This Week at Angama #318

Our semi-resident nomadic lion, Osunash, has returned to Kimana Sanctuary — this time accompanied by a new male identified as ‘Male 263’ according to the Lion Guardians’ lion identity program. This lion hails from Amboseli National Park but has recently been overthrown by three males invading from Tanzania. He stands out distinctly from other lions we've seen in the Sanctuary — his posture exudes strength, his mane darker and more robust suggesting he is significantly older than Osunash.

His stature puts these two in a great position to form a formidable alliance, and as volatile as lion dynamics are, we are keen to see nature unfold. They have been frequently seen in Kimana Sanctuary, in an area with dense elephant grass, seeking refuge from the scorching Amboseli sun.

Despite the challenge of spotting them amidst the thick wheat-coloured vegetation, an incidental evening provided the perfect lighting for Angama guest, Sasha Charney, to capture their majestic presence under a glowing sunset. Osunash has been remarkably active, traversing vast stretches of the Amboseli ecosystem, ranging from Amboseli to Chyulu Hills National Parks. He has been observed interacting with multiple prides and attempting to form coalitions with different males as he roams this expansive landscape. Over the past two weeks, he's also been seen in the company of another distinct male, highlighting his dynamic and nomadic nature and showing that perhaps his social efforts may finally be paying off.

While on safari, you simply can't afford to overlook anything, as nature often surprises us. This was evident during a recent drive when I spotted a white-tailed mongoose darting between thickets, seemingly fleeing from something. Though too swift for me to capture on camera, I soon noticed a large shadow gliding above, drawing my gaze upward. There, circling the area from a distance, was the unmistakable wingspan of an eagle.

Eagles happen to be my favourite birds, and I affectionately refer to them as the ‘lions of the skies’. Upon closer observation, I identified the eagle as a juvenile martial eagle, distinguished by the faint spots emerging on its belly and its predominantly pale head, neck and belly.

A fully-grown martial eagle would boast more defined dark spots on its belly and uniform brown colouring on its back, head and chest, with predominantly brown underwings. While the mongoose may have evaded danger for the moment, one thing is certain: the eagle will always find its meal. Martial eagles possess incredible eyesight, capable of spotting prey from up to 6km away.

In the vast plains of both the Maasai Mara and the Amboseli ecosystem, where the golden savanna stretches as far as the eye can see, I often find myself captivated by the world of zebras. These iconic creatures, with their striking stripes and intriguing social interactions, hold a special fascination for many. Zebras live in groups, or harems, led by a dominant male, known as a stallion. His role is to protect and mate with the females, while the mares collaborate in raising their offspring.

However, competition for the stallion's attention among the mares can lead to aggressive encounters. Occasionally, a mare may leave her group to join another, sparking tension and conflicts between the dominant males.

Playfulness is a notable trait among zebras, especially in young foals. They engage in lively activities such as running, jumping, and rolling together, fostering social bonds and honing their coordination skills. Through play, they also acquire crucial survival skills like evading predators and communicating effectively with one another.

The social behaviour of zebras offers a captivating glimpse into their lives. From their communication methods to the intricacies of their group dynamics, there is a wealth of knowledge to be gleaned from observing these dazzling mammals.

Much closer to Angama Amboseli, right outside the Photographic Studio, the superb starling is a frequent visitor, if not a resident. While everyone at the lodge enjoyed their lunch, this chunky, short-tailed savanna starling was also present, not missing the action. This time, it clutched a moth that turned out to be more than it could handle, shortly abandoning it for simpler options on its menu — these include seeds, small insects, berries and fruits.
–Sammy Njoroge

There are two species of oxpeckers found in the Mara — the red and yellow-billed — that live in harmony with many herbivores, including giraffes, rhinos and impala but I have mostly seen them on buffalo. They spend time feasting on insects, parasites and ticks that agitate their hosts.

While the oxpeckers can sometimes become a nuisance by over-picking at their skin; this relationship is known as symbiotic or mutualistic, as the herbivores benefit by having their bodies cleaned from the parasites and the birds get an easy meal. Oxpeckers also serve as an alarm system when danger approaches — as they create a commotion which warns the herbivores of an approaching threat.

Moving onto bigger herbivores — the tallest animal on earth is mostly fond of browsing for leaves up on acacia trees but giraffes have a bit of a challenge when they need to get hydrated in the heat. They have to stoop very low to take a drink, which requires a lot from them as they must spread their front legs and lower their head to the ground.

While it remains a mystery how exactly they take water in, studies show that giraffes use their tongue as a plunger pump, their lips as a valve and their epiglottis, located at the back of their mouth, as the other valve to pump water up its long neck to reach its stomach. To start, the giraffe sinks its lips into the water and then pulls back its jaw, allowing water to rush into the mouth while keeping the epiglottis ‘valve’ closed, then it clenches its lips, relaxes the epiglottis, and pumps its jaw so that the captured water is pushed into the oesophagus.

At the border, my colleague Robert saw three cheetahs crossing over to our side. Known as Kogatende boys in the Serengeti and Siligi’s sons in the Mara, they were last seen in the Triangle last year in July. They are nephews of the famous ex-Tano bora coalition, and their elder sister, Naado in the Serengeti, is the only survivor of Siligi’s famous litter of seven cubs. We will have to wait and see what these boys are planning in the Mara.

Angama guide, Jeremy, recently spotted a juvenile augur buzzard with a snake kill. A fairly large African bird of prey, their diet is quite varied and opportunistic; they catch most of their prey on the ground — either by still-hunting from a perch or swooping down from a soaring or hovering flight. Occasionally, they forage on the ground for both insects and small vertebrates.
–Joseph Njenga