Dear Friends,

The raining season is coming to an end. Inside our protected areas of The Serengeti National Park, Ngorongoro Conservation Area, Lake Manyara National Park and Tarangire National Park, a large portion of green pastures are changing from vibrant colors to beige. This is an indication of less moisture in the soil as its condition changes from wet to dry in the coming months.

SPECIAL EVENT IN THE SERENGETI THIS MONTH!

The Serengeti National Park, the largest Natural Wildlife Game Sanctuary in the world, received six Eastern Black Rhinoceros from South Africa this month. This is considered a remarkable first step toward the conservation of these magnificent animals, and toward bringing them back from the brink of extinction in our modern earth. These prehistoric creatures have suffered significantly from poaching during the past 30 years. In fact, the Eastern Black Rhino is the most endangered of three remaining subspecies of Black Rhino with only 700 remaining in the wild, of which 70 are currently in Tanzania. This translocation into the Serengeti National Park will increase this region’s population to ultimately become the largest free-ranging population of Eastern Black Rhinos anywhere. There will be a total of 32 Black Rhinoceros to be relocated to the Serengeti National Park within the next five years. This will be the biggest relocation of this kind ever undertaken.

Other updates from the bush.

In the Serengeti National Park, the wildebeest migration is essentially marching northwards. They are divided into different groups of various sizes. One group has already taken a strict northern direction and is moving close to Lobo area. This group travels considerably faster compared to others coming behind and passing through the Western Corridor and Central Regions – all northeast of the Loliondo Game-Controlled Area. We are looking forward to witnessing the second large migration group coming to the Western Corridor by June, as this group is currently gathering in great numbers behind the West Woodland along the Mbalageti River which has no accessibility due to the dense population of trees.

The Grumeti River is still flowing, though its water level has dropped to “normal”. Plenty of crocodiles are awaiting the migrants to cross. Fauna biomass is stable with a good natality rate for most species. Elephants are flourishing in Tarangire National Park with an estimated 2.5 million in the Tarangire ecosystem, a higher population than anywhere else in the northern circuit of Tanzania! The African Cape Buffaloes are doing very well in many National Parks; north, west and south. Lions are spotted in good numbers in the Serengeti as well as the Ngorongoro Crater, with many lion cubs growing healthy. Cheetahs, too, are in good numbers mainly in the Serengeti and Tarangire National Parks. Leopards are doing well in the Serengeti, Ngorongoro Highlands Forest and Tarangire National Park.

Bird diversity is fabulous. Flamingos are flourishing in the Momela Seven Lakes of Arusha National Park, Lake Manyara National Park, and Lake Natron where their main breeding site is. Most Avian migrants are on the way back to their natural places to catch-up with a nesting season; among them are European White stocks, Eurasian Roller, Steppe Eagle, some Bee-Eaters to list just a few.

We are enjoying the terrific weather at this time of year and feel fortunate to have had so many exciting animal encounters over the past months. The Proud African Safaris team feels energized and is looking forward to meeting the many more new faces of our esteemed clients this season, and the summer months fast approaching!

Regards,

Adam & the Proud African Safaris Team