2011-06-26 – Masai Mara N.R.

A thin layer of mist covered the grasslands out of camp this morning. The sky was clear finally after many days of clouds. We watched the Hippos play and fight before sunrise, and a giant bull Elephant in musth keeping another bull at a distance from a herd of cows with a female in estrous. There are many Elephants in the central Mara at this time, enjoying the lush vegetation after three weeks of late rains. A few days ago the six male Lions that dominate the area have killed a Hippo in the night. The three females with seven cubs have crossed the Talek and joined them at the carcass. There were also two honeymooning couples and we watched them as the sun came up. In the evening, as the sky covered with dark clouds once again I watched Olive and her cub join Pacha in a gulley where I hope I can find them again tomorrow morning with light. Meanwhile, Olive’s younger cub, a female born in October 2010 was named Bahati, meaning “luck” in swahili, as she is the one who survived of a litter of two.