First stop.........people got on...
2nd stop...people got off, and some other got on...we were 3rd stop.
Masai Mara...where we'd see The Great Migration
We arrived to many jeeps waiting on many folks...
This was our new ride.......and Simon our guide were waiting
Our camp is just off the runway basically but oddly enough the noise is not a problem..this tower is inside our fence, we can go up anytime for viewing
Our home for 4 nites...
Again we were met with cool towels and juice to drink...then we got all the info and signed in....
A familiar game...perhaps we'll play one day while we're here...
All the new info...much like the last Intreids camp...only we can have 3 game rides a day...we have already decided we will change ours to 2 a day....we were told we could get our guide to do whatever worked for us....cool
Our room was not ready so we walked around a bit....a bridge crossing the river that borders the property...you can go out on the bridge, but not out the other end...have seen a small croc and hippo in there so far...
Nice looking pool.....
We finally got checked in...almost exact same room as last 3 nites...just a little bigger but same set up...We all headed to lunch...
We ladies were told to leave the covers on...the waiter counted to 3 and we took them off....lunch for me was a beef stir fry...yum....
Out for our 1st game ride around 330p.....right away we saw buffalo...one of the Big 5 we had not seen....we ended up seeing several
Then one of the largest antelope there is....Elan
We learned all antelopes only have teeth on the bottom
Many lions, and 2 cubs...but these 2 big male brothers were just amazing. Not full grown with big black manes...but they're getting there...
Notice the blood stains under his chin....they had eaten recently...
A little lion hug....
We don't suggest messing with us....but we'll pose for a picture..
and....Wildebeest ....which will be a big part of The Great Migration we came to see...
It started to rain and get very cool, we were glad Simon had put some blankets in the Jeep.
With all the sides and top zipped down we decided to head back...can't see good thru all that.
Back at camp Denny and I headed to the lounge and I started some internetting and Mom iced down her foot and Shea waited for more Zebra to come down to the water, they can see from their deck..
Mom decided to skip coming to dinner and rest, Shea took her something back...the other 3 of us had a great dinner...rack of lamb was lovely. Time to head to bed, tomorrow we are heading out at 0630...taking a boxed breakfast and staying out intil around 11a....will be a great ride....
Slept great...cools off at night, they even put hot water bottles in bed for you...lovely
We decided to go for a long morning breakfast ride...so we started at 630a and didn't come back until almost noon...a long but amazing day.
Right away we saw 3 Cheetah...a bit far away, but Shea got a few pics...
We have learned that Cheetah's are the only cats that train their young to hunt. They will break the leg of a smaller animal, like a Dickey-Dic and let the cubs do the rest...if they can't ..they will break another leg...very interesting. Then once they can hunt the Mother walks away for good...no coming back home for these kitty-cats.
Sunrise was gorgeous...
Some opted for the $450 balloon ride....we think we'll skip that....but looks lovely...
Gazelle....Male...
Female...much smaller horns
A bit chilly in the mornings, but by the time we came back, down to one layer and no socks...warms up!!
We crossed Talek River...was a crazy ride...
We didn't seem to bother the ducks...
The morning lite on the river was nice..
This is truly Mother Nature at her best....carkasses everywhere
Hartebeest..........
and 3 babies....
More Yellow-billed Stork
Topi...used to be called Top Hill
Because they stand on the termite mounds and watch out for lions and other predators while the other eat...
Mongoose.....no snakes here........
We were headed to the Mara River to see part of the migration, but this hippo caught our eye...just walking along solo...
And then we saw it..the Wildebeest were running up to this cliff and running or jumping down and swimming like crazy...lot of rocks, swift running water, and crocs...swim boys swim...
Some would break their legs just from jumping....
Swim guys swim.....
The crocs are waiting..
Then once they got to the other side they'd run like crazy..
There were dead things everywhere...Simon told us many of them were from braking their legs or getting stuck in the rocks...
We saw a croc grab one, pull it under and hold it until it was dead...then drug it to the other side...it was truly an amazing site....we were on a cliff watching so a bit far away for some pics..but using binoculars it was amazing.
Time for a little breakfast break....we all had wonderful boxes and hot tea and coffee..
Lovely view for breakfast....
We'd been watching the hippos...and one was HUGE and doing lots of walking and swimming..Simon said it was because she was giving birth...how cool is THAT!!
See the baby's head...they never got out of the water...Simon said the baby's skin could not handle the sun for 1-2 days....so maybe we'll see it tomorrow..
More dead things....Mother Nature
We thought the Mara River should be renamed The Circle of Life River....
It was time to head back to the camp...hot and tired...
But of course we see things on the way back....
Saddle-billed Stork....see the yellow saddle
We noticed Zebra's have polka-dotted tails...not stripped....hummm...who knew...
We learned the White Egrets eats the insects off the Buffalo....and....
the Oxpecker eats the ticks off....how handy is that.....???
We also learned that the birds follow the Buffalo because when they walk they stir up the insects and make it easier for them to find and eat.
We rode home happy and tired....it was getting rather warm and we were all tired of bouncing...game rides are awesome but they can get rough. It's not as dusty here as Samburu, there are some lush tree lines, but it can get just as hot. Our tents don't have fans this time, so not much napping in the tents. Common areas are nice and have a good breeze....maybe a lounge chair by the pool. Whatever we decide, will be better than being in the office!!!
We decided a 6 hour ride is enough for today...we are taking the rest of the day to chill.
The power generator gets turned off soon..so time to post.
More to come.....
The evening ended with another wonderful dinner...we all got the beef and it was excellent. Was thinly sliced but cooked and seasoned perfectly.
Back to the tent for a shower and then fall into bed. It's like sleeping in wild kingdom....the night noises are so interesting. We'd love to know what's making all the different sounds. We had been told at this camp you could only get hot showers 530a-830a and 530p-830p...if you wanted a hot shower otherwise you had to let them know...well, Denny and I have found you can still get one after dinner just fine. Dinner is usually 730p-9ish depending on how many courses you each order....salad/soup/entree'/dessert/coffee/tea....portions are not huge thankfully so it does allow you to try more things....some good....some are one-bite experiments!! This camp has had better food...we'd been craving chocolate..this camp has done well with that...some good brownies and eclairs.
However, some good ole' M and M's will be wonderful!!!
No comments:
Post a Comment