November this year has been an unusually wet month. We have seen noticeable extensive movements, primarily within the plains wildlife species, as they shift to other favourable regions.

Elephant numbers have been impressive and towards the end of the month we observed great numbers moving into the Ikorongo region of the reserve. Much of the plains wildlife have drifted to the high ground on our southern boundary leaving lovely Giraffe herds on the central plains.

Many young are born during this month of plentiful food recourses and we have seen female Warthogs emerging from their furrows with little ones. Ostrich adults strut over their grassland ranges with youngsters only two feet tall in tow.

The Grumeti river has been flowing strong, bursting its banks on one occasion this month and spilling over onto the adjacent flood plains filling the seasonal pans and gullies.

A sightings snapshot for November:

Lion:

• Some fantastic Lion sightings this month.
• The Butamtam pride sightings have been on fire! Lots of active little cubs laying with their elders on top of Koroya hill. A back drop of nothing but rolling plains and woodlands.
• The six Butamtam male Lion coalition bonds remain strong.
• We have had some great sightings of the Nyasirori pride close to Sabora camp.
• The West pride have been observed on a number of occasions on the Raho drainage close to Marula Explore Camp.
• There has been some great Lion activity on Sasakwa hill especially at the beginning of the month when their were good Zebra numbers on the hill.
• Two impressive male Lions were seen on the northern base of Sasakwa hill one early morning.

Leopard:

• Leopard sightings this month have been good.
• The Mbogo drainage male has popped up on a number of occasions close to FF lodge
• Sightings of a female just upstream of Mbega bridge have been reasonably common. She is new to the area and we are taking the time to get to know her.
• A young male was spotted on the Rhino Rocks this month with a Warthog kill in a Sausage tree. This is a shy individual that we have observed now for 14 months or so.
• The large shy male of Sabora drainage has been seen a handful of times this month on the Sabora drainage.
• The Grumeti North females daughter had been sighted on the Mbogo drainage this month.

Cheetah:

• Cheetah sightings this month have been a little challenging as the Cheetah move south in search of favourable prey. Many Gazelle can now be found on the high ground in the South of the reserve and Cheetah will follow this food source deep into the Serengeti national park from time to time.
• The male Cheetah of the Sasakwa plains (Opening Journal picture by Peter Chatama) has offered some lovely sightings here in the central area.
• A female had been sighted hunting Thompsons Gazelle on the Nyasirori high ground during the middle of the month. She is believed to have moved south now into the national park.
• Two young males were seen on the Gambaranyera plains at the beginning of the month.

Elephant:

• Elephant herds have been fantastic in the central regions. Later in the month huge aggregations sighted on the Pofu plain, northern Ikorongo.
• Large bulls sighted just north of Fort Ikoma hill.
• There have been some lovely Elephant numbers in the west, close to Marula Explore
• As the lower grassland areas become wetter and lusher the Elephants are making themselves at home and hold for many days at a time feeding comfortably.
• Many matriarchal herds sighted with lots of young individuals.
• Some reasonable Elephant activity on Sasakwa hill this month.

Buffalo:

• Large Buffalo herds sighted on the grasslands all over the reserve.
• A noticeable shift in some of the larger herds as they too move to higher ground in search of more favourable conditions and food availability.
• Some fantastic herds of Buffalo bulls sighted up to thirty individuals at times.
• Good Buffalo bull numbers in and around the Sasakwa hill.

Rhino:

• All Rhino are safe, in good health and accounted for.

Other Interesting Sightings:

• A Serval had been sighted south of Pundamilia Hill
• A Caracal sighted this month close to Sasakwa dam.
• Southern Ground Hornbills nesting on the Grumeti River
• Huge numbers of Open Bill Stork from sighted from the western plains through to the Ikorongo. Impressive
• Honey Badgers were sighted on two separate occasions. A mother and youngster close to Pimbi scout camp in the Ikorongo and an adult pair sighted on the spine road just south of Bangwezi.
• Bat eared Fox and three pups sighted at their burrow at the base of the southern side of Pundamilia hill.
• Oribi individuals sighted in various locations in the Ikorongo

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