The Masai Mara National Reserve

Cats

There are six species of wild cats in the Masai Mara conservation area: the African wildcat (Felis libyca), the serval (Lepitailurus serval), the caracal (Caracal caracal), the leopard (Panthera pardus), the lion (Panthera leo), and the cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus). Of these, we managed to see the cheetah and the lion multiple times in the Reserve, and an African wildcat near lake Naivasha, during this visit to Kenya.

1. East African Cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus raineyii)

The cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus) needs no introduction to most people. Even a child would recognize the fastest land mammal on earth. It is a large felid that is commonly found through many parts of Africa, especially in sub-Saharan savannas, in addition to Iran.

It is thought to be the only extant species of the genus Acinonyx. There are about five known sub-species of the cheetah, namely: the Asiatic cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus venaticus; currently found only in Iran with less than a hundred individuals thought to exist in the wild and considered extinct in most of its former range in Asia), the northwest African cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus hecki; scattered populations in northwest and western parts of Africa), the east African cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus raineyii; sizable populations found across east African savannas), the southern African cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus jubatus; found in most southern African countries), and the central African cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus soemmeringii; pockets of central Africa).

The critically endangered Asiatic sub-species is extinct in many parts of its former range, notably India, where the last three were shot in the year 1947 by the Maharaja of Surguja in the state of Madhya Pradesh. It was popularly called the 'hunting leopard' in colonial India and was an integral part of royal hunting parties, either as victim or as assistance, especially in bringing down birds. We saw the east African sub-species which is commonly found in arid and semi-arid parts of eastern African countries such as Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda, as well as grasslands in the region.

During this trip, we saw three cheetah adults and four cubs. We saw a cheetah sitting on a mound, which is routine behavior for these cats, at a distance on the first evening drive in the park. The higher elevation of such mounds help act vantage points from which the cheetah can survey the savanna for potential prey.

We saw a cheetah with her four cubs on the second day, as well as a single female cheetah later in the day.

The Spotted Sphinx section in my big cat diary has more photographs of cheetahs encountered during this trip.

2. African lion (Panthera leo)

Lions form an integral part of jungle lore and safaris. Every child would recognise the lion as the 'king of the jungle' and (arguably) the most charismatic of the big cats. They are widely distributed across sub-Saharan Africa with an Asiatic sub-species (comprising of a single endangered population) found in the Gir forests of Gujarat in India. They are emblematic of the African grasslands, especially after the popular character Simba from the Lion King musical. Lions are well known as the most social of the felids and the only big cats of the genus Panthera (the others being the tiger, jaguar, and leopard) that are not solitary.

Lions are the most common of the big cats seen in the Mara. We saw multiple lions on each drive inside the conservation area. This includes one episode of a lion mating with a lioness, and two instances of lions with a kill. The first morning drive in the park resulted in a sighting of a lioness sitting next to a dead African buffalo, possibly one she had hunted during the wee hours. Some scavengers swung by to take a look and circled the area for a while. The first to inspect the crime scence was a spotted hyena. This was followed by another hyena, a duo of black-backed jackals, and finally some vultures. On the third day, we were also lucky enough to watch a pride of lions hunt down a topi. We followed the pride for more than two hours, from the time they started stalking the topi till the arrival of scavengers. The first scavengers to arrive on the scene were black-backed jackals, followed by vultures which were still circling above, when we left the lions to feed in peace. This was one of the most memorable parts of the trip.

The lion section in my big cat diary has more pictures of lions from this trip, including a montage of a pride of lions hunting down a topi.

Hyenas

There are two species of carnivores belonging to the family Hyaenidae that can be found in the Mara. These are the spotted hyena (Hyaena hyaena) and the aardwolf (Proteles cristata). Comprised of only four species, namely, the spotted hyena, striped hyena, brown hyena, and aardwolf, Hyaenidae is one of the smallest families of mammals.

A spotted hyena in the savanna

The species are widely distributed across Africa and parts of Asia, extending upto India in the case of the striped hyena. The spotted hyena is the most common and widely distributed of the hyenas, while the aardwolf is restricted to pockets of southern and eastern Africa.

