masai mara

Simba
Originally uploaded by karampot.

after the conference, I was finally able to relax and enjoy the country where I am in. Rushing to the hotel to change and then to the airport to catch our flight, Tarun and I arrived with a lot of time to spare. However, when we came in the building, we were in doubt whether it was a good idea. there were just a row of dusty, plastic chairs for the passengers and a door leading right away to the runway. We even got scolded by the security coz I was taking photos of the airplanes (which was suppose to be a potential terrorist act) and Tarun coz he was smoking a cigarette (which could blow up the whole airport). Well, as we were sitting, Tarun was seriously thinking of leaving me behind, to hell with the money we paid. But when we asked another personnel where the Air Kenya plane was, he told us we were at the wrong side of the airport and immediately he directed us to a thankfully better area which looked like a proper airport. Sighing with great relief we patiently waited for a flight and a little later, two more UN people were going at the same area and the an Indian lady, bless her, had a video cam. Yup folks, that's important coz people might think I was just downloading photos from any web-site but really, the ones featured in this blog is mine, oh mine.

So the plane arrived on time and after 35 minutes, it landed on some sort of airstrip. I say sort of because it was just like a strip where they took out all the grass and put red earth on it to soften the landing... looking around, we were in the middle of nowhere and who knows what kind of animal would come charging at us. But nothing unfortunate happened except for the fact that we have to take another short flight, as in 10 minutes, to another area. Talk about ferry planes. Anyway, we arrived safe and sound, flying at low altitude so we could see the rivers and some animals until we reach Keekorok, the nearest airport.

Upon arrival, we met our guide, Tony, a Masai and working for our camp, the Mara Sarova. He took us immediately for a game drive. A game drive meant we were inside our Land Rover while we drive around the bush (yes the bush because they were bushes about 1 to 2 feet high) now golden and we try to find the animals at their natural habitat. No one is allowed to leave the vehicle because of potential danger to you coz basically these animals are wild and territory is a serious issue. First animals we saw were giraffes and it was awesome. I again felt I was in another world and nature was playing a major part on it and I was but a humble spectator. I saw a group of lions for the first time in the wild but they were just sleeping. Actually they're a lazy bunch coz that's the only thing they do all the time. Except of course when they are hunting. And talking of hunting, there is another type of hunter in that plain and I call it the "tourist herd". The tourist herd flocks right away to places where there are interesting animals particularly when a predator is masticating his breakfast which was, not a minute ago, a live wildebeest or zebra or some other animal. Or where in a river, they try to "catch" a glimpse of an elephant or gazelles hiding in the crevaces. They are usually carried on a white van or a large land rover that can go main road, through the bush, and also a small river to see the animals.

tree & vulture
Originally uploaded by karampot.

But oh the animals were really magnificent and the plains were golden and windy. The acacia tree is very prominent but the Euclea Divinorum, a small tree that looked a delicious green like a wonderful salad, is also rampant. The elephants likes this particular plant as well as the sausage tree which is actually fermented by the locals as their beer. When an animal, like an elephant or giraffe eats this, then it acts funny and fall down. Why? because it has alcoholic elements so they get pissed man! Like completely drunk! The sausage tree is likened to the Amarula of South Africa.

Other things I've learned is that a cheetah or a leopard actually hunts during the day because they don't have great eye sight in the dark. Not like the lions that's why these animals hunt in the evening. In general though, all of them hunt early in the morning or late afternoon when its cooler and since our game drives start early and ends early, I did not see any hunt, only the eating session. But I'm oh so fine with that.

At dusk of the first day, we went finally to the camp, the Mara Sarova... Luxury tents ladies and gentlemen with just electric fences to protect us from predators... nah, just being melodramatic... It was a really nice place with enough amenities that one would need. The people were very friendly and briefed us on the programme the next day. The game drives starts at 6:30 a.m. until 9:00 and we go back for a huge breakfast. Lunch starts at 12:00 and the afternoon game drives starts at 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 in the evening. There was a gift shop for souvenirs and the mail works coz I just received the postcard I sent to Paul from there. Other services were provided including massage and I took one. Oh the bliss!

I went to the tent which had wooden floors and nice furnitures. It actually has a wooden roof but there is a tent inside that covers the whole floor. The bathroom is cemented though and really modern and clean. The only thing is that it doesn't have any lock and one only closes the opening by zipping it down and zipping it right. In the evening, its like sleeping outdoors coz one can hear the animals around the camp and if you let your imagination run wild, you can actually freak out just by thinking that the only thing separating you from them is a thin fabric! yaaaahhhh! But when you get used to it, then its fine and actually fun.

During the dinner, a group of Maasai, the local ethnic clan in the area, were there to entertain the visitors. They were chanting and going around the tables kinda serenading us. They were very dark but their skin color was beautifully complemented by their red tunic and cloak and the wonderful beads around their neck, arms and ankles. They were later dancing a typical Maasai dance, jumping up in the air imitating the gazelles of the Mara. I read that the Maasai are primarily dependent on cattle. They also drink their blood by making a small hole on the neck, let the blood run from there and close it with bandage afterwards until the next session. They also drink the milk from the cattle which is why they have smooth skin.

On the last day we were looking for rhinoceros but we were not very lucky and we were even running late for the airport. Tony was racing through the rough road like the devil was after him but we were able to make it on time. While waiting to board, I saw that they have a duty free shop and I immediately took a photo. It was too cool to miss. While on board, we were informed that we were stopping over several spots to bring and pick up passengers. It turned out to be 5 landings and take-off which left me more exhausted than a long-haul flight. But I did enjoy the trip and was glad I made that decision. I have been on a safari and I totally enjoyed it. You can see some of the photos I've chosen on this link here.

for more information on the Mara, I found this link informative. Click here.