Wildlife Report. For the month of June, Two Thousand and Thirteen

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1 Singita Grumeti Sasakwa & Faru Faru Lodges Serengeti House & Sabora Tented Camp Explore Mobile Tented Camp Tanzania (Photo by Saitoti Ole Kuwai) Wildlife Report For the month of June, Two Thousand and Thirteen Temperature and Wind Rainfall Recorded Average maximum 32.8 C (91.04 F) Sasakwa 0.0 Average minimum 12.6 C (54.68 F) Sabora 0.0 Average wind speed 0.7 mps Faru Faru 0.0 Samaki 0.0 Risiriba 26 The arrival of The Great Migration on the 1st of June kicked off what would prove to be a very exciting month for viewing wildlife at Singita Grumeti. On the first day thousands of wildebeest began arriving from the southeast, making their way north and west. They surrounded Faru Faru Lodge and the Nyati plains, and after about ten days were spread across nearly all of Singita Grumeti, from Faru Faru Lodge in the east, to the central Sasakwa plains below Sasakwa Lodge, and all the way west past Sabora Tented Camp. They milled about grazing for about four or five

2 days and then they began to move, forming never ending lines heading back east again and then north through Ikorongo.

3 The bulk of the herds were gone by the 20th, although we still had plenty of stragglers moving through for the entirety of the month.

4 After Ikorongo we expect them to pass through the Lobo area of the Serengeti, and then to the Kogatende and Lamai areas where Singita's Mara River Tented Camp is located, with a front row view of the wildebeest crossing the crocodile-infested Mara River.

5 New additions to the family In our May Wildlife Report we mentioned the recurring presence of the Butamtam Pride lionesses on Sasakwa Hill. We were hoping that they were hiding young cubs in the area, and they were! (Photo above by Adas Anthony) (Photo below by Saitoti Ole Kuwai)

6 The two lionesses debuted eight new lion cubs and the golden cats have made the plains near Sasakwa Hill their home, much to our delight, and are keeping us all well entertained. (Photos above and below by Saitoti Ole Kuwai)

7 Their father/s are members of the formidable and protective coalition of four Nyasirori males. By the end of June all eight cubs remained alive, safe and sound. It would seem that their current hobbies include climbing trees and jumping on wildebeest...!

8 (Photo by Adas Anthony)

9 A ghostly vulture (Photo by Stuart Levine) Guide Stuart Levine had a most unusual sighting while on drive with guests earlier this month. The group approached a mass of vultures feasting on a wildebeest carcass, and an almost completely white lappet-faced vulture (Torgos tracheliotos) dominated the rest. Usually lappet-faced vultures are blackish above with strongly contrasting white thigh feathers and an underside that can range from pure white to buff-brown. Like shadows the other dark vultures would slip away submissively as this ghostly white figure claimed the choice spoils of the carcass. Elephants at Serengeti House We have had lots of elephants around Sasakwa Hill this month. They especially seem to be enjoying the Serengeti House area. The following photographs give you an idea of the views you can enjoy from the safety of the deck at Serengeti House.

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11 (Photo by Kate Murray)

12 Building a nest (Photos by Adas Anthony) Guide Adas Anthony has been monitoring the construction of this hamerkop (Scopus umbretta) nest along Chui Drainage, since late May. Hamerkops are compulsive nest builders and will build three or four nests a year, regardless of if they are breeding or not. The nests take up to three months to finish and are built using sticks and mud. They are very large compared to the size of the bird and are tough enough to withstand the weight of a grown man. It took about a month from the nest to get from the first picture, to the next two. Hamerkops often adorn their nests with unusual objects, like the box in the picture, most likely found in a nearby village. After trying to find the perfect place to put the box, the hamerkop decided it did not fit in with his decorative vision for the nest and soon chucked it away.

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14 Sightings and special sightings Lion: Leopard: Cheetah: Elephant: Rhino: Buffalo: 55 sightings 14 sightings 38 sightings 48 sightings 2 sightings Multiple sightings daily Special sightings: The Great Migration of about two hundred thousand wildebeest colonising the entire concession area. Three ground hornbills on West Link Road. One honey badger near German Bridge. By Ryan Schmitt and Lizzie Hamrick Photos by Ryan Schmitt, unless indicated otherwise Singita Grumeti Serengeti Tanzania Thirtieth of June 2013