MEET THE CHEETAHS OF THE MASAI MARA

Femke Broekhuis, a project director of the Mara Cheetah Project, has the enviable task of monitoring the many cheetahs in and around the beautiful Masai Mara reserve.

Over time she and her colleagues have got to know the different animals that live in the area, and their social groups. Sometimes, unknown cheetahs will also enter the area, changing the dynamics and hierarchies between the groups.

Below she introduces some of the interesting characters (some are often seen often seen near Sala’s Camp, The Safari Collection’s Masai Mara lodge), and a few other newbies in the area.

NOLARI

We have known Nolari since she was a cub (you can follow her full story here). We’ve had great sightings of her and her brother with their mother (Narasha) teaching them how to hunt. The family stayed together for a while and then their brother disappeared. Nolari, however, has just been sighted with her first litter of cubs. Sadly, her mother (Narasha) got killed by lions earlier this year.

Nolari and her first litter

TWO-MALE COALITION

There is a coalition of two males who have managed to displace several young singletons. They have mastered the art of taking down wildebeest, and they often encounter hyaenas.

2014.11.29_Oloololo males

2014.11.29_unhappy Oloololo males 2

2014.07.07_Oloololo boys

THREE-MALE COALITION

We recently came across a coalition of three unknown males, one with half a tail. We have no idea where they have come from (which is very exciting!) but since they arrived in the Mara, they have covered a huge distance, probably in search of their own territory.

2015.06.30_3 new males

ADULT FEMALE WITH FIVE CUBS

We recently collared an adult female, who we call Noroosha, with five big cubs. We got some amazing data showing that she spends a significant amount of time outside of the protected area. Unfortunately, we can no longer find her and her collar has gone down so we think she might have been killed.

2015.02.04_Noosura

Watch this space for more up dates from The Mara Cheetah Project.

Want to see the cheetahs first hand? Get in touch and come and stay at the beautiful Sala’s Camp.

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