Category: Lodges & Camps | Date: Jun 30 2008 | By: Kimojino

We would like to commend the management of Kichwa Tembo for taking the initiative to work more closely with the Mara Conservancy. For the last week I have been taken out guides from Kichwa Tembo. So far I have had four groups of guides and trainee guides who have accompanied me on an anti-animal harassment patrol and also a tour of the Triangle.

Guides from Kichwa Tembo

It has been a very good experience, with both the guides and myself thoroughly enjoying the time spent together. They learned and understood why we stop guides from harassing animals and also why it is important to not offroad around the Mara Triangle. Also, they were very happy because I took them all around the park, and showed them parts of the Triangle that they have never before explored, and which they can now in turn show to their guests all of the beautiful places that are here.

Zebras and Buffaloes at the Salt Lick

They also learned that there are so many animals and other tourist attractions in every part of the Mara Triangle.

I appreciated their coming on the patrols, and I believe that there cooperation will benefit both sides enormously in the future.

I also encourage other camps and lodges to partake in this experience.

Joseph Kimojino with guides from Kichwa Tembo

Thank you to Kichwa Tembo!

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Category: Poachers, Snares | Date: Jun 21 2008 | By: Kimojino

Rangers leave this morning on patrol.

Last night GSU Personnel on the Narok side of the Mara, went down to the river to bathe and spotted two men a short distance away disappear into some bushes. Immediately they radioed our rangers who went over to meet with the GSU, but by now the sun had already set and so it was decided that we would send out a joint patrol early this morning to try and catch the poachers.

Rangers from Serena Station left at 5am to join with Mara Bridge rangers and also the GSU. Together they started the patrol, and found the footprints of the poachers. They followed these prints until they found the men further along.

The two poachers with snares and supplies. 

When we found them they had their food already cooked and were on their way to set up a more permanent camp. We learnt that when they were spotted yesterday they had just arrived, after travelling all day from Tanzania, and so we are pleased to say that no animals had been killed.

Rangers coming back from patrol. 

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Category: Hippos, Poachers | Date: Jun 18 2008 | By: Kimojino

Rangers Nelson, Bett & Kimanjoi with dried hippo meat.

Last Sunday rangers from Serena Station were patrolling the border area with Serengeti when they received a radio call that a man had been spotted in the bushes on the Narok side of Mara River.

Immediately they were sent to the area and joined Ngiro-are and Mara Bridge Patrol Teams, as well as members of the GSU who had spotted the man and radioed our men. The area was searched and rangers quickly found scraps of paper recently discarded as well as some pieces of string.

Evidence of human activity inside the park.

Unfortunately the poachers were nowhere to be found. We searched all the surrounding thickets and along the lugga, but it was difficult to see where they had gone. Rangers did however find a poachers camp with dried hippo meat hanging in a tree.

Hippo meat hanging in a tree.

On Monday, rangers patrolling the Serengeti side near Mara Bridge came across another
poachers camp near Sand River, which had been deserted about 10 days earlier. It was very close to where the poachers camp was found on Sunday, as well as the man that the GSU had spotted. Rangers were able to tell that the poachers had been able to kill two hippos and had left with all of the meat.

It was agreed that although outside the Mara Triangle, this area is now a key area to check for poaching and should be patrolled regularly.

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Category: Lodges & Camps | Date: Jun 17 2008 | By: Kimojino

William and I have spent most of the day closing off all the tracks that lead from the bottom road to the river between Olpunyata and Serena. It is a tiring job of shifting stones in the midday sun and even more frustrating when you find that drivers have mostly ignored the road blocks by going round the stones and damaging the delicate river area further.

Road Closed!

I can tell from the tracks that it was drivers from another lodge this time who went round the stones, and managed to make a brand new road next to the water in just a couple of days.

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Category: Lodges & Camps | Date: Jun 14 2008 | By: Kimojino

By request, this photo has been removed. (23.6.08)

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