There is a tremendous amount of news to share with you this month from the Great Plains Conservation camps, so without any further delay enjoy the news!

Following a recent soft refurbishment at Mara Plains camp we also welcome Chris and Rachael who have joined us as the new Management couple this month.

The area has seen over 5 inches (125mm) of rainfall by the end of February! The savannas are looking flush with green grasses and this is being enjoyed by all the antelope in the immediate camp vicinity. Needless to say the predators are taking the opportunity of the abundant wildlife right now too.

Generally the game viewing is up to its usual Masai Mara "unbelievable" standard. Regular sightings of lion, cheetah, leopard and elephants abound. Recent guests had the unique experience of watching a mother cheetah chase off a herd of giraffe who had become too inquisitive of her young cubs - certainly a case of David and Goliath.

Other exciting news is that we have decided keep Mara Plains camp open throughout May this year when the majority of Masai Mara camps chose to close. It is a bit of an oddity that camps close in May because it is actually one of the most prolific times of the year, following the seasonal rains, for extraordinary sightings - we welcome you!

Important note for your files is that Bush and Beyond, our central reservations office for our camps in Kenya and Tanzania, has recently contact its contact details with immediate effect.

The new telephone numbers are: +254 (0)20 600 0457 / 5108 / 5980 and fax number: +254 (0)20 600 5008. Email remains as info@bush-and-beyond.com

February and so far March in the Chyulu Hills have been a period of clear skies, perfect starry nights, uninterrupted views of Kilimanjaro and a time for the Acacia trees to flower in all their splendour! The forest is dotted with these white flowering trees and, coming seemingly out of nowhere, are hoards of bees and butterflies to partake in the pollination. Diadem butterflies, Cape Whites, Blue Pansies Orange Tips...the list of butterflies goes on. Butterflies are an excellent indicator of the health of an ecosystem, and judging by the sheer numbers in the Chyulu Hills it would seem the area is well on its way to recover after last year's drought.

Ol Donyo Wuas' three cheetah males are still proving to be a formidable team and they recently managed to take down a fully grown male Hartebeest. Guests discovered them on the kill just minutes after the action and so were able to watch them feast well into the morning.

As the rainfall cycle turns, we enter into another naturally occurring dry period through March. As the outlying pans begin to dry, Ol Donyo Wuas' waterhole is becoming increasingly busier. Throughout the day long there is a constant stream of thirsty wildlife - tentative giraffe, brazen zebra, hot warthog in search of a mud wallow and rutting impala rams who are desperate to win themselves a harem of beautiful ladies. With the log pile hide positioned in a prime location near the waterhole, guests are loving the opportunity of observing game at close proximity.

Torn Ear, one of our big bull elephant, has returned to Ol Donyo Wuas after an absence of almost 3 months. Judging by the way he is pushing the younger, less dominant bulls around the waterhole he definitely seems to have made himself at home again.

As with Mara Plains camp we have decided to keep Ol Donyo Wuas open throughout May. This is a prime location for guests wanting to experience some of the best wildlife experiences available in Kenya during the lovely month of May!

Exciting news form Ride Kenya is that Patrick and Nicola have purchased five new horses this month - two from Tanzania and three from Kenya! After settling in for a couple of weeks the horses will begin their training to become safari horses. One of the new horses is a show jumping stallion, whose parents were imported into Namibia 12 years ago, and comes from Dutch warmbloods lines. We look forward to working with him and possibly breeding him in the near future.

The other four horses are thoroughbreds and will supplement our current safari team - offering fast and athletic rides for our experienced guests.

Ride Kenya has enjoyed a great season from December to March - thank you to all our valued agents who have supported us recently with their riding guests. Right now the horses are enjoying a quiet month at home, with lots of schooling and good rest before the start of upcoming busy season of June to October.

The following Ride Kenya set departure mobile safaris still have space available for those guests wanting to experience Africa by horse back - Chyulu Rides of 7 - 13 June, 12 - 18 July, 20 - 26 September and 6 - 12 December and the Amboseli Rides of
28 June - 4 July, 2 - 8 August, 24 - 30 August and 27 December - 2 January 2011

In May this year, when Lukula Selous reopens for its third season, we welcome Mark and Chloe to our team as the new lodge managers for Lukula Selous camp. They will be embarking on an incredible journey - there is no doubt that the southern Selous is one of the region's most exciting wildlife ares!

Mark and Chloe have previously been working in the northern sector of the Selous and have always had the urge to experience the southern regions. The opportunity to work at Lukula Selous was a dream come true for both of them which they view as one of life's privileges.

