It’s been a while. I’m sure you all have noticed the lack of regular posts on the blog. I have been quite busy and it doesn’t help that I have not had the chance to travel of late.

I visited the Masai Mara last year, you can check out the original post here. As promised I will be sharing some of the images and highlights of that trip that I did not manage to fit in that last post.

Maasai Mara

Image Source Christopher Michel


The Mara River – a natural frontier that separates the Mara in Kenya and Serengeti in Tanzania – is one of the places I just had to visit. The river is the stage of one of the world’s most spectacular natural events – a movement of animals so immense, that it has been dubbed one of the “Seven New Wonders of the World”. Over two million wildebeest and other herbivores migrate from the Serengeti National Park in Tanzania to the greener pastures of the Masai Mara National Reserve in Kenya from July through to October.

Maasai Mara_Wildebeest migrationThe Wildebeest migration. Image Source Simon Belcher

 

Well, I visited the Mara just when the migration had ended so  I wasn’t able to witness the amazing spectacle.

Maasai Mara_Carcas

Not everyone makes it.

 

Scenes from my walk along the Mara River. You’re not permitted to walk alone, any person(s) must be accompanied by an armed guard.

Maasai Mara_Mara River

 

Maasai Mara_Mara River1

 

Maasai Mara_Mara River rocks

 

Maasai Mara_Hippos

 

Maasai Mara_Hippo

 

Maasai Mara_Hippo and calf4

 

Maasai Mara_Hippo and calf3

 

Maasai Mara_Hippo and calf

 

Maasai Mara_Crocodile1

 

Maasai Mara_Crocodile

 

Maasai Mara_Egyptian goose

 

I got to see lots of animals that somehow made up my missing the migration. The extremely knowledgeable guides go out of their way to make sure the guests see everything there is to see. The game drivers always alert each other via radio especially when they spot lions. So as soon as our driver was alerted of a lioness in the vicinity we drove off to the spot. There she was walking stealthily up the river bank. Below were some zebras quenching their thirst.

Maasai Mara_Lioness

 

Maasai Mara_Lioness2
Maasai Mara_Zebra drinking water

 

After a quick lunch break it was soon time to go back to the camp.

Maasai Mara_Mongoose

This little guy wanted to join us for lunch

 

The drive back to the camp was quite long but I didn’t mind since there was loads too see. The Mara is just the picture perfect location for that African acacia tree sunset cliché .

You know the one: a blood-red sinking sun, throwing a lone acacia tree into relief as twilight sinks over the savannah. You probably remember it from the Lion King. And according to dozens of publishers and designers, it’s the platonic ideal for book covers relating to Africa. – KELSEY CAMPBELL-DOLLAGHAN

The Masai Mara has lots of those (the lone trees) which if timed during the perfect sunrise/sunset will get you that cliché African book cover.

Maasai Mara_Lone tree1

 

MaasaiMara_Lone tree3

 

Sunrise in the Mara

 

Lone trees aside there were still more animals to be seen Lions, Cheetahs, Elephants, Impala, Giraffes, Zebras, Hyenas, etc .

Maasai Mara_Elephant1

 

Maasai Mara_Elephant2

 

Maasai Mara_Elephant

 

Maasai Mara_Elephant eating grass

 

Maasai Mara_Cheetah

 

Maasai Mara_Cheetah (2)

 

Maasai Mara_Giraffe drinking water

 

Maasai Mara_Impala

 

Maasai Mara_Impala (2)

 

Maasai Mara_Buffalo Herd

 

Maasai Mara_Ox Pecker

 

Maasai Mara_vervet

 

Maasai Mara_Ostrich

 

After a long day driving around the reserve we decided to go visit a Masai Village – a walking distance from Rhino Camp. The price ksh 600 ($6) per head after negotiating with one of the village representatives.

The visit started of with a traditional dance performed by the men of the village. It was far too dark for me to take good photos of the dance. Afterwards they demonstrated how to make fire. This was done using two pieces of wood. The stick is made of cedar and the bottom piece of wood is softer. Once there are enough ashes they’re put onto some tinder and the flame.

Maasai Mara_Man making fire1

 

Maasai Mara_Man making fire2

 

Maasai Mara_Man making fire3

 

Maasai Mara_Village dogs

 

We then took a tour of the manyattas (traditional dwelling of the Masai) and even got to taste their traditional brew. I know it looks nasty but it was actually really good, it tasted quite sweet because of the honey. The floating bits you see are the remnants of a honeycomb.