3. Spotted hyena (Hyaena hyaena)

Although widely disregarded as scavengers, hyenas are excellent predators and hunters. Despite having low genetic diversity, they are integral to many African (and some Asian) ecosystems filling unique roles and niches. While they are distinct and different from both canids and felids, they are behaviorally and morphologically more similar to canids and are thought to have complex social systems. Mark and Delia Owens' pioneering study of brown hyena society and social structure is chronicled in the book, Cry of the Kalahari. It includes the Owens' experiences studying brown hyenas and their social structure in Botswana, and is one of my favorite natural history books.

Foxes, jackals, and dogs

Four species of canids can be found in the Masai Mara. These include the bat-eared fox (Otocyon magalotis), black-backed jackal (Canis mesomelas), side-striped jackal (Canis adustus), and African wild dog (Lycaon pictus). Of these, we frequently encountered black-backed jackals, usually at or near carcasses, typically lion kills. We may have seen a side-striped jackal once, but are unsure of the sighting. While bat-eared foxes are common in the Mara, we were unable to spot them. However, we did manage to sight these social animals at sunset when leaving Hell's Gate National Park near Lake Naivasha. Of the canids, both species of jackals are solitary, while the fox and wild dog are social. The Mara is one of the few landscapes where multiple canids co-exist, for it is truly rare to find intra-guild carnivores existing sympatrically.

4. Black-backed jackal (Canis mesomelas)

This is a species that is found in two distinct pockets of Africa - countries in the south (from South Africa to Zimbabwe) and the east (Kenya, Ethiopia, and Somalia). There are two sub-species of black-backed jackals, namely the cape jackal (Canis mesomelas mesomelas; found in southern Africa) and the east African jackal (Canis mesomelas schmidti; found in east Africa). The latter sub-species is found in the Mara and other parts of Kenya. Of the three species of jackals found in the world (black-backed, side-striped, and golden), they are the smallest in size. They are easily distinguishable from the side-striped with their black-tipped tails while the side-striped have a white tip in their tails. They are behaviorally similar to the golden jackal and thought to fill the same ecological niches.

They are omnivorous and feed on invertebrates, small mammals such as rodents and hares (and occasionally even young antelope), small reptiles such as lizards and snakes, small birds (although there are records of these jackals killing and eating even Kori bustards), and small carnivores such as small wild cats, mongooses, and polecats, in addition to carrion as well as fruits and tubers.

They are scavengers and can be commonly found near carcasses hunted by the larger predators. In coastal areas, they feed on fish, marine invertebrates, small marine birds, and small marine mammals such as seals.

They frequently feature in folktales and fables of the tribes of the region, where they are portrayed as shrewd or cunning, usually outsmarting larger predators in their escapades. One tale of the Khoikhoi people proffers that the jackal got its black back after carrying the sun on its saddle. These days, they are considered a pest in some regions and often come in conflict with humans over livestock depredation.

Mongooses

There are an unusually high number of mongoose species co-existing in the Masai Mara. Not two, not three, but six species of mongooses can be found here. These are the Egyptian mongoose (Herpestes ichneumon), slender mongoose (Herpestes sanguineus), banded mongoose (Mungos mungo), dwarf mongoose (Helpgale parvula), marsh mongoose (Atilax paludinosus), and white-tailed mongoose (Ichneumia albicauda). Of these, we managed to see a band (that is apparently the right collective noun!) of banded mongooses in the Mara, and a slender mongoose when in Laikipia.

5. Banded mongoose (Mungos mungo)

The banded mongoose is found in most parts of central and east Africa. It is primarily insectivorous and commonly found in open savannas, but also feeds on small reptiles and birds, as well as bird and reptile eggs. Unlike most species of mongooses around the world which are solitary, they are unique in their colonial living with complex social structures. They forage in groups but each individual forages for itself. We spotted one such colony or band foraging together in the late afternoon (their typical foraging time, along with mornings) in the Mara in a grassland patch with short grass, not very far from their dens (we could see them scuttling into some termite mounds for shelter).

