It’s still seems a long way from daybreak when I have to get up. At least it’s stopped raining and its not long before Kanyo is up and we start preparing a breakfast of fresh pineapple and watermelon. We’re heading back into the Mara for another game drive with the hope of seeing the migration crossing the river and will be waiting at the gate for opening time. We take the main road and, once again, are overwhelmed by the numbers of zebra and particularly wildebeest, all moving in herds, in single file. We add buffalo to the Big 5 tick list but so far, we haven’t spotted any giraffe or elephant within the Mara. I turn to Kanyo and ask if there any giraffe in the park. Just then, we spot an giraffe crossing the road ahead. It’s a mum with a baby which can’t be more than a couple of days old. Aaah. Well. That worked. I try again. ‘Kanyo, are there any elephant in the Mara’. Sure enough, almost immediately we spot an elephant in the distance. I go for gold. ‘What about leopards and cheetahs?’ Oh well. You can’t win them all. We continue towards the river, spotting more giraffe and elephants along the way. It’s surprising how difficult it is to spot an elephant.
The sun is out and it’s a gorgeous day. We are about half an hour from the river when Alice has to meet a certain need. Alice. Who has been keen to see a lion kill. Alice. Who would be very happy if one of our number would sacrifice themselves in the cause, and at least get mauled, or scratched.. Alice needs to go get off the truck. The truck which we are not allowed to get off inside the park, under any circumstances. Kanyo consults and it is agreed that we are in a relatively safe location but that going off road is definitely off limits.
Alice looks around, pleading. ‘Does anyone want to go with me?’ It’s tempting, but already we are a team. If one goes, we all go together.
Down by the river, there is no sign of the herds, but there a several hippos lounging in the water. Along the opposite bank are several logs, which most of us ignore till one twitches. Suddenly they are clearly identifiable as crocs. Waiting for dinner. A consultation with the rangers reveals that they are unlikely to get dinner there today, so we head off back towards the exit, still marvelling at the herds of wildebeest, zebra and other wildlife and adding vulture, mongoose (or is it mongeese?) and ostrich to our vast list of wildlife spotted.
Pretty soon, we are back on the rough road to Nairobi and out the other side towards Naivasha (Moving Water) and luxury. A proper campsite with toilets, showers and everything. As a bonus we will be there two whole nights with a late start on the second. It’s a long queue for the showers before dinner!
Tonight’s warning is not to stray down to the lakeside after 6pm. It is to be hoped that the electric fence will work long enough to prevent the hippos from straying up to us. Their call only keeps us awake for a millisecond.
The sun is out and it’s a gorgeous day. We are about half an hour from the river when Alice has to meet a certain need. Alice. Who has been keen to see a lion kill. Alice. Who would be very happy if one of our number would sacrifice themselves in the cause, and at least get mauled, or scratched.. Alice needs to go get off the truck. The truck which we are not allowed to get off inside the park, under any circumstances. Kanyo consults and it is agreed that we are in a relatively safe location but that going off road is definitely off limits.
Alice looks around, pleading. ‘Does anyone want to go with me?’ It’s tempting, but already we are a team. If one goes, we all go together.
Down by the river, there is no sign of the herds, but there a several hippos lounging in the water. Along the opposite bank are several logs, which most of us ignore till one twitches. Suddenly they are clearly identifiable as crocs. Waiting for dinner. A consultation with the rangers reveals that they are unlikely to get dinner there today, so we head off back towards the exit, still marvelling at the herds of wildebeest, zebra and other wildlife and adding vulture, mongoose (or is it mongeese?) and ostrich to our vast list of wildlife spotted.
Pretty soon, we are back on the rough road to Nairobi and out the other side towards Naivasha (Moving Water) and luxury. A proper campsite with toilets, showers and everything. As a bonus we will be there two whole nights with a late start on the second. It’s a long queue for the showers before dinner!
Tonight’s warning is not to stray down to the lakeside after 6pm. It is to be hoped that the electric fence will work long enough to prevent the hippos from straying up to us. Their call only keeps us awake for a millisecond.
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