Maasai Mara_Traditional brew

 

I find it interesting learning about other people’s cultures but I am generally hesitant when it comes to things like village visits. It was obviously all for show, the dances, fire-making etc which I didn’t mind because it is exactly what I had been expecting. I do understand that revenue from such village visits is one of the ways some of the locals that live near the Mara make a living. My biggest concern however is one can never be quite sure if the revenue such visits generate gets to those who need it most.

Nevertheless I did enjoy my visit and if anyone was interested in making a similar visit I would not dissuade them.

Maasai Mara_Woman1

 

Maasai Mara_Woman

 

The Masai Mara experience is really one of a kind. Arguably this is the best place on earth where you could see the big 5 in abundance.

I was in the Masai Mara outside of the main migration period. Still I got to experience the real magic of the Mara. The beauty of the quiet season: you get to see all the usual wildlife attractions, minus the human traffic, even though the herds are on a much smaller scale. Sometimes we were the only vehicle we could see anywhere a midst the vast Savannah plains.

For any seasoned safari traveler, I highly recommend visiting the Mara in the quiet season – it’s a whole new experience without losing any charm and much cheaper too.

 

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16 Comments

  1. July 1, 2016 at 10:31 pm — Reply

    These photographs are just incredible Rachael. I went to Tanzania for a safari in Selous for my honeymoon but have never been to Serengeti or Masai Mara. I’d always imagined wanting to go for the migration in the future but judging by the experience you had, I”m tempted to go in quieter season! I know what you mean about village visits – I’ve been on a couple of similar ones and although I enjoy them, I always just hope deep down that the money is going where it should do.

  2. July 2, 2016 at 5:21 am — Reply

    Amazing photos. A truly fascinating area on this small planet. Are the armed guards for protection from the animals?

    • July 7, 2016 at 7:07 pm — Reply

      Yes they are, it would be a really bad idea to take a solo walk.

  3. July 3, 2016 at 8:42 am — Reply

    These photographs are exceptional, Rachel. I love the sky with the lone trees.

  4. July 3, 2016 at 11:00 am — Reply

    I have always loved your photos, and nothing has changed.

  5. July 3, 2016 at 2:17 pm — Reply

    These are wonderful photos and I really love to see these wildlife.Lonely tree captures are amazing too.

  6. July 4, 2016 at 1:21 pm — Reply

    I love these photos!Very professionally taken

  7. Manesha
    July 4, 2016 at 3:26 pm — Reply

    For a minute you can think the Hippos were left behind from the migration, plus I hope you guys gave the little guys something to eat..

  8. July 4, 2016 at 10:12 pm — Reply

    Hi Rachel,
    I too have not been posting regularly because of work and because of work have had fewer opportunities to travel but I’m getting back slowly.
    I love this post. Glad I visited today as the Masai Mara/Serengeti Migration is high on my list. Despite the expense, it would be a treat to see the Migration even tho I’m not sure if I could handle seeing animals catching their prey.
    I did a safari in Zimbabwe in 2010 (time flies!), and was talking about it just last night. Reading your post brought back the memories – seeing lions and their cubs, elephants, rhinos (they’re incredibly fast runners!), and beautiful birds. We ended up seeing 4 of the Big 5 and some incredible sunsets, several lone trees and some amazingly huge termite hills!

    • July 7, 2016 at 7:03 pm — Reply

      Marcia that is my exact struggle. Work has taken over my life and I have found myself saying no to travel opportunities *sigh*. I’m glad the post brought back good memories. I too would love to visit Serengeti.

  9. July 5, 2016 at 7:07 pm — Reply

    These are fantastic photos. i hope you have a good telephoto lens and didn’t actually get that close to a crocodile, even a sleeping one!

    • July 7, 2016 at 7:01 pm — Reply

      I was using a zoom lens. There is no way I could get that close to a crocodile, sleeping or not.

  10. Vincent Kimutai
    July 7, 2016 at 7:15 am — Reply

    Just ran into this blog while trawling the internet, where have I been all my life?
    Brilliant writing, fantastic pictures.

    • July 7, 2016 at 7:00 pm — Reply

      Thank you Vincent.

  11. July 17, 2016 at 11:30 pm — Reply

    I did the neighboring Serengeti. Had a blast!

    • October 10, 2016 at 2:29 pm — Reply

      Serengeti is definitely on my bucket list. Hopefully I’ll be able to go in the near future.

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