Into Masai Mara

Post for the 2nd of August 2023

We had been given a 0700 pickup call the previous evening. But, with all the carnivorous input assisted by the alcohol, we were a wee bit delayed.

It so happened that the vehicle that came to pick us up was not the vehicle that was to take us to the Mara, but the vehicle that was to take us from hotel to the vehicle that was to take us to the Mara. The driver was getting hustled by his already picked up passenger, who had been woken up earlier !!

Got into the transit vehicle by 0730 and reached the offices of the Tourist operator. Were transferred to a Land Cruiser, which had two Italians sleeping in the rear seats.

Our driver was a middle aged guy with greying hair and a ready laugh, called Geoffery. He and his vehicle, along with the Italians were bound to us for the period of the Mara safari.

It took us another hour to get all papers in order and start the journey to the Masai Mara.

The drive from nairobi towards the Masai Mara took us along the great Adfrican rift. The view was spectacular. Also sighted a tiny animal, called the Rock Hyrax, belived to be most closely related to the Elephant by DNA.

Reached our destination by 1430 for late lunch. Fare was pretty basic and the same for the next 3 days - beef curry, cabbage and carrot vegetable, lentils and rice. Breakfast was eggs, sausages and bread.

Our accommodation for the next three nights was tented. Not bad at all. Had hot water in the shower, clean toilets and sheets.

Got our initial sightings of Zebras, Impalas and the Wildebeast as we were at lunch.

We were to leave for our evening safari at 1600. So were up and ready by then.

Got to know the Italians in the interim. The two were from Florence, on a African trip - three days of wildlife and five on the beach. Not decided is they were brothers, father and don, or just friends !! But did learn that the younger had a thing for Reptiles !!

Over lunch we had discussed the details of the next couple of days. It was decided that we would ask for clarifications on the safari coverage to two specific areas - the Mara River and the Mara Triangle.

We boarded the land cruiser, now in safari more.

And, as we waited for the Italians to come, the kids asked Geoffery the question on the River. He was miffed that anyone could ask him a question on where and when. In his mind, he was boss of the safari and would brief us day on day. This obviously pissed some of them of, being of the genre who wanted to know what is ahead. Well, for me, it was all a discovery, so cautioned against pissing the main ingredient of our recipe off even before the dish preparation had commenced.

As Geoffery started the vehicle, the question of the Triangle was tossed at him !! He laughed it off saying it was too expensive for us to even think of going in. It was a callous remark made with a laugh. But, at that time, that was his opinion of us.

Equations changed as the day wore on. It all turned out very well. We did go to the river. We did go to the Triangle. Geoffery did go out of his way to help our sightings. Once he realised he was in the company of people who could sight birds and animals, and, name them before he could. He even became helpful.

Our conjecture was that he was used to idiots. And, had developed the habit of not feeding them too much, of either detail or hope, earlier than necessary.

As he saw us off at the airport three days later, he thanked us for what he had learned from us personally and professionally during the interactions.

We entered Masai Mara at 1615 on the 2nd of August.

The place is spectacular. What hits you first is the expanse of the savannah forest. It hits you again, and again, and again. It leaves you in awe of nature. That it is intact, allowed to maintain itself, is a blessing for all.

This is the list of animals and birds we sighted on that first day. Followed by pictures, may not be in the same order. More pictures of some than the other, because they were more striking, better looking, more exciting, more sightings. Any of the above reasons.

Wildebeast

Zebra

Impala

Thompson Gazelle

Topi

Eland

Cape Buffalo

Spotted Hyena

Black backed Jackal

Lion

Cheetah

Hartbeast

Elephant

Masai Giraffe

Lappet faced Vulture

Secretary Bird

Superb Starling

Bateleur

All that in the two and a half hours we were in the Mara. We saw many more new species on the next two days. So, each day will only list what was new, but show pictures of all the sightings for the day.

Have also included pictures of the savannah. In some cases, pictures have many black dots, or the solid line of black . If you can zoom in you will see wildebeast. They were all over the place. In most cases Zebra moved with them.

It was dry season, so the herds were constantly migrating towards fresher pastures. At times across River Mara, at times from Serengity to MasaiMara, or back.

The last picture is our first look at a Cheetah. We saw the same guy again. And, again. And, will show him to you.

That last picture is vultures around a kill. It got us a bit sharper, if that was even possible.

Our first of 14 separate Lion sightings in 2 and a half days in the park. Some were prides like this, some were a pair of males( one being chased by elephants, one getting primed to hunt ), some were mother and cubs, some were single lionesses, one was them feeding, one was them courting and another mating. They are glorious. Even when the elephants chased them away, they left slowly, with dignity, as though saying that this was not the time or place for a fight and so were leaving.