Elephants

There are two species of elephants in the world - the African (Loxodonta africana) and the Asian (Elephas maximus). The African elephant, in turn, has two extant sub-species - the African bush elephant (Loxodonta africana africana) and the African forest elephant (Loxodonta africana cyclotis). This nomenclature is debatable with some researchers classifying the two as distinct species namely Loxodonta africana and Loxodonta cyclotis. I won't get into the nitty-gritty of the debate and will refer to them as sub-species for now.

6. African elephant (Loxodonta africana)

The African bush elephant is the largest terrestrial animal in existence today, followed by the Asian elephant, while the African forest elephant comes third, being much smaller than the former. The African bush elephant is the sub-species found in Kenya and healthy populations of the bush elephant exist in the Masai Mara.

They differ in appearance from the forest elephant in size primarily, since the latter is considered a pygmy and much smaller in comparison. There are behavioral differences as well. On the other hand, there are numerous physical differences between the African bush and Asiatic elephants. The former is much bigger and has different cranial structure than the latter. Also, both males and females in the former have tusks while only male Asiatic elephants have tusks.

Elephants are social creatures with herds typically comprised of related females and their young that are guided by a matriarch. Occasionally, adult males may join the herd for a short duration, but typically males leave the herd upon reaching adolescence and join a bachelor herd of similar age. Older males tend to be solitary and are known to approach female herds only during the mating season.

This article by Mark Deeble nicely articulates the need to conserve elephants, with arguments that could be extended to many other life forms.

Giraffe

The giraffe (Giraffe camelopardalis) has nine sub-species, all of which are endemic to Africa. These include the Nubian giraffe (G. c. camelopardalis), reticulated giraffe (G. c. reticulata*), Kordofan giraffe (G. c. antiquorum), Angolan giraffe (G. c. angolensis), Masai giraffe (G. c. tippelskirchi), Rothschild's giraffe (G. c. rothschildi), South African giraffe (G. c. giraffa), Rhodesian giraffe (G. c. thornicrofti), and West African giraffe (G. c. peralta). Of these, the Masai giraffe, the reticulated giraffe and the Rothschild's giraffe can be found in Kenya. We saw all three sub-species during this trip to Kenya. We saw the reticulated giraffe in the Lake Nakuru National Park and the endangered Rothschild's giraffe at Crescent Island on Lake Naivasha, as well as in Laikipia. Healthy populations of the Masai giraffe can be found in the Mara.

7. Masai giraffe (Giraffe camelopardalis tippelskirchi)

The giraffe is well-known as the tallest terrestrial animal alive today. It is an even-toed ungulate (hoofed mammal) or artiodactyl and is the largest ruminant alive. The Masai giraffe is common across the savannas and grasslands of the Masai Mara, and typically feeds on acacia leaves. They are browsers and not grazers.

The Masai giraffe is also called the Kilimanjaro giraffe and can be found in Tanzania and southern parts of Kenya. It has characteristic and distinctive jagged blotches on the skin that extend till the hooves. The males also have a median hump which the females don't.

The correct collective noun for giraffes is 'corps'.

Hippopotami

The hippopotamus is one of the largest land mammals on earth. It is also an artiodactyl, and in fact the heaviest even-toed ungulate on the planet. The word 'hippopotamus' is ancient Greek for 'river horse'. It is a large, semi-aquatic herbivore that is endemic to Africa and is widely distributed across rivers, lakes, waterholes, and mangrove swamps of sub-Saharan Africa.

8. Common hippopotamus (Hippopotamus amphibius)

There are two extant species of the hippo, namely the common hippopotamus (Hippopotamus amphibius) and the pygmy hippopotamus (Choeropsis liberiensis). The common hippo is found throughout Kenya and healthy populations thrive in the Mara.

