Kenya at Its Best - Whole Day Safaris at Masai Mara

Day 4 of our Trip  

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We had reached Mara Sopa Lodge yesterday and enjoyed our evening with Masai Dance. Today was the day of a “whole day Safari” including seeing the famous migration of Wilder Beasts, Zebras and Giraffes (if at all it happens as it entirely depends on the mood of the animals to migrate or not to migrate). The Masai Mara National Park Opens for people at 0630. We had planned to have a quick breakfast and start the safari at 0730.  

Being an ex Fauji (ex Military Man) always helps. I think I can be a Good Tour Manager. Our group was out on the road at 0740. A good time with respect to our schedule. In a short time, we reached the Gate and encountered a first and only problem in the whole trip. The security persons wanted our id document (namely Passport) and we were not carrying them (nor did our guide warn us to carry them). However, the Forest staff let us go after verifying our stay details from Sopa Mara Lodge.

As we moved into the forest, the usual sightings started. The Zebras were there, the Impalas were there and so were Giraffes, etc. Flat grassland made it possible to view these animals from up and close. The morning sun rays made the coat of all the animals shine and they were looking magnificent.

Tomson's Gazal, also feel the flat grassland of Masai Mara (Copyright - Harshad Datar, 2018)

Wilder Beast (Copyright - Harshad Datar, 2018)

Lapwing (Copyright - Harshad Datar, 2018)

Heard of Wilder Beasts (Image - Harshad Datar, 2018)

Zebra in its full glory, Africans call it "Donkey with the Strips" (Copyright - Harshad Datar, 2018)

Male Impalas, thrown out of the herd by dominant male (Copyright - Harshad Datar, 2018)

Where is my Food? A Giraffe looking for food (Copyright - Harshad Datar, 2018)

Ground Hornbill (Copyright - Harshad Datar, 2018)

When one is in a National Forest, the aim is to enjoy the nature and the wildlife that is encountered. Every one desires to see the Big Cat (Tigers) in India and Big Five in Africa (out of which Leopard, being a shy animal, is difficult to sight and Lions are few as compared to big herds of animals like Impalas, Zebras) but that desire needs to be curbed else one is left chasing the big cats or big five and miss the pristine forest and grand wildlife in chasing the illusion.

After venturing little more inside we met our first predator (of Masai Mara), a  Cheetah, merrily resting under a tree, oblivious to all the tourist vehicles and camera noise being generated. He looked majestic and cute. See for yourself.

"Parde me Rehene Do" (Let me be behind a curtain), a Cheetah (Copyright - Harshad Datar, 2018)

Let me Rest, you go your way (Copyright - Harshad Datar, 2018)

WHo is There!!!!! (Copyright - Harshad Datar, 2018)

As we moved further we met a flock of Ibis, a herd of African Water Buffalo and an antelope family animal called “Topi”, yes you heard it right, Topi.   

African Water Buffalos (Copyright - Harshad Datar, 2018)

Topi (Copyright - Harshad Datar, 2018)

Venturing further into Masai Mara Reserve we found something light brown on top of a rock. 

From a distance, they were a small mass  of Brown, this is up and close first image (Copyright - Harshad Datar, 2018)

On getting a little closer, we realised we have hit a jackpot, a Pride of Lions were enjoying siesta (maybe, after a great meal). There were about 7 to 8 adult lionesses there, most sleeping and one grand Lioness seemed to be on security duty (difficult for me to shake off my defence background). Our and many other camera shutters started rolling and it felt that we be there for a long time and capture the mood.

Beauty on Duty (Copyright - Harshad Datar, 2018)

Grand and Proud (Copyright - Harshad Datar, 2018)

Scanning for Trouble (Copyright - Harshad Datar, 2018)

Behave yourself Girls (Copyright - Harshad Datar, 2018)

A Lion Pride is composed of a Male Lion and many Lionesses and few cubs. We took one round of this rock formation looking for that Big Lion but did not find one. Lions by nature are lazy, we knew (actually, Eric, the Guide knew) that we can safely move out and come back after some time and the Lionesses would still be there and maybe the Lion too will appear. We decided to look for other beauties of the Jungle (other animals).

Common Drongo (Copyright - Harshad Datar, 2018)

Lo and behold, soon we found a herd of Elephants. Actually, we found a small elephant first and soon realised that there is a full herd of them.

