Day 2 in the Masai Mara
Day two in Masai Mara
A full day in the Park.
Unfortunately we arrived too late to see active animals, they like to sleep in the day. Managed to take some great pics of lazy lions and a leopard sleeping in a tree.
One doesn’t really have to look for animals, between the drivers network and the large number of safari trucks we know where they are. In one spot we counted 25 trucks just watching a scene. When we approached the lions, who were sleeping in the open, the trucks have to jockey for the best camera shots, often moving a couple of times to help the passengers see. Cheetahs and Hippos were the new animals. We have seen the “-big five” – Elephants, Lions, Leopards Rhinos and Buffalo. All in one day!
The big letdown for me was not being able to see an actual crossing by the Wildebeests at the Mara River. The crossings were filled with Crocodiles and Hippos, all of which attack and impede the crossing animals. Out of the thousands that cross every time some do not make it. Probably because they could not climb the cliffs or got trampled in the mass. Still the vultures enjoy feeding on the carcasses in the river. We may not have seen the crossing but we did see and had to stop the truck, for hundreds of wildebeests moving in double file on their way to newer pastures.
We did make the ‘mandatory’ trip to a Masai Village. Very educational but a bit expensive – $25 usd, however paying this and buying overpriced trinkets did convince us that we were supporting the Village. Seeing the dancing by the men and having the “marriage’ culture explained was most informative. For instance the Chief of the tribe has 10 wives and 53 children. But if a women’s husband dies they cannot have another. The guide was amazed that one of our group had had two husbands.
While we were in the village (kraal) it started to rain, for the usual afternoon shower. The weather in this part of Kenya – the Plains for the Masai Mara, is about the same as the summer weather we left behind in Ontario. Certainly not the blinding sun and heat that we expected. Back to the camp and and an early rise at 5am for a 6 am pickup for a seven hour ride to the next camp.