Swine

The common warthog (Phacochoerus africanus) belongs to the wild swine or pig family. It is commonly found in grasslands, savanna, and woodlands across sub-Saharan Africa and has a wide distribution. It gets the name 'warthog' from the four large, wart-like protrusions that can be found on the head of the creature. There are four sub-species of warthogs, all of which are endemic to Africa. These include the Nolan warthog (P. a. africanus), Eritrean warthog (P. a. aeliani), central African warthog (P. a. massaicus), and Southern warthog (P. a. sundevallii). Of these, large populations of the central African sub-species can be found throughout Kenya, including the Masai Mara National Reserve.

9. Warthog (Phacochoerus africanus)

We saw the central African warthog (P. a. massaicus) numerous times on each drive inside the park. Each sighting would typically involve an adult male or a female with her piglets. The warthogs are omnivorous and their diet includes grasses, roots, fruits, bark, insects, and eggs, as well as scavenging on carrion occasionally. They are typically grazers that subsist on short perennial grasses.

They live in groups called sounders comprising of females with their young, while the adult males leave the group but stay within the group's (typically large) homerange.

Wild cattle

The only species of wild cattle found in Africa and endemic to it is the African buffalo (Syncerus caffer), which is also called the Cape buffalo. Unlike it's Asian counterpart, the Asian buffalo, it has never been domesticated. It has a wide distribution and can be found across most parts of sub-Saharan Africa, and can be frequently found in grasslands, savanna, and woodlands, in addition to swamps and floodplains.

The Wikipedia page mentions the following about the horns of the African buffalo: "The horns of African buffalo are very peculiar. A characteristic feature of them is the adult bull’s horns have fused bases, forming a continuous bone shield referred to as a “boss’, which can not always be penetrated even by a rifle bullet. From the base, the horns diverge, then bend down, and then smoothly curve upwards and outwards."

10. African buffalo (Syncerus caffer)

It is typically a grazer and is considered the most successful of African grazers, capable of surviving on tall, coarse grass that other herbivores find unpalatable. In fact, herds of buffalo mow down the coarse grasses in order make way for the selective grazers which follow. They are one of the 'big five' mammals in Africa.

Horse antelopes

There are three species of horse antelopes found in the Mara. These are Coke's hartebeest (Alcelaphus buselaphus cokii), topi (Damaliscus lunatus jimela), and white-bearded wildebeest (Connochaetes taurinus). Of these, the Coke's hartebeest is solitary while the topi and wildebeest are social antelopes.

11. Coke's hartebeest (Alcelaphus buselaphus cokii)

This is an antelope that is endemic to Kenya and Tanzania. It is an even-toed ungulate (artiodactyl) that is typically solitary, and not very commonly found or easy to spot in the Mara.

12. Topi (Damaliscus lunatus jimela)

This is a highly social antelope that can be commonly found in grasslands, floodplains and semi-arid parts of sub-Saharan Africa. They are grazers that do not have to drink when green vegetation is available. In more arid parts or when relying on dry grass, they can be found drinking from small water pools.

The lion section in my big cat diary has a montage of a pride of lions hunting down a topi.

Large herds of topi typically travel with the wildebeest, gazelles and other herbivores in their migration from the Serengeti. They are either numerous or absent in a given area, and patchy distributions are usually unsuccessful. They either increase in number when scattered or die off.

13. White-bearded wildebeest (Connochaetes taurinus)

Wildebeest are also popularly known as gnu. They are horse antelopes, even-toed ungulates that are numerous and widely distributed across sub-Saharan Africa. They usually commence the great migration and millions of wildebeest migrate from Serengity to the Masai Mara during the dry season starting in every July, searching for greener pastures. They are accompanied by gazelles and other herbivores, and followed by predators.

Reedbucks and kobs

Two species of reedbucks and kobs can be found in the Mara. These are the common reedbuck (Redunca arundinum) and the Defassa waterbuck (Kobus ellipsiprymnus defassa). Neither are very common or numerous in the park.

