General
We had very heavy rain in the Triangle from the 9ᵗʰ for a few days. This was sufficient to flood the river one day and cause the migration to return to Tanzania.
Within a few days there was hardly a wildebeest in the Mara. There is a chance that they may return if we get a week or two of dry weather – if not, this will rank as the worst migration in recent memory.
We held our Board meeting in the Mara on the 15th in the Mara. There has been no progress on amending the Collaboration Agreement.
The Narok County Government has granted planning permission for the Visitor Centre, this now gives us the green light to proceed.
The Chairman signed a lease for the Enkishui Camp site with Jono Buffey from Wildeye on the 22ⁿᵈ. This will allow Wildeye to base a seasonal camp – July to November – for five years, with a probable five year extension.
We have also signed a new five-year contract with KAPS for revenue collection.
Deloitte have completed the Annual Audit and we can expect a report in early September.
We had up to 300 people involved in a Bollywood film partly being shot in the Triangle. One of the scenes was of an actor parachuting into a concentration of wildebeest. The stars and crew were all staying in the Main Reserve and coming across each day to film in the Triangle – they apparently paid Ksh 58 million (US$ 450,000) to the County for the right to film in the Mara.
Collaboration Agreement
We continue to do a considerable amount of work in the Main Reserve. This month we have:
Drilled a borehole at Ngama Hills, in preparation for building a ranger station there;
Completed renovations on the toilets at Sekenenai, emptied and repaired the septic tank;
We have started renovating the staff housing at Ol Kiombo;
Purchased a Toyota Prado for the Chief Officer in Tourism – on approval from the Governor;
Purchased fuel for the road works outside the Reserve;
Supported the Conservation Centre;
Provided rations for all staff;
Completed furnishing the VIP cottage at Sand River;
Maintained the road network; and
Maintained County vehicles, including the two new ones donated by the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust (SWT).
SWT have pledged to additional Suzuki Jimnys and they should be delivered in September.
The planning committee has agreed that the construction of new toilets at the Keekorok airstrip is a priority. The problem is a slightly erratic water supply – the current supply flows to the staff quarters and Conservation Centre first and we have decided that we should drill a hole near the airstrip.
Staff
Ranger Mosoito, was knocked down by a buffalo at Ol Donyo Olpaek during a routine patrol, fortunately a ranger close by was able to kill the buffalo before it could cause more damage. These animals along the boundary are constantly harassed and poached by wa Kuria and have a tendency to be aggressive.
Wildlife
We had a large number of wildebeest cross over into the Triangle in the first ten days of August, a good number crossing from the Main Reserve. The majority only stayed a few days before heading South in response to unseasonal and heavy rain. They are beginning to return and if the dry weather persists they may return in numbers.
An injured cheetah, called Oloti, has returned to the Triangle after being in the Main Reserve for some time. He puts no weight on his left hind leg and it appears to be untreatable – we continue to monitor him.
Tourism
We had a total of 22,344 visitors in July, 5,000 more than last year, but fewer than in 2023. However, 47.9% (10,701) of the visitors were non-paying (2,580 Kichwa clients, 1,065 Narok students and the remainder were either transit of traversing clients from the main Reserve). The number of non-resident tourists was slightly up on last year – 10,521 against 9,011 last year, but again this was down on 2023, when we had 14,007 non-resident adults.
August started very busy but the season seems to have dropped off in the past week. All the indications are that the season will slow down two or three weeks earlier than normal.
Security
A total of 16 people were arrested for poaching in August, 425 wire snares were recovered, 17 wildebeest and one topi rescued and our rangers found where 22 wildebeest, 2 zebra, a topi and a warthog had been butchered.,
Our rangers went on a three day patrol into the Norther Serengeti from the 4th, they managed to arrest nine people for poaching, recover 23 snares and find where 13 wildebeest, two zebra, a topi and a warthog had been killed. One group of three had been camped for six days and had killed 10 wildebeest, had butchered them and were drying the meat. They had sent three companions to get donkeys to take the meat.
Twenty eight wire snares were recovered on the 12th and our rangers managed to arrest one person at Serengeti Ndogo, just across the river in the Northern Serengeti. One more person was arrested on the 16th, as he and his companion were carrying the meat from a wildebeest that they had killed.
We started collecting large a number of snares from the 18ᵗʰ, despite that fact that the Tanzanians have mobilised three de-snaring teams. On that day our patrols collected 107 snares, rescued two wildebeest and found where seven more had been butchered. The rangers also managed to arrest one person carrying meat between Ngiro-are and Kenyangaga.
Between the 19ᵗʰ and 21ˢᵗ our patrols managed to find a further 111 snares and arrest three people – all in the Lemai Wedge. The managed to rescue one wildebeest and find where one had been butchered.
!37 more snares between the 23ʳᵈ and 27ᵗʰ, 14 wildebeest and one topi were rescued and eight had been butchered.
Two more people were arrested on the 28ᵗʰ, one of them after our Tanzanian counterparts called and asked for support. 19 snares were recovered and one wildebeest rescued.
Morani, our amazing tracker dog died on the 27ᵗʰ after a prolonged illness – he was responsible for numerous arrests and gave our rangers the confidence to use the dogs.
Revenue and Accounts
The auditors are winding up their Annual Audit and we expect a report in time for the next Board meeting on the 26ᵗʰ.
Our total revenue for July amounted to Ksh 269,672,990 (US$ 2,090,500), well up on June which was Ksh 126,928,391. We expect August to be even higher. This has enabled us to clear the outstanding balance due to us from the Main Reserve and pay the County.
Report on focus for August
We have started renovating the main offices at Serena, work should be completed in early September.
We have installed a pump and water tank for the community borehole at Kawai, the borehole produces approximately 2,000L per hour, not that much but sufficient to help residents in the village.
We have virtually completed the picnic site at Mara Bridge and have built a toilet block for students.
We are altering the garage at the Warden’s house into a guest room for official visitors and are renovating the Administrator’s house.
We have constructed a tyre store and installed tyre changing equipment, this should be operational in September.
We repaired damaged sections of roads along the border and then made an all-weather road into the new Kijito campsite. We also improved the road between Ngiro-are and Kenyangaga.
We resurfaced, graded and rolled the Serena airstrip.
Focus for September 2025
Hold Board meeting on the 26ᵗʰ;
Complete renovations at Serena;
Operationalize tyre change equipment;
Complete picnic site at Mara Bridge;
Start on new toilet block in Oloololo camp site;
Start murraming the new game viewing roads;
Work on Collaboration Agreement
Continue with renovations at Ol Kiombo;
Start renovations at Talek;
Possibly drill a borehole for the proposed Keekorok toilets;
Continue maintain roads;
Continue providing fuel for Grade A.