The end of October came and went, and we are now into February!
Last year’s prolonged dry season took its toll; there was not a blade of grass to be seen in the area! The Maasai had a very hard time too, and the cattle and goats in particular did a very thorough job of the undergrowth and bushy stuff around Masek.
Finally all of 147 mm – better than average – rains came in November, turning our rather barren-looking environment into the nicest fresh green! And just when everybody started to be optimistic on the prediction front the rains stopped again.
December came and although luckily we had a few refreshing showers before Christmas when guests arrived in big numbers, it did not do much for the flora! Except, this year the acacia tortilis have come into flowers with a vengeance, and the area truly looked a picture, especially when you photographed the pale white bursts of flowers against those local dark thunderstorm clouds!
Still, we were better off than most…. While the wildebeest migration and plains animals hang around Seronera and Moru, here the Ndutu cats stole the show and there were fantastic cheetah sightings, with several females with cubs and the three males at the marsh. And this season, the Ndutu leopards are coming out of the woodwork too, and guests have shown me beautiful pictures, both in, up and out of trees!
The lion situation is still a bit confused with the Masek pride seen roaming along the Kusini track in the south. The pride as far as we can gather now consists of 2 males and 7 females with 9 cubs varying in age…and their movements remain somewhat erratic.
The Marsh pride seems to have split and at the moment only 3 females are seen there, no doubt there will be changes soon and we will keep our ears, eyes and nose to the ground!
Twice during drives in the area, the mostly nocturnal and often shy aardwolf was seen, a very special treat in this area!
Then late January rain arrived, again mostly in the form of localized thunderstorms, and brought all the wildebeest and zebra back into the Ndutu area.
Yes, the Lake is here again, and right after the first big storm and water running through the long Gulley into the lake, the first flamingos arrived! At the moment there are a few pelicans too and shorebirds have returned as well.
And what a bit of rain can do: out of nowhere there are butterflies, the frogs and toads croak, the swallows start their mud nests, the Abdim’s storks appear in numbers and the ants are into building mode.
I find hearing the wildebeest come almost more impressive than actually seeing the beasts! This heavy drone filling the air…and then the first view of a gnu line between the Lodge and the Lake at breakfast! There is the smell of fresh dung and grazing sounds at night when some herds move right near the Lodge! Calving is now in full progress and guests are starting to bring back the usual sad stories of lost calves and females dying in birth; these incidents are alternated with fantastic experiences of long lines along the beach of Lake Ndutu, of kills, of cars entirely surrounded as far as the eye can see with wildebeest!
Flocks of wattled starlings have returned, terns fly by and at times cattle egrets come and sit on the top of the acacias near the garage.
Walking around the Lodge some days ago, suddenly high up above me I heard the cry of the fish eagle! This beautiful eagle is not that common in Ndutu, so that was exciting!
I was lucky to the other day when I was watching our lesser masked weavers. Every year they start building nests next and over our Workshop, and the unmistakable noise that accompanies their frantic weaving with all manner of nest material is amazing to observe. As I was standing almost under some nests, suddenly a didric’s cuckoo shot into the narrow opening of the tube-type entry and disappeared. A female weaver followed instantly and for about ten minutes the nest moved back and forth, and I presume an egg was deposited.
Eventually the didric’s flew out and off, leaving some beautiful feathers fluttering down to my feet! Actually, since I noticed quite a few didric’s there all the time I presume they have decided that the weavers are one of their top “victims”!!
So, one masked weaver couple is going to have a great time soon, feeding a very demanding oversized youngster in somewhat crammed surroundings!
On several mornings during the past week a small herd of 11 elephants regularly meandered in the front of the Lodge, mostly mums and various-sized elephant babies! Such a treat, with, in the distance, flamingos as a background!
During mid January we organised a “goodbye” party! Our four oldest “wazee” are retiring, and Thomas, Joseph, Kepa and Tadeo were invited back so we could pay them their so well- deserved retirement respects!
The usual drink and pilau dinner was accompanied by speeches and more speeches and “thank you’s” and all at Ndutu enjoyed this special get-together! We shall of course miss them very much after they have worked at Ndutu for so many years, but they do so deserve their well-earned rest now. We all wish them many more peaceful years amongst their family and at home!
The Lodge is very busy, guests are seeing wonderful things and Serengeti as always is as magic as can be!
Aadje,
February 2008
