned a lot about the OOM this year because we were out all day (left at 6:15 am and got back after dark) and that gave lots of time chatting with our guides.
Jul 19th, 2014, 03:08 AM
#6
Deladeb, the only place I have been in February was Kenya. That trip (2007) was to several places, Meru, Laikipia, Shaba, Chyulu Hills and, of course, the Mara. I don't remember any/much rain and don't remember it being too hot. But that was a few years ago. And, I was in the Mara last week and it was supposed to be winter but it was very warm so who knows about the weather any more.
CaliNurse, the OOC is the Olare Orok/Mitogori private conservancy bordering the Mara. It is being discussed on another thread, http://www.fodors.com/community/afri...mendations.cfm
And, I was in the Mara last week and it was supposed to be winter but it was very warm so who knows about the weather any more.CaliNurse, the OOC is the Olare Orok/Mitogori private conservancy bordering the Mara. It is being discussed on another thread, http://www.fodors.com/community/afri...mendations.cfm
Jul 23rd, 2014, 10:00 PM
#7
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Sounds like a great trip, Sundowner! Bill always has great ideas and he planned my upcoming trip to Kenya, as well. I'd highly recommend him to anyone looking for a safari planner.
Deladeb, February would be a good time to go to Tanzania. Yes, it will be rather warm, but it should be between the short and long rains. There might be the occasional thunderstorm, however. The Migration herds will be in the southern Serengeti, dropping calves. We had great sightings the whole trip, even in Tarangire (over 200 elephant in one day.)
Deladeb, February would be a good time to go to Tanzania. Yes, it will be rather warm, but it should be between the short and long rains. There might be the occasional thunderstorm, however. The Migration herds will be in the southern Serengeti, dropping calves. We had great sightings the whole trip, even in Tarangire (over 200 elephant in one day.)
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