THOMSON’S GAZELLES IN MASAI

What I can say is that the bandwagon leads to adventure. Thomson’s gazelles follow the running wildebeests from Serengeti to Masai Mara via Mara River. Their interaction is amazing, but these survivors reach the pastureland of Mara. They are considered to be a subspecies of the red-fronted gazelles, and they are famously known by many people. They are quite numerous, exceeding 500,000 in number and are characterized by white rings around their eyes and black stripes running from the corner of the eye to the nose. Let’s not forget the rufous stripes that run from the horns to the nose, with a light forehead. Socialization among these species occurs early in the morning and evening. Old males prefer to live solitary lives, while those breeding enjoy their territory. The games these species engage in during these meetings include stotting and pronking, where they move and jump on stiff legs around the national park.
Thomson’s gazelles are unique. Let me take you through their means of communication, probably through visual awareness, contracting the skin of their bodies, and stamping (this is usually used as an alarm when in danger). Surprisingly, these small species are herbivores, feeding on short grass. That’s why, in most cases, they follow the wildebeests as they move to find nutritious pasture. Dry seasons are intense for all grass eaters, forcing them to resort to feeding on seeds, tree leaves, and twigs. They have a behavior of being polygamous, which means that they mate with a variety of females. This is done twice a year, with a gestation period of 180 days, yielding only one baby who is nursed in a special area, protecting the little one from predators. These young ones later come out and start grazing with the mother, also interacting with the members in the herd. Astonishingly, all this happens in the rainy season. Thomson’s gazelles like lying, standing, and gazing, usually done in the morning, midday, and evening. So, if you wish to see these species, those time frames are the right periods. Not to forget the dry season when you see a variety crossing over to Maasai Mara National Reserve. When you come for your safari, you can also engage in activities such as camping, which provides both private and public sections, nature walks, bush meals, and game driving, to mention a few.
These fast animals are a sight to behold, so don’t miss out on this adventure in the national park.