Cute Baby (Copyright - Harshad Datar, 2018)

I have grown  (Copyright - Harshad Datar, 2018)

In Pursuit of Something  (Copyright - Harshad Datar, 2018)

Feeling Hungry, Let me eat something  (Copyright - Harshad Datar, 2018)

When we returned to that rock, we found the Lionesses very much there and soon we also found the Lion of the pride with a cub trying to play with him. That cub was promptly scolded by the Lion.

I am the King  (Copyright - Harshad Datar, 2018)

It's Too Hot

 Poor cubs made an innocent face and sat, see how innocent they look.

I did not do anything

After some modelling for photos, the Lion got up. Walked on top of the rock and drank some water and went to another place to rest. It is impossible to get a resting Lion moving. He is King of the Jungle and a king moves only when he wants (in this case that desire comes only when he is hungry).

Too many people, let me find a new place

Wow, What a Refreshing Drink

Grand and Majestic 

One interesting fact is, all safari vehicles have wireless sets installed and they exchange the sighting information. We also received input about sighting a Leopard on a tree. The place was far. A drive of over 40 minutes took us there. The Leopard was there, sitting on a tree branch but his face was on the other side. It was not possible to go on the other side of that tree. All we got was side view (minus his face and head) but none the less, a Leopard, very shy and difficult to sight animal was sighted by us (those who reached after half an hour could see Leopard walking away).

Get me if you can

We moved on from there and continued meeting some more animals. 

After some time we decided to have our Picnic basket (packed lunch is called Picnic basket by hotels and resorts). As we were sitting down for our lunch under an umbrella Acacia tree Eric got the news of possible migration. We rushed to the spot and waited for a long time (while having our lunch in our safari car).

There were many wilder beast and zebras gathered on both side of the river and they did inch towards the river but their mood possibly changed and they moved away from the banks of Mara. Few Crocodiles missed their Lunch and we missed sighting the famous migration. 

It must be understood that they migrate across the Mara river (animals do not have a notion of a boundary between nations like we have) and surprisingly migration happens from both banks across the river to the other bank, they may be thinking that the grass on the other side is greener and thus switching sides. It is just coincidental that at some places where Mara River forms the boundary between Kenya and Tanzania when these animals migrate, they do migrate from Tanzania to Kenya and vice versa.

All this while some Giraffes were merrily grazing and ambling on the river bank.

Aao Gale Lag Jaye, Two Giraffe (Copyright - Harshad Datar, 2018)

It was almost 1400 hrs. we decided to return back as we were deep inside Masai Mara National Park. While driving along the bank of Mara we saw Crocodiles and Hippopotamus sunbathing on the sandbank of the river.

Crocodile  (Copyright - Harshad Datar, 2018)

Hippopotamus (Copyright - Harshad Datar, 2018) 

As we continued our return journey, at a small stream we witnessed mini-migration of wilder beasts across this stream.

Mini Migration (Copyright - Harshad Datar, 2018)

Wilder Beasts Having their fill, Great Grey Heron in the foreground (Copyright - Harshad Datar, 2018)

We kept meeting our non-predatory friends on our way back. We made it back to Mara Sopa at about 1630 after a very fruitful albeit tiring day into the Masai Mara National Park.

White Backed Vulture (Copyright - Harshad Datar, 2018)

Rhino (Copyright - Harshad Datar, 2018)

Heard of Elephant (Copyright - Harshad Datar, 2018)

SIlver Back Jackal (Copyright - Harshad Datar, 2018)

One safari into Masai Mara was not enough. For us, it was “Yeh Dil Mange More” (Our heart craves for More (of wildlife)). We planned our half – day safari for the next day with Eric and then did usual things of tea, rest dinner and sleep sequence. 

Kenya at its Best -Jungle Safari at Lake Nakuru National Park

Today is day one of our Kenya trip. We had reached Nairobi yesterday late evening. We spent our night at the B & B we had booked. Our Tour Guide cum driver Eric had arrived before time (at 0730 when we had called him at 0800) and was waiting for us in his Toyota Land Cruiser 4 x 4 vehicle.

