I guess there’s more to Kenya than the stereotypes. But I’ll hit you with one of those stereotypical images today. The Maasai Mara.For the non-African readers, I’d like to point out that even as an African, I didn’t see my first lion, or several of the other Big Five, until after my 21st birthday. So, no, lions don’t freely roam our streets, but I totally certain that y’all knew that already! Let me take the time to say “Thank you” to the most awesome aunt-and-uncle pair for allowing me to experience this magical weekend – magical for a city girl like me.
Day 1: This was my introduction to the Maasai Mara. Every bit of the evening game-drive was a photo opportunity waiting to happen.
Motorcades are not uncommon, particularly when the rarer of the Big Five is spotted. On this particular day, two cheetah siblings were spotted lazing around after a heavy meal of gazelle, word quickly spread around to the various tour guides by way of radio and each drove to the spot to bring their eager tourists.
Zebras are probably the easiest animals to encounter at the Mara. They were everywhere, in large herds and oblivious to the van loads of tourists driving past.
Elephant and cub crossing an all-weather road.
Elephant and cub grazing.
A pride of eleven-odd lionesses and cubs that we encountered on the morning of the second day. The golden light is sunrise. The Maasai Mara Ecosystem holds one of the highest lion densities in world.
To close it all, a magnificent sunsets of the African Savannah. I realize this picture does everything to reinforce stereotypes of Africa – but this is only one side of it.
– Wendy –
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Oh how I miss this! The wrinkled elephant skin is always my favourite! And you smell them before you see them… *falls into reminiscent daze*
[…] This week’s guest post is from my friend Wendy,a Kenyan currently based in Vientiane, Laos. She takes us on a tour to Hangzhou China, you can read her previous contribution here […]
The Masai Mara has been on my list for a while now. Thanks for reminding me.
Goodness, Rachel / Wendy – you took me right back to the safari we went on a few years ago. Your photo of that straight length of road could have been the same one we took to our camp.
I remember the afternoon / evening our guide spotted a cheetah. He was hidden in the tall grass, hard to tell he was there but our guide was confident. We waited for what felt like hours – our guide talking quietly on the radio, bringing more jeeps of excited visitors to our location. We stayed but some left. Then the cheetah moved suddenly and unexpectedly and I fumbled my little point and shoot camera. Worse, I didn’t see a thing!
Those zebras are absolutely beautiful. Looking at them, looking at all animals makes me feel profoundly appreciative of nature, nature’s gifts. And the sunsets. Africa, especially outside the cities, knows how to do sunsets!
Thanks for the tour!
You’re welcome Marcia. Glad to have you back