Monday July 14th, 2014: Game Drive Day 3

Full day tour planned for today. We started at 6:30am until 4pm with lunch outside. Moving in South-West direction towards the Tanzanian border. We asked to see the Gnu crossing over the Mara river, so we’re trying that one.

Before we leave towards that, a message is sent to Jackson that a Leopard with his carcass is close to the camp. Of course we’re trying to see that. 6 off-roaders are already at that place but the Leopard is not there anymore (later we hear from another visitor that we came around 30 minutes too late). The carcass is still there

 

We’re being told that there are 2 Leopards in mating around here. We park the car close to the direction where they were seen last. Yes, through the bushes both can be partly seen (and heard while having their date…

After some time we give up and plan to return after the crossing.

On the way Jackson spots a nest of a Secretary Bird (also on my list for seeing).

 

During the whole stay, only once an animal was seen which was wearing a transmitter neckless.

 

We go up the view-point hill to see where Wildebeest herds are gathering to cross the Mara river. While there Jackson receives another 911… A Cheetah seems to be around here. We leave downwards and Jackson stops. Lots of cars around (lots of small buses as well). I ask Jackson whether Toyota knew what the guys are doing to their cars here… No answer. Suddenly Jackson turns around and asks why he doesn’t hear the know click-click. Well, stupid Germans haven’t spotted the Cheetah with her small one around 3 meters to the right side… What a shame…

 

A 911 gets in. A crossing seems to start. All cars are chasing down the hill and move towards the Mara river. When we arrive, around 20 cars are already there. Jackson’s buddy has reserved a spot and now we are changing the car place with him. Nice view. The crossing had already started but seems to be a large herd, still takes some time to finish.

 

We will try tomorrow again for a closer view where the Wildebeest get up the other side. For today it’s already too late to wait for another crossing.

Slowly moving back with lunch at around 1pm somewhere in the middle of nowhere…

Jackson heads towards another place where lots of Wildebeest are gathering. We label it as Micro Crossing…

 

Suddenly they stop. Nobody knows why. Also nobody knows why they are doing this funny thing at all. There’s enough green on each side.

Back to the Leopard carcass, it has been eaten nearly all up by the 2 Leopards. In some distance one can be spotted lying on the other side of the river.