Jonathan & Angela Scott's Blog

Update from J&A dated 18/10/10 :-

Just in from Mara at the end of our week long photo safari. And what a blast it proved to be. Many of the 16 participants were old friends – in fact most of the group had travelled with us before to Mara, India, the Arctic and Antarctica: Derek and Alexia, Bob and Christine, Elaine and Tony, Annie and Lisa, David and Hilary, Andrew and Margaret. And what a pleasure to welcome some new faces: Margaret and Paul, and Cassio and Ian. Warren Samuels joined us as co-host and guide as he did the previous week for our Celebration of Wildlife at Little Governors – another of our favourite camps in the Mara (we now have a very smart new house at Main Governors).

This was an exceptional safari even by Mara standards: Honey’s Boys put on a winning performance (they chased and caught a young Grant’s gazelle right in front of our vehicles) – the Marsh Pride paraded across the Marsh with Romeo and Claude there too – Claude is looking very rough and weak again and we think it unlikely that he will survive the next few months. As to who might try and take over the Marsh Pride in his absence it is anyone’s guess though there are some pairs of young males waiting in the wings including Tamu’s Boy and his older companion.

With the help of Bob Eveleighs photographs we were able to establish that Tamu’s two surviving cubs were indeed both males – not a male and a female. One of the males must have been killed leaving his brother to form a new coalition with another nomad. Tamu’s surving Boy is a blonde male – light mane and body colour – while his companion is darker with a larger mane.

We saw a young lioness kill a wildebeest near the Talek River – and witnessed some dramatic concentrations of wildebeest and river crossings there.

We were fortunate to have good leopard sigtings – we saw one of Olive’s two 15 month old male cubs who are now independent of their mother. In fact someone saw Olive with a single tiny cub – eyes still closed or barely open apparently. Does she have more than one cub on this occasion – and have they survived? Maybe you can tell us?? One morning we found Olive’s son (he had killed a young wildebeest calf) and a huge male leopard – the territory holder and the young male’s father judging by the young leopards response to being near the older leopard who must have been feeding on his son’s kill. The male had a huge head and neck and pronouced dewlap – a feature of mature male leopards. His name is Golden Balls – no guessing why that might be!

Icing on the cake was the mother cheetah with her 6 four-month-old cubs. We saw her kill a female Thomson’s gazelle late one evening and enjoyed her company on three occasions. Not often that you see 6 cubs of this age – or older. She is keeping away from lions and hyenas in the Intrepids area right now.

Talking of hyenas – Warren, Angie and myself were thrilled to see a hyena clan battle between two opposing clans – up to 40 hyenas were involved – as well as Tamu’s Boy and his companion who had probably stolen the hyena’s kill during the night. When one of the clans cornered a individual from the bordering clan the most amazing scene unfolded – hyenas ran in waves back and forwards – then stopped in groups to paste the long grass stems with the scent. Absolutely fascinating.

And that was only half of it!

So why not join us in Feb or Oct in 2011 for another of our Rekero photo safaris. You won’t be disappointed!!

Great update. I met Lisa and Annee with Simon at Rekero in Dec 2008. I am sooooooooooooooo jealous and cant wait to hear all about it. By the looks of things they had a great safari.

Thanks for posting Doogs.

Lai

Brilliant update Doogs thanks Its great to hear that Romeo, and the Girls are doing so well, bit worried about Claude though last news we had from Aatish was that he was more on his own, and not looking good. It would be great if they can get to see the Cheetah, and 6 Cubs, fingers X they are still there.
WS

Brilliant news that they got to see Shadow Doogs, how wonderful that must have been Lets Hope Olive and her cubs are all ok and that the Cheetah mum still has 6 cubs when they get to the Mara.
Great catching up with it all Doogs. Thanks alot for posting
littlewid-x-

Aatish emailed me last week he is due back home in the Mara late November early December, and he's going to let me know when. So he may also be able to keep us upto date with the Cheetah, and Cubs
WS

That was wonderful to come home and read all those updates - thanks for posting Doogs. It sounds like they are mad busy and having a great time out in Kenya.

