Change and Continuity in the Bush
With the world in its usual state of constant turmoil, some things never change. Across the Bush, herbivores continue to eat, mate and roam. Predators do the same, adding their deadly capabilities to the mix, creating daily dramas of life and death.
Amidst this continuity, the migration seems set in stone. Each year, wildebeest and zebra describe a loop which takes them from the Spring birthing season in the southern Serengeti into the Masai Mara during the Autumn, then back again.
Yet as we are always careful to point out, the timings and routes vary, making predictions meaningless! So let’s stick with the facts.
Central Serengeti
This year, there are still pockets of slow-moving migrants around the central Serengeti, where Roving Bushtops is based, accompanied by large herds of elands.
One of our Roving Bushtops guests took the extraordinary photo in this newsletter, showing a leopard and lion sharing the same tree. Sadly things did not end well for the leopard who jumped off – but was then attacked and killed by the lion.
Northern news
The majority of the migration has arrived in the north (near to Serengeti Bushtops) with herds flooding across the Sand River. More are bunching by the Mara river, preparing to make their own hazardous crossings from Tanzania into Kenya (not that they are aware of the geographical distinction!) and some have already crossed the Mara river.
The Tanzanian park authorities have introduced a new code of conduct for witnessing Mara river crossings: we fully support this, ensuring that visitors watch activity from a suitable distance, without intruding on the spectacle. This is good for the animals, whilst making watching river crossings more pleasant for everyone.
Game viewing
As the notes above indicate, there is always something to see, wherever you are in the Bush. For example, the resident lions and giraffes in our private Conservancy at Mara Bushtops are joined by a regular stream of elephants and plains game.
In short, game viewing has been hugely rewarding from all our camps, with most guests getting to see the Big Five.
We always stress, however, that it is the less celebrated wildlife that often leaves the greatest impression, whether through amazing beauty, plumage, interactions or unexpected sightings.
So whatever you see and whenever you see it, the simple majesty and magic of the African Bush is the tonic we all need in our increasingly complicated lives!
