This young adult male lion in South Luangwa was attacked by a crocodile in the river where the croc had the advantage and left a serious wound (inflicted about a month prior to this photo). Copyright Bill Given

Duba Plains for Big Lion Action

Duba Plains in Botswana’s Okavango Delta has long been the most reliable location to observe lions hunt as they have frequent daytime clashes with formidable buffalo. Safari tourists at Duba Plains Camp are often fortunate to watch this drama and it is not unusual for 10 or more kills to be observed in a month while far more failed hunts can be just as interesting to witness.

However, when a crocodile decided that a lion cub was a potential meal a very uncommon event was observed at Duba Plains as the prides protective nature was on full display. An incredible photographic account was featured in the Daily Mail.

Bill is now in Serengeti National Park in Tanzania. He's staying at the Lemala Mara Camp which is in the northern part of the Park. This blog post will discuss the Lemala Mara Luxury Camp in detail. For his full itinerary and links to his entire trip, click on the appropriate link below:

• Leg 1: Arrival in Nairobi, Kenya (Aug. 24th)


• Leg 2: Serengeti National Park, Tanzania - Lemala Mara Camp (Aug 25-28)
• Serengeti National Park August 27th Text Update
• Serengeti National Park Videos
• Lemala Mara Luxury Camp
• Final Serengeti Game Drive
• Leg 3: Volcanoes National Park, Rwanda (Gorilla Trekking!) - Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge (Aug 29-31)
• About Gorilla Treks
• Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge
• Leg 4: Overnight in Johannesburg (Sep 1st)


• Leg 5: Victoria Falls, Zambia - Tongabezi Safari Lodge (Sep 2-3)
• Tongabezi Lodge, Zambezi
• Leg 6: Okavango Delta, Botswana - Mapula Lodge (Sep 4-7)
• Mapula Lodge Accommodations and Guiding
• Leg 7: Okavango Delta, Botswana - Sankuyo Bush Camp (Sep 8-9)

Lemala Mara Camp

If you're keeping tabs on Bill's Summer Safari of 2009 - you probably already know that he's in the Northern Serengeti in Tanzania. The place where he's staying is Lemala Mara Camp. Lemala Mara camp is so named due to its close proximity to the Mara River. The Mara river's claim to fame is for the wildebeest crossings during the great migration. Annually, wildebeest cross from one side to the other (repeatedly) to find the best grasses to dine on. The transition from one side of the river to the other is often a dangerous one for wildebeest as the Mara river is home to crocodiles.

Vehicles at Lemala Mara Luxury Camp

Brand New Vehicles Coming to Lemala Mara Camp!

Lemala Mara Camp has new custom designed game drive vehicles to arrive this season. The vehicles are open sided vehicles which are great for game viewing. Middle seats in these vehicles are removed to give more space during game drives.

Lemala Mara Camp Accommodations

Spacious Accommodations at Lemala Mara Luxury Camp
Photo Courtesy of Lemala Luxury Camps

Featuring 9 spacious and luxurious tents, Lemala Mara Luxury Camp offers plenty to guests. Tents have large twin single beds or a king-size double bed. Running water sinks, hot bucket shower, a wooden platform floor are in each tent. The dinner tent offers a fine dining experience as well.

I hope that gives you a bit more information on where Bill is staying and gives a feel for the experiences available to him in the Serengeti. This is Bill's last day in the Serengeti. I expect another text message from him - and then he's off to Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda.

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The Wild Source's Africa Video Channel - safari videos taken by The Wild Source founder Bill Given

   

The Great Migration Affected by Weather This Year

Three Separate Groups of Wildebeest

This is an exciting time of year when every safari goer to East Africa hopes they are in "the right place" for The Great Migration. Delayed seasonal rains this year have made movements hard to predict for The Great Migration, but the fact is right now there are a lot of "right places" as the great herds of roughly a million wildebeest plus a couple hundred thousand zebras are spread widely and have split into 3 different major groups with the largest numbers still in the Western Corridor as far southwest as Grumeti, another group to the north stretching from near the Lamai Wedge and then a third group from Kogatende east to Bologonja, and there are reports from Kenya that some numbers have started to arrive in the Masai Mara.

Localized weather can have great influence on where the herds will move and thus their predicted movements
can shift suddenly do to a rain event
© Photo of herds in the Serengeti Bill Given

As of late, The Wild Source guides on the ground have seen great action in the Northern Serengeti, especially between Kogatende and Bologonja. The herds in the north are beginning to mass in that area before the bulk of the Mara River crossings will occur. Some are predicting the peak crossings are likely to begin in the next two to four weeks but its very weather dependent and things could change quickly as the herds move in another direction.

Crocodiles are a deadly obstacle for the migration, but despite the great drama and action
they provide they will only cull a miniscule portion of the herds
© Photo by Bill Given

One of Nature’s most dramatic events will soon take place as the herds brave the waters and huge crocs of the Mara River and mostly enter the Masai Mara. However, at most times an estimated 20% of the herds will remain in the Northern Serengeti (Tanzania) and as local weather dictates there may be many crossings back and forth between the Mara and the Serengeti with great action all the way through October. There is no doubt the Masai Mara is the best place to be for sheer numbers of animals but for those that want to avoid vehicle crowds and explore a large landscape largely devoid of other game drive vehicles the Northern Serengeti is a great choice, in fact one that I will visit in late August staying at Lemala Mara Camp.