Masai Mara National Reserve

  Masai Mara, Kenya
Saturday, June 23, 2007

Park Entrance

The search for the Big Five (Elephant, Rhino, Buffalo, Lion, and Leopard; they are called the big 5 because of the dangers they pose to humans)and every other animal. I started my trip with a little 3 day/2 night excursion to the Masai Mara National Reserve. I was on my safari with 2 Brits (John and Laura), 2 Aussies (Annette
and Jess) and our Kenyan driver Abraham.

Tour Members

It was an 8 hour drive to cover the 155 miles from Nairobi to the Reserve through the Great Rift Valley, due to the bumpiest most pot-holed filled roads I have ever encountered, YET! I realize
it's a long way to Jo'berg!

Landcruiser

Acacia Camp

Upon arriving at the camp we found out we wouldn't have to pitch our tents since we would be staying in permanent tents (already pitched with cots and mattresses). It was a pleasant surprise to finally get a look at a campsite and I was told that most in Africa are quite similar. The campsite consisted of about 40 tents and an area for about
30 more to be pitched, a couple of showers and toilets, a couple of big
barbecue grills, and a bar.

My Tent

The next morning we were up at 6:30 to start our safari since the best time to see a kill is early in the morning before the sun fully rises, and ohhh yeah that's what I am here for --- that National Geographic photo of a lion killing a zebra. Within 30 minutes of entering the park Abraham pulls off road and starts driving through the grass, "It's a cheetah" he says.

Cheetah

We all jump up and start firing away on are cameras as like 20 other vehicles converge on the spot.

Going Off Road for the Cheetah Shot

After about 10 minutes of sitting there watching the cheetah we pull away with the feeling that we are off to a good start. Unfortunately, what I didn't realize was that most of a game drive is; is just that - A Drive, an 8 hour drive searching for animals, or the hard to find ones at least! Don't be misunderstood, there are plenty of animals to see and the landscape is beautiful,

Mara Landscape

but after you have seen thousands of zebras, wildebeests, and gazelles wandering around you really do want to see a big cat attack.

Zebra - Wildebeast Migration

Gazelle

After a few hours we finally came upon some elephants, giraffes, and buffaloes while Abraham was searching for the lions.

Elephant Family

Giraffes

I think he wanted to find them even more than I did. That's the thing about the drivers, they want to find all the animals so everyone is happy and they get a nice tip at the end. Well right after lunch Abraham came through for us all as we came upon a pride of lions about 400 meters from the road. Even with my zoom lens I could only get a little spot on my camera, however as soon as the other vehicle in front of us pulled away he told us he would go off road and pull right up next to them so we could get some good photos.

Lion

Lioness

Well, I guess he earned his tip!
After the game drive we visited a Masai Village and Masai School to see how the Masai people lived.

Masai Greeting Song

It was an interesting experience to learn more about the Masai people and how they live. The Masai are basically African cowboys and who are very protective of their herds because the more cows you have the more wealthy you are and the more wives you have. It goes something like this - 7 cows are the dowry payment for a wife and 1 cow costs about $110. Of course, each wife gets there own house inside the village, however, they must make it themselves with sticks and cow dung!

Masai House

All in all it was a good trip even though 24 hours were spent in a landcruiser traveling over bumpy roads. I saw 3 of the big 5 along with most every other animal you associate with Africa, some amazing landscape, and learned more about the Masai people and culture.