After months of thinking about it and planning it, we finally did it. We went on a SAFARI! A few weekends ago now, we all took Friday off from our internships and headed to the Maasai Mara for three days. We stayed in a tented camp just outside the Mara for two nights as we went on safari during the days/evenings. We took two vans with tops that popped up so we could stand and look out as we drove. After arriving at the camp and enjoying a delicious lunch we rested for a few hours before heading out on our first game drive. The wind rustled through my hair as our van took us into the Mara, bumping back and forth over numerous potholes as we drove. I looked over the vast landscape that seemed never-ending, watching the lowering sun light up the long golden grass, and admiring the sheer beauty of the place. I thought to myself that even if we had managed not to see any animals the entire time, the natural beauty of the land would have been more than enough to make it worthwhile.
However, almost as soon as we entered the reserve, we spotted herds of wildebeest, impalas, zebras, and Thomson gazelles grazing. Off in the distance we spotted giraffes, heads buried in the trees. Our driver pulled off the road and we sped off until we were only feet away from them. He paused for us all to admire their majestic nature before heading off again. As we drove we noticed all the carcasses and bones littering the landscape, including that of a giraffe on the road, lion’s teeth marks visible up and down its spine. As the sun dropped lower in the sky the clouds turned various shades of pink and orange and framed the green rolling hills in the distance. We pulled up to a heard of elephants and I felt tears well up in my eyes. Most you probably know my obsession with elephants and seeing them for the first time in the wild was an overwhelming experience. Just when I thought the day could not get any better we spotted a pair of lions resting under a tree. Just after we pulled up, the lioness stood up and began circling the male lion. Moments later we couldn’t believe our eyes as the animals started mating. It was over as quickly as it began and we were left stunned. Stunned that we were able to witness one of the most fundamental components of life in such a natural setting. It was like watching the circle of life come full circle. We watched it happen several times before heading back to camp to beat the darkness.
However, almost as soon as we entered the reserve, we spotted herds of wildebeest, impalas, zebras, and Thomson gazelles grazing. Off in the distance we spotted giraffes, heads buried in the trees. Our driver pulled off the road and we sped off until we were only feet away from them. He paused for us all to admire their majestic nature before heading off again. As we drove we noticed all the carcasses and bones littering the landscape, including that of a giraffe on the road, lion’s teeth marks visible up and down its spine. As the sun dropped lower in the sky the clouds turned various shades of pink and orange and framed the green rolling hills in the distance. We pulled up to a heard of elephants and I felt tears well up in my eyes. Most you probably know my obsession with elephants and seeing them for the first time in the wild was an overwhelming experience. Just when I thought the day could not get any better we spotted a pair of lions resting under a tree. Just after we pulled up, the lioness stood up and began circling the male lion. Moments later we couldn’t believe our eyes as the animals started mating. It was over as quickly as it began and we were left stunned. Stunned that we were able to witness one of the most fundamental components of life in such a natural setting. It was like watching the circle of life come full circle. We watched it happen several times before heading back to camp to beat the darkness.
Somehow the next day was even better. We saw baby warthogs, an enormous herd of over 1,000 buffalo, a pair of cheetahs, lion cubs, two male lions, a hyena feeding on a carcass, another heard of elephants, and so much more! We stopped for a picnic lunch under a tree before heading off to the hippo pond. But before we could make it we noticed the brewing storm clouds behind us. Our drivers immediately turned around and sped off faster than I have ever see someone drive on a dirt road. We drove directly into the storm. It was a scene straight out of storm chasers. Rain pelted our van and at points nothing was visible out of the front windshield. I played “Africa” by Toto for my van as we drove… it seemed appropriate. When we finally came out the other side our driver informed us if we had been five minutes later we probably would not have made it because the roads would have flooded and become impassable. After the rain the air was cool and crisp and the drive back to the camp was beautiful. The animals began to emerge back into the fields and we were able to see two male giraffes fight. They fight by “necking,” essentially whacking their necks into one another; it was unlike anything I have ever seen before. It continued to rain throughout the evening and our guides warned us that if it continued we probably wouldn’t be able to go out in the morning.
We got lucky at were able to head out to the Mara again at 6:30 the next morning. The sun was just rising as we drove out and the scene was just breathtaking. Dew covered the grass and the roads were still muddy from the previous night. We weren’t out long though before more rain clouds started to become visible on the horizon and our guides advised we leave and begin the long drive back to Nairobi. But before we had to head out we spotted one more pair of lions. The male lion was a darker color than the other three we had seen. He affectionately licked the female lion with him and again we were able to witness lions mate. It was a great end to such an incredible weekend.
We got lucky at were able to head out to the Mara again at 6:30 the next morning. The sun was just rising as we drove out and the scene was just breathtaking. Dew covered the grass and the roads were still muddy from the previous night. We weren’t out long though before more rain clouds started to become visible on the horizon and our guides advised we leave and begin the long drive back to Nairobi. But before we had to head out we spotted one more pair of lions. The male lion was a darker color than the other three we had seen. He affectionately licked the female lion with him and again we were able to witness lions mate. It was a great end to such an incredible weekend.