Jenny Varley

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Kenya, Maasai Mara 2019

After four nights at Kicheche Bush Camp in the Olore Motorogi Conservancy we moved to a splendid bush house for a further sixteen nights, Topi House, run by Asilia Africa. The house was superb and allowed us to have easy access to the Mara National Reserve as well as several Conservancies. The wildlife sightings were outstanding with fantastic experiences with lions, leopards, cheetah, servals, foxes, hyenas and many other typical African mammals and birds. There were many, many highlights but one which stands out was seeing a lioness with four of the tiniest cubs our guides had even seen. They were less than a week old and their eyes were still closed, and we witnessed the mother gently move them to a new den site after they had been disturbed my marauding hippos. Other great experiences were with two different lion prides both with many subadults, and we saw them playing with each other as well as with sticks and tufts of grass. We saw many different facets of the characters of hyenas; as vicious predators trying to take down zebra or snatch new-born buffalo calves, as scavengers at kills risking the wrath of lions, as tender mothers and as frolicsome animals as they played together in water. Their cackling laughter and whoops frequently kept us awake at night though!

The staff as Topi House were absolutely brilliant. Fred and Martin were amazing and hugely knowledgeable guides and seemed to know every blade of grass and bush! Mpatinga was an unbelievable spotter, able to see things by eye which we could not see even through binoculars! Isaac cooked us superb meals and James and Kileya tended us superbly, aided by several back room staff. Finally thanks to Michele Seamark at Safari Consultants for putting together such a fantastic trip.

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This lioness in Naboisho Conservancy was introducing her one remaining cub to other pride members for the first time
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This lioness in Naboisho Conservancy was introducing her one remaining cub to other pride members for the first time

lionPanthera leoafricakenyamaasai maramasai maraNaboisho Conservancy

  • These two male lions had taken down a topi, it was the rutting season so topi lose concentration and are easy prey
  • Squabbling over the carcass
  • As the lions feasted on one topi carcass other topi looked on
  • We found a lioness near the birth den suckling her four cubs. They were under one week old and their eyes were not yet open.
  • After  disturbance by hippos and rising water levels in the river, she moved the cubs to a new den
  • Slowly and gently she moved them one by one
  • Untitled photo
  • This lioness in Naboisho Conservancy was introducing her one remaining cub to other pride members for the first time
  • Meeting its aunt - all females in a pride are related
  • The introductions went well....
  • These two cubs had become separated from their mother
  • The mother approached with the third cub, snarling at the boisterous subadults as she did so
  • Running to be reunited with their mother and sibling
  • Reunited!
  • Playing with one of the patient subadult males
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