This season sees the camp moving 200 meters further upstream and this new location will give guests better views across the Luwego River and the incredible landscape beyond. The new site also offers a few taller trees which will provide ample shade for the guest tents and lounge/dining area. This move has allowed us to make a few improvements to the lounge and dining areas including raising both on a wooden deck. Its large and airy "makuti" roof will shade the newly crafted (and well-stocked) bar as well as leather sofas, a place to sink into and watch the "nature show" go by.

Lukula Selous' tents will be also be built onto raised wooden decks - all facing the river with the addition of comfortable day beds and elegant writing desks outside on the veranda for guests to write down their thoughts as they look out and marvel at some of the most stunning sceneries in Africa.

Two new Landcruisers will also be stationed at camp this year. The vehicles each have two rows of seating with a maximum of four, possibly five, guests per vehicle. They will also be equipped with reference books and the essential pair of binoculars, and of course one of the best guides in Africa available. Brent Leo-Smith is returning to Lukula Selous this year and promises he will take guests on the safari of their lives with many tales to take home. Mark, apart from overseeing the camp operations, will compliment the guiding team and is eager to explore the area first hand!

Remember that Lukula Selous now offers the Lukula Selous Wing Safaris, twice weekly guaranteed departures which commence in June this year. These weekly set departures leave Dar es Salaam on a Sunday and return on a Wednesday or leave Dar es Salaam on a Wednesday and return on a Sunday, making for 3 or 4-night set itineraries respectively. All Lukula Selous Wing Safaris include the return airfare from Dar es Salaam and are guaranteed to operate at a minimum two guests.

The latest news from Zarafa camp is that HMS Zibadianja was launched a few days ago. After a few delays in finalising the floating jetty and putting the finishing touches to the houseboat, the good news is that we are now operational. HMS Zibadianja is offered exclusively to Zarafa guests due to its mooring location.

It is available to guests to take a cruise on Zibadianja lagoon at any time of day with their guide. Recent guests have taken the opportunity of enjoy brunch out on the water after their morning drives. The Zibadianja Lagoon itself tends to be an area where there is a lot of elephant activity and watching them cross the lagoon is quite a spectacle. HMS Zibadianja is a spacious 25 square meters. The furnishings include a dining table, serving counter / bar and in the front section a leather couch with Kelim carpet to compliment the amazing game viewing. The boat comfortably accommodates up to 6 guests at a time for meals and 10 for sundowners.

Zarafa camp has had some phenomenal leopard viewings lately. One female has taken up residence in the Shumbe pan area which is not far from camp. There have bee a number of male leopard sightings too which has resulted in some interesting interactions as boundary lines are disputed. As always the African wild dog have been regular visitors and several have been sighted from the main deck and guest pools at Zarafa.

Selinda camp welcomes two new chefs to our kitchen this month and they have immediately set about adding their unique flavours to the camp's cuisine experience. The camp guests, hailing from across the globe including Norway, Sweden and Australia, have been spoilt for choice and some have even hinted at kidnapping the chef of the day to brave their home countries. Many have commented that this is not just an African safari but also a Culinary safari due to the variation and excellent quality dishes being served.

Young leopard cubs have been sighted recently but the mother continues to elude us with a very private and secluded den location. This is not surprising considering we have two male lion moving through the area. Here too, both our lion prides brag with the recent arrival of between two and four cubs, respectively. The cubs have moved for the first time and remain shy - most sightings been recorded a little blurs on film so far.

For further information on all the Great Plains camps please contact :

Hilton Walker
Great Plains Sales, Marketing and PR Manager
Email: hilton@greatplainsconservation.com
Skype: hilton.walker
Telephone: +27 (0) 31 765 3947 or +27 (0)82 579 9055
Facsimile: +27 (0) 866 716 710

Caitlin Lepper
USA Representative
Email: caitlin@greatplainsconservation.com
Skype: caitlinml

Herbie Rosenberg
Australian and New Zealand Representative
Email: herbie@africareps.com
Skype: Herbie.rosenberg

Current Great Plains Conservation and project partners include:

Botswana - The Selinda Reserve - www.selindareserve.com

Tanzania - The Selous Project - www.selousproject.com

Kenya - Ol Donyo Wuas & Maasailand Preservation Trust - www.oldonyowuas.com

Kenya - Ride Kenya - www.ridekenya.com

Kenya - Mara Plains Camp - www.maraplains.com