Maasai Mara Day 1 Morning

Maasai Mara Day 1 Morning

Because it rained here yesterday, everything is fresh and green. We arrive at the Maasai Mara Serena lodge, which is large and spacious, with a lobby and outdoor terrace overlooking the Maasai Mara with spectacular scope. We head out, and see some resting Cape buffalo and a herd of Impala. 

We come to the Mara River, which is flowing quickly, and has some small rapids upstream of about 8 hippos. We hear them talking to each other a bit as they rise and sink in the water. Farther once see a huge herd of wildebeest which Joel says may be getting ready to cross the river. We creep toward the river and see a large, male lion in the bush. There is another male nearby, two guys hanging out until they find their chance to take over a pride. We turn toward the river and see about 6 hippos in the water, bobbing about. We see two Cape buffalo skulls, and our first carcass that is not actively being eaten, a dead wildebeest laying over a rock. Suddenly the other lion emerges from hiding the bush, and he joins the other, both posing perfectly for us, a thrilling sight. Joel thinks they have both eaten recently, as their bellies are bulging. In the far distance we see some Maasai giraffes, including two males who are fighting by whipping their necks around each other.

Farther on the road, we see a family of elephants in the distance Notre let, and two giraffes on the right. We draw closer to the elephants, a herd of 12 females and babies. One in the center is nursing, and after a while the mother turns around so the calf can nurse on the other side. Like primates, elephants have their breasts up near their front legs, so the mother moves her front leg toward for access, while most other animals have their breasts farther back. Joel points out a large female with two of her young, a very young calf and an adolescent; often families stay together like this. We see 5 adult females and 8 youngsters of various ages, and we’re very quiet, so they begin to head toward our area slowly. This fresh green grass seems to make them rather satisfied.

Then something amazing happens. The big female, the matriarch, starts to head toward us, munching along the way, two adolescents close by her. We are the only truck here, and we all become very quiet so we can actually hear them ripping the grass up to eat. They come closer and closer, until they are finally only about 15 feet away. Joel speaks about being accepted into their world, that they are comfortable coming so near us, and we can see into their eyes. This is a very special moment, something Joel says is quite exceptional, for elephants to come to us.

We continue on the road, and see a lone male Maasai giraffe, with his head down in a hole drinking. It looks like such an awkward position. We continue on to the Hippo Pool, where wee an astonishing 34 hippos, in the deep water and sunning I the shore. Two rhinos are quite close, just the other side of the river, buts toward us and punching each other. They are so close we can see the texture of their skin.




   


Cheers, Theresa Nelson