Masai Mara National Reserve

On our last day at Naboisho Camp we did an all day game drive to the Masai Mara. We were hoping to catch the tail end of the Great Migration where over a period of a few weeks, 11/2 million  wildebeest cross the Mara River in search of food and water. The timing is dependent on the rains and availability of food and sadly (for us) this year it started approx three weeks earlier than usual.

We did end up seeing 100,000+ wildebeest (the stragglers according to Wilson) who hadn't crossed yet but there has been some rain which meant there was food, so they were in no hurry to make the crossing.

Even though we missed the crossing it was wonderful to see so many wildebeest dotting the landscape. Apparently, at the height of the migration, there is no landscape to see as it is entirely covered with the wildebeest. It must be amazing.

On our drive to the Mara, we went by Talek Town. There is a school there so children within 'walking' distance, who are being sent to school were all dressed up in there uniforms heading for school. Some of them travel huge distances, on foot, but they are the lucky ones because at least they get a chance at an education. The school had a big Canadian Flag on the gate because it is sponsored by Canadians.

Wilson found a safe area (i.e. no menacing animals in sight and plenty of open space so you can see if any decide to come by to pay a visit) to setup a table and chairs so we could have our boxed breakfast. It was so beautiful and serene sitting there looking out over the savannah.

The Mara is beautiful country, much like the conservancy although maybe a little hillier. The one thing we didn't like was the large numbers of tourists vehicles. Whereas in the conservancy, 2 vehicles would be considered a traffic jam, in the Mara, there can be upwards of a dozen vehicles in the area trying to get a glimpse of the animal(s). Surprisingly, for the most part, the animals seemed unfazed but we still felt sorry for them. Historically, animals are afraid of upright man much more so than vehicles.

Here are some pictures from our day at the Mara:

Loved the Warthogs.

Breakfast anyone?

Steve and Wilson

Hold on tight - a common refrain

Our first elephant sighting. We didn't see any elephants in the conservancy although others in our camp did. 

Steve's favourite African bird, the lilac breasted roller.

This is exactly how I imagined the landscape would be

Hippos at the hippo pool

First of 3 cheetah sightings in the Mara

Our first real leopard sighting - not counting the invisible guy up in the tree that Wilson found. 

Cheetah #2  in the Mara notice the bloody paw - someone has been hunting

Birds eat ticks from many of the animals

a (wooly necked?) stork

Grey backed shrike.

Mara River - Hippos

See the bird eating the ticks?

Mara River Crocs

Spurfowl

Our 3rd Cheetah sighting in the Mara

Wildebeest dotting the landscape

Secretary bird ( because of the white blouse and black skirt).

Eland.