14. Defassa waterbuck (Kobus ellipsiprymnus defassa)

The waterbuck is a large antelope that is widely distributed across sub-Saharan Africa. They are not social, are typically solitary or in small groups, and not very numerous. We managed to see waterbuck twice during our visit to the mara. It is called the greasy kob after the greasy secretion from the waterbuck when sexually excited. The term waterbuck is somewhat a misnomer, since they do not spend too much time in water, and prefer scrub forests and savannas. They however seem to prefer areas near water bodies.

Dwarf antelopes

There are three species of dwarf antelopes that can be found in the Mara. These are the Kirk's dikdik (Madoqua kirkii), oribi (Ourebia ourebi), and klipspringer (Oreotragus oreotragus). The Kirk's dikdik and klipspringer can be hard to distinguish apart while the oribi look similar to female impala.

15. Kirk's dikdik (Madoqua kirkii)

16. Oribi (Ourebia ourebi)

17. Klipspringer (Oreotragus oreotragus)

Gazelles

There are two species of gazelles found in the Masai Mara, namely Grant's gazelle (Gazella granti) and Thomson's gazelle (Gazella thomsonii). Large populations of both exist in the Mara. Huge herds of both gazelles accompany the wildebeest on their migratory route from the Serengeti and back.

18. Grant's gazelle (Gazella granti)

19. Thomson's gazelle (Gazella thomsonii)

Impala

Impala (Aepyceros melampus) are medium-sized antelope that are widely distributed across central and east Africa. Large populations can be found throughout Kenya including inside the Masai Mara. Two sub-species of the impala are thought to exist, namely the common impala (A. m. melampus) and the black-faced impala (A. m. petersi).

20. Impala (Aepyceros melampus)

They are sexually dimorphic with the males sporting long, elegant, spiral horns. They graze as well as browse, and typically switch between grazing and browsing according to the season, habitat and vegetation available.

Zebras and asses

Zebras are African equids that are characterized by their distinctive black and white stripes. Their stripes are unique for each individual and act like a 'fingerprint' or 'barcode' for recognizing and identifying individuals. They are social animals that live in harems, with many harems making a herd. There are three species of zebras that are found in Africa and native to it. These are the plains or common zebra (Equus burchellii), the Grevy's zebra (Equus grevyi), and the mountain zebra (Equus zebra). We saw the common zebra in different parts of Kenya including the Mara, and the Grevy's zebra in Laikipia.

21. Common zebra (Equus burchellii)

The common zebra is also called the plains zebra or Burchell's zebra. It is the most common and geographically widespread of the equids in Africa. The extinct quagga is a sub-species of the common zebra.

The common zebra is a highly social equid where the social structure typically involves a single stallion and his harem of several mares and their offspring.

Monkeys and baboons

There are four species of monkeys and baboons found in the Masai Mara. These include the olive baboon (Papio cynocephalus anubis), vervet monkey (Cercopithecus aethiops), Syke's monkey (Cercopithecus mitis), and copper-tailed monkey (Cercopithecus ascanius). Of these, we managed to see the olive baboon inside the Mara, the Syke's monkey at a Rift Valley viewpoint on our way from Nairobi to the Mara, and the vervet monkey at Laikipia.

22. Olive baboon (Papio cynocephalus anubis)

23. Syke's monkey (Cercopithecus mitis)

Mammal list:

The complete list of mammals found in the Mara can be found here.

The mammals we were able to spot inside the Masai Mara National Reserve are listed below in alphabetical order.

• Baboon, Olive

• Bat, Straw-colored Fruit

• Bat, Yellow-winged

• Buffalo, African

• Bushbuck

• Cheetah

• Dikdik, Kirk's

• Elephant, African

• Gazelle, Grant's

• Gazelle, Thomson's

• Giraffe, Masai

• Hartebeest, Coke's

• Hippopotamus, Common

• Hyena, Spotted

• Impala

• Jackal, Black-backed

• Klipspringer

• Lion, African

• Mongoose, Banded

• Monkey, Syke's

• Monkey, Vervet

• Oribi

• Squirrel, Kenyan Tree

• Topi

• Warthog

• Waterbuck, Defassa

• Wildebeest, White-bearded

• Zebra, Common

Total - 28