Here is the promised teaser for all those Kichechians visiting this year, and perhaps some who are undecided. The last two weeks have transformed the plains to a lush dazzling carpet. The rains are late, the herds early and the predators licking their lips in anticipation. Apologies to animals left out.
The Boys are Back in Town
Yes those three thuggish boys are patrolling their considerable beat as ever. Sleeping in the day and hunting very late or early. They have also, not for the first time corralled a female and attempted to mate for four days under the intrusive gaze of the plains rank and file and frankly they have been making a complete Giggs ear of it.
Cub Report: A small one from the Olare Orok Conservancy, there are two very small ones at Musiara, several in the Ol Kiombo Pride. The five big males are back together too. But wait a minute Patrick has just found a total of ten cubs now in Olare, with four at around ten days old, father is lame so worrying times but intoxicating ones too.
Old Friend - In 2007 a wonderful cheetah 'Mrembo' delighted us for months with her two cubs. She is big in heart and body, and is back .... pregnant. Welcome home Mrembo, last seen heading towards Bush Camp.
Birdsong - Mrembo's relaxation at sunset is spoiled by guinea fowl. She is not the only single white-chested female at large, in one day in the reserve three separate females and a single male were spotted. More excitingly there is a mother with five cubs flourishing near Kicheche Naboisho. There are as ever no shortage of these spotted athletes in Laikipia which the 'silver' guide clan seem to have little difficulty in finding.
Class of 2010 (Oct)
The mother of six from last year, has there ever been a more successful mum?
Class of May 2011 - Haven't they grown?
Four are males and two females, will be interesting when they split up.
Love and affection
Mother still demands, and receives a lot of love, however the thought isthat she will have to abandon this brood early.
She is currently in an out of bounds area but will no doubt follow the herds back into the reserve.
Dust Up
Something scared all but mum, a wonderful early morning with the Mara's favourite family. There is another mother with two small (3 month old) cubs last spotted in the Conservancy heading towards Mara camp.
Handbagsclaws at dawn, no knock-downs, no submissions.
Off to a tree
Our most commented on SPOT was the 'family tree' with all the cubs on a balanites.
They still clearly love their arboreal antics.
A cross to bear
They're coming home. They are early, they are crossing the sand river in their droves
but already the plains from Mara Camp to Naboisho are dotted with the Loita 200,000 before
the main peleton arrives. What a June it's been.
Family Saloon
Many hyenas as usual but there is a den on upper Paradise Plain with a small litter of four.
Horn Queen
This was special. Laikipia seems to be spiritual home to black rhino and Moha, Francis and Andrew are on first name terms with them but an adult female in open grassland for two hours in the Mara reserve was worthy of documentation.
More than Handbags.
This male thought of mating, the female had other ideas and arousal soon turned to antagonism near Ol Kiombo airstrip, From the cubs of the Bila Shaka pride, to the huge Maternity pride near Mara Camp and the noisy Bush Camp pride to the Naboisho ones, the lions are flourishing, especially after these rains. The smorgasbord has started early for them too.
A - Alpha
Five minutes from Bush Camp. After hearing him all night, it was time to meet the chorus leader, a little more settled after a striped breakfast.
Petty Pilferer
The two big Bila Shaka males lose some of their meal to the plucky jackals on lower Topi Plains in the Reserve. No jackal dens yet but we'll find them.
Necking a sausage.
Big skies, big clouds, big colours and big necks.
Normal Serval resumed
The grass is long, the oat ears turning a russet orange which is beautiful but makes spotting these slight sleuths difficult to find,
but not to Charles Wandero. No kittens to report, but give us time.
The ultimate Predator
June sightings of leopards have been astonishing.A transfer to the airstrip in Nanyuki in Laikipia spotted one. One early June group at Bush Camp saw nine in two days, this one a beautiful and large Talek river female who had dined off a reedbuck. Only report of young cubs is in
Naboisho Conservancy which is very exciting for Kicheche's new flagship.
Branching out - The Talek River Mother was lounging in this Olive tree before joining two different generations of her family. Astonishing,
but probably not the spot of the month as Mara Camp had three days of mating leopards beneath a local granite gorge.
Excited, I thought so. This is just a cursory glossary designed to titillate, but every game drive is different. I saw my first Zorilla last week which Patrick Corieta spotted from about a mile off !
The camps are open, the staff eager to show off their own back yards ....the 'wilderness is awakening.'
Kicheche Bush Meet
Also as promised is the picture selection from the Kicheche 'Bush Meet' where all 120 staff converged for two days on Bush Camp. Initially divided into teams from Nairobi staff to cooks and askaris, they were all given serious tasks from archery to masterchef trial and wheel changing against the clock to tent cleaning. This was immensely competitive but done with passion and vigour. The next day was frankly mayhem as they competed in what only can be described as a cross between the Krypton Factor and Jeux Sans Frontiers (don't pretend you don't remember). There were no focus or breakout groups, no PowerPoint, no minutes taken and no navel gazing but to quote one of the chefs 'I have been here six years and this was the best day ever, I have never laughed so much in my life.' Enjoy the pictures, some staff are still licking their wounds. click here
there are 
Mother still demands, and receives a lot of love, however the thought isthat she will have to abandon this brood early.
June sightings of leopards have been astonishing.A transfer to the airstrip in Nanyuki in Laikipia spotted one. One early June group at Bush Camp saw nine in two days, this one a beautiful and large Talek river female who had dined off a reedbuck. Only report of young cubs is in