Lai

whitestarling wrote:Aatish emailed me last week he is due back home in the Mara late November early December, and he's going to let me know when. So he may also be able to keep us upto date with the Cheetah, and Cubs
WS

Can't wait for more of Aatish's updates WS. It's always a pleasure to read his blog.

littlewid-x-

Thanks for the updates Doogs, Ive cauaght up on them now. Now Im pining to get back to Africa, all the fun of new friends and the wonderful wildlife and cubs they have seen. Who will be back in the Mara next?

Great WS that Aatish is keeping you uptodate.

SM

J & A have updated twice - some good and some sad news.

Anyone going to the RGS on 14th December to hear them? We have tickets so it would be fun to say hello.

Lai

J & A have updated - 6th December

Lai

Jonathan and Angie have updated 23rd and 26th December.

http://www.jonathanangelascott.com/travel_club/wordpress/

Lai

It is a worry as to what will happen to Clawed isn't it and also Romeo, I do not like to think of them not being around and their demise, its too sad really.

It sounds as if Jonathan and Angie have lots planned and I am so looking forward to seeing the Truth About Lions in the New Year, thats very exciting. It also sounds as if their blog is going to be packed with loads of news too....sounds like a good year ahead for them and for us too.

littlewid-x-

Jonathan and Angie update 2nd & 8th Jan
http://www.jonathanangelascott.com/travel_club/wordpress/

WS

Also updated today 18th - the last paragraph is not good news for fans of BCD

“Whole Foods” in High St Kensington in London is one of our favourite places. It is a great rendevous for meetings with friends or for business – all manner of meal options from the various restaurants serving hot and cold food – upstairs – and if you want to buy a delicious meal from the Food Hall on the ground floor then you can eat it right here – or take it home. The bread and fruit and vegetables are deliciously fresh and if you like wine then there is a good range of that too – and you can buy a bottle and drink it with your meal on site. The bakery is scrummy and there are plenty of free tasters around the food halls to whet your appetite. We first came on WF while visiting our son in the US – you just cannot beat it.

We love just hanging out here – sometimes for a breakfast treat with yogurt and fresh fruit and all kinds of juices and smoothies – and if you need a meat fix for breakfast then you can do that too. Great Japanese cuisine as well. It is definitely our favourite meeting place when we are in London and if you need Internet then you can get connected for 24 hrs for just GBP 2. And then you can Skype your loved ones from your Laptop too – in fact I just spoke to Angie who is in Nairobi right now getting organised for our Feb/March safaris in Mara/India.

Olso was great by the way – had a chance to work thorough the video capability on the Canon EOS 7D and 1DMk4 – we are so looking forward to incorporating some moving images in to our presentations in the future. The speaking engagements went well – lots of enthusiasm – Africa, India and Antarctica were the flavour of the month.

Ok – Just wanted to touch bases with you all. Sadly I’m getting the feeling that Big Cat Diary might just have been put to sleep for good. Just a hunch, but I think that the BBC may have too many other priorities right now – plus less money to play with. We will just have to figure out a way to keep you all engaged in a meaningful way with all those great big cat stories that are always just waiting to be recorded!

Lai

Thanks Lai thats not really good news at all, I hope they are wrong, but I feel their not. Its going to make the Blogs more important to keep up with the news of our favourites
WS

Thanks for the updates Doogs and Lai. looking forward to The Truth about Lions and will also look out for the BBC magazine in Feb, if anyones good at remembering it would be great to get a nudge on that one

You are right, that is not good news about BCD. I loved the new format of BCL but I am wondering if that didn't go as well as BCD and that has hampered the decision to do another series, I know a lot of people didn't like the new format and I am wondering if they are balancing everything against that.
It is very sad and yes WS it will make the blogs more important and everyone on here who is going to the mara this year.......no pressure on pics and info then guy's
I just wish the BBC would have some more sense and stop some of the rubbish they do show and make and put the monies into another series of BCD.

littlewid-x-

J & A have updated twice on 21st January

http://www.jonathanangelascott.com/travel_club/wordpress/

Lai

Great update Lai, and that gives us another piece of Marsh pride history
WS

Yes, to be honest the Clawed/Claude name thing was explained to me by SK and Clawed is quite scarred, so I never thought about him as Claude, but glad that Jonathan now has it straight!

Lai