Kenya: Masa Mara

The trip to Masa Mara from Serengeti was rightfully coined the “Endless Planes” by one of our fellow travelers. What could easily have been a four hour drive, had it not been for the border restrictions, turned into eight legs of flights including three plane changes, in one day. The shortest flight was three minutes, and the longest, nearly an hour. We were quite worn and agitated when we arrived at our last safari destination and had it not been for our lucky find that evening, we would have considered the day a total waste. The driver took us immediately from the airstrip to a tree where we were able to get close up with the leopard. We watched it for nearly an hour as it slowly woke. Once again, our patience paid off as we followed it into a little bushy area, spy and successfully kill its dinner, a dik dik. Amazing.
The accommodation at the Masa Mara was similar to the Serengeti in that it was another tented camp. This time, there was a bath tub located on the patio (nice!). We listened to hippos play in the water below our patio throughout the evening and walked out of our room to greet four hippos staring at us each morning.
At Masa Mara the rules were a little different on the safari in that we were not restricted to roads. When animals of interest were sighted or believed to be in a specific area, through the grass and bush we went. On our full day in the area, we managed to find a couple cheetahs with their cubs. One cub was approximately three months old and the other cubs were just born. They were so cute; I just wanted to take one home with me. We also learned from our guide, that of the cats, the cheetah is the only cat that does not have the wild ‘instinct’. Should a cheetah be raised in captivity, it will never know any different than the behavior taught by its owners, where a lion in comparison, would eventually realize it was meant to hunt and kill. Another interesting fact was that of the cats, the leopards were the most successful hunters. Also in the area, we got close up with lions that appeared to be honeymooning (mating period), partook in our sunrise balloon ride, and visited with the Maasais in one of their villages.
The balloon ride was scheduled bright and early so that we would be in the air as the sun broke across the horizon. Neither Mike nor I had participated in a balloon ride before so it was an experience we were looking forward to. The mornings (and evenings) are pretty brisk so we dressed in layers and packed our winter hats. Of course, with the heat given off by the balloon, we were over prepared. The ride lasted about an hour and a half and took the direction the wind swept us. We crossed over the plains and river while searching for and sometimes spooking, the wildlife. The pilot detailed interesting facts about the animals we saw and spoke to the art of ballooning. We ended with a solid landing on the wrong side of the river so it was quite some time before we were picked up by someone who was able to make it across. The previous night of rain had swelled the river so it was too high to cross in many areas. The balloon ride was followed by a breakfast on the plain. Long tables were set up with a buffet breakfast including made-to-order eggs, mimosas, and bloody mary’s. Can’t be that!
At the Maasai village, our host discussed the roles of men and women in their culture including their traditional dances. We were invited into their homes to see how they lived and encouraged to participate in the dances. The homes were made of dirt, cow dung, and water and are built by the women of the village. Two main rooms provide accommodation for the calves (cattle is very important to the traditional Maasai who believe all cattle, including those raised in the US, belong to them) and for the resident family. The living area consists of a fire pit, bed for the adults, and bed for the children. No electricity means no lights other than that provided by the fire. The building includes only a small window so while the fire smolders, the room becomes very smoky. The people are so used to the smoke that it doesn’t irritate them. I thought it was a very interesting experience. At the end of the tour, we were provided the opportunity to purchase some of the masks and beaded jewelry and bowls. Of course, I couldn’t resist the temptation!