Kenya Part 3

12/9/13

The next morning we saw a family group of lions – again quite a distance away. There was a large male, female and two cubs. 

Again we got a call that leopards were out and we raced towards them but missed. The other vehicle in our group got a good look however before we arrived. They saw three walking across the road.

We also drove up an escarpment to where the film “Out of Africa” was filmed. It has an amazing view over the Nakuru Reserve. Clive and our drivers have never seen so much water in the lake. Many of the roads surrounding it are flooded and this has caused families of jackals  and others to leave their normal habitat and compete with other families for territory. The lake has no natural drainage so may take a few years to get down to previous levels.

Coming down from the escarpment was baboonville proper. We were near the outside of the park and there is a fence around it which is supposed to be baboon proof, partly so that they cannot eat the produce growing on the other side. There are some small gaps in the fence which the baby baboons can get through so they're dispatched to go and bring back the food. Sort of baboon child labour!

We then drove to Pelican Lodge on Lake Elementata where we had lunch. The rest of the day was free because the next few days will be very full on. A good opportunity to relax, sit in the sun, catch up on this diary and do some washing.

 The usual daily pattern is to get up early and leave for a game drive about 6.15 returning around 8.30 for breakfast. Then leaving again and out until about 1pm. Then having lunch, some time off in the afternoon and then another drive from 4 – 6.30pm. It’s very full on and we’re struggling to get adequate sleep because the 9 travellers and guide – Clive - have dinner together in the evenings which is good fun.

13/9/13

We left Pelican Lodge at 7am.

We had a long drive to the Masai Mara National Park. We arrived at midday on the edge of the park. Most of the roads we drove over have been recently built by the Chinese and are good roads but others are still very bumpy. Sometimes the dust is so thick that when a car goes past it is impossible to see anything for a few seconds through the dust. A cotton scarf over the mouth and nose is useful!

Driving through the rural areas was interesting. We passed small settlements with small shops – not more than shacks really. I was struck by the number of young men who seemed to be just sitting around in groups. It is hard to interpret this from a small glimpse but unemployment is high and my assumption is that they don’t have much else to do

Donkeys are quite common in these areas – some carrying huge loads.

This is an interesting picture showing an impala carcass. Leopards often climb trees with their kill so that other animals e.g. hyenas and jackals who do not climb will not take it from them. Apparently these animals will often wait at the bottom of the tree for bits that the leopard might drop inadvertently. Sometimes the whole carcass might drop if the leopard isn't careful. This was an old kill but the carcass remains.

We passed the Mara river where the migration often cross. There were lots of old carcasses and storks picking at them. Bob still cannot understand why the migration doesn't cross over the bridge nearby and avoid the danger and energy used in swimming!





We booked into the Mara Serena Lodge where we stayed for 2 nights.
After lunch we went on a search to see elephants, big cats and the migration. We succeeded in all areas.

After searching fruitlessly for an hour or so we saw a lone female lion on a ridge. We searched unsuccessfully for her mate or cubs. 

Not long after we saw a very recently killed zebra. The exhausted lioness was lying in this bush nearby, exhausted after the hunt and gathering energy before she commenced eating. 

Norman was keen to keep going and a good thing it was because we saw a pride of lions starting to eat a recently killed wildebeest. There were 3 lionesses and about 8 cubs aged about 10 months old. What a sight. You could hear their teeth cracking the bones at times. Two or three ate from different parts with the mothers occasionally growling at the cubs for being too cheeky. The mothers also very lovingly licked some of the baby’s faces after they’d eaten. An unforgettable experience. I was pleased the wildebeest was well dead before we arrived so I didn’t see it being killed although we probably will in the next few days.

This was a very well recorded event by Bob and myself. I think you get the picture from these but we can provide scores more photos if requested!

We drove a bit further and saw vultures finishing off a carcass after the other animals had left. They are very big birds that clearly mean business.

We also saw lots of elephants, many with babies. We saw our first eland, waterbuck, mongoose and more buffalo, giraffes, and zebra.

Mr Jackal

One of many secretary birds.

           Yes this elephant was this      close.

                                                                  Our first puncture.

There were also lots and lots of wildebeest. They are migrating at present and gather together in huge numbers. The hope is that they are gathering and will cross the Mara River in the next day or so which is very special to see. 

The Mara Serena Lodge is on an escarpment overlooking the Masai Mara. Another wonderful day