Our B & B at Nairobi

Toyota Land Cruiser, our Ride for next 6 days

Today was our first ever Safari (in the evening) and everyone was excited. We managed to square up the place in quick time, finish our breakfast and after loading the vehicle set out for Nakuru at about 0830. The highway A 104 leading from Nairobi to Nakuru was very good 4 lane road constructed by the Chinese.

Nairobi - Nakuru Highway (not so good all through)

During this journey of about 180 Kilometres, our first stop was Rift Valley. Rift Valley Run a long distance in Africa. It starts in the north from Israel and goes down all the way to Mozambique in the south across many countries including Kenya and traverses a distance of about 6000 km. This valley has been formed by Tectonic plate activity and it is actually a geographic division of Africa across North to the south.

The Great Rift Valley

 There are few viewing points on the plateau over which the highway travels from where the Valley can be viewed. The small part one sees gives no indications of the length of the whole valley, however,  one gets an idea of the width which is quite a lot in Kenya.

We spent about twenty odd minutes looking at and photographing the Valley. After this break, we moved on and continued our journey to Nakuru. We passed by Mount Longonot which had a crater on it (one can not see it from the road but the edge of the mountain is a give away) as also a National Park. People trek periphery of the creator of Mount Longonot.

Mount Longonot on Google Maps Satellite Image

Mount Longonot Crater

Passing the Mount Longonot and thereafter Lake Naivasha (at a distance) we continued our journey and stopped for a break after about 3-hour drive. After a cup of coffee and some fruits shopping, we restarted our journey. Our Lodge was in the midst of Lake Nakuru National park, almost 20 km inside on a hillock. After taking necessary permit for entry into the national park we moved on and Reached Lake Nakuru Sopa Lodge, our place of stay in the wilderness. It took a total of about 5 hours to reach Nakuru from Nairobi.

Lake Nakuru

The lodge was beautiful and better than our expectation. It also has an infinity swimming pool which was added attraction. After check-in and settling down in our rooms, which overlooked a valley, we had our lunch, rested a bit and at about 1600 set out for our first ever Safari in Kenya, at Lake Nakuru National Park.

Nakuru Spoa Lodge, Rooms

Sopa Room from Ind

Spoa Dining Area

Nakuru National Park is on the floor of the Great Rift Valley. It boasts of very large quantity and variety of wildlife. When one goes for a safari in Africa, everyone looks for the Big Five of Africa. They are Lion, Leopard, Rhinos (both Black and White), Elephant and Cape Buffalo. As for me, big five is okay, the wildlife in Africa is enchanting with or without Big Five. Nakuru National Forest has big four with the fifth one, the Elephant is missing from here. It is a great question as to how nature works. Despite contiguous landscape, some national forests do not have some species of the wildlife.

The safari that we undertook worked out to be great. We got to see most of the wild animals and a large number of birds. Let the blog go to Photo mode. However, it is difficult for a talkative person like me to keep quiet. I would hence intervene once in a while in between photos. Let us start the show.

Water Buck

 

Wild Boar (Africans lovingly call it Pumba) 

Our first encounter with a Lion was this lazy fellow who was sleeping away to glory. We were told that Lions are like that. Once their stomach is full, they just sleep like cazy until they feel the hunger again.

Lazy Lion

Two Rhinos that we found also had joined the Lion in a competition called “who is lazier”.

Two Rhinos in Laziness Competition with Lion

Zebra Crossing

Africans call me "A donkey with the Strips"

Fire Finch

Graceful Gazals

WHo is There. Gazals on Alert

Giraffe

And this Lioness had taken fancy to this branch of a “Yellow Fever Acacia” Tree. She stuck to the branch during our three visits to her in a span of over one and a half hour.

WHo is this so Well framed by the branches of this tree

SHould I stay or should I get do

Should I Sleep?

Time to Change the Place

 Then came the Cape Buffalo

Let me take my Fill

Who is this seeking a share of grass from us

Here are the water birds, many varieties enjoying their time at lake Nakuru

Yellow Billed Stork

Great Cormorant

Egyptian Goose

In all, the start of our Safari trip was grander than expected. The viewing was great and the jungle was soothing. Had a wonderful day of drive from Nairobi, beautiful Jungle lodge and even better safari. Seeing a Lioness on a tree is a rare sighting even for African locals. We were lucky.