Muellers in Kenya!: The Mara

We flew to the Masi Mara a week ago. We flew in a 28 passenger plane – small. We were the second stop on this adventure. We landed on a dirt strip! We were taken to our camp by Paul, who was to be our driver. They showed us our room – which was not what we expected. We were told that all “tents” were on the river. This tent was not near the river. Well we were told that the place was sold out and that there were no more tents available. In Kenya you learn never to accept the first argument. They moved us to the last tent on the premises with a small view of the river from far away (there were 30 in all). Next day they moved us to a tent right on the river – just like we had paid for.

We went for our first game drive and Paul left to go to the more expensive camp and turned us over to Reuben. Reuben was terrific. He was better than the driver we had on the last safari – and we thought he was good. We saw many amazing animals. He tried so hard to find us a leopard but couldn’t. We’ve only seen 4 of the big 5 (lion, rhino, elephant, cape buffalo and leopard).

We saw 5 cheetahs (3 males trying to woo two females). While we were watching them, the three males decided to go hunting. They saw a young zebra and took off. It was so interesting. The mother of a young zebra protected him, and kicked and kicked and got one of the cheetahs. As a matter of fact we saw him limping the next day. We saw a pride of lions, a herb of matting buffalos (probably at least 300), we saw a baby giraffe with its umbilical cord still attached. Reuben would tell all kinds of stories about these animals. We saw a cheetah mother with 6 cubs, and the next time we saw them, they had just killed a gazelle and were having dinner. We saw a baby elephant with its family. There was a hippo pool with some very large hippos in it.

The interesting thing about Reuben is that he is Masai, but never had the costume on or told us that he was. Not until he told us he was one of 14 and that his father had two wives (polygamy still happens in Kenya) did I ask if he was Masai. Lisa said you NEVER ask what tribe someone is!

We met a couple from Poland – not too friendly. And a couple from England that were very friendly. We crossed an Indiana Jones Bridge across a flowing river. The reason for the bridge was we had rain and the place where they generally cross was too deep and flowing too rapidly. So Reuben arranged to swap vehicles with a friend so we could see more.

The first night there, we had a terrible thunderstorm. I was awake wondering what to do if lightning struck our tent. Never did happen. The camp grounds were surrounded by an electric fence so that animals wouldn’t come in, but we did hear some in the night. You would see some of these Masai walking around at night. Mike said they were the security. One night we went to a slide show and there in costume was a Masai Warrior giving a power point presentation!!!!!!! We also saw them at the airstrip in the field with their cell phones!

When we left, we left in a 13 passenger plane. Really 12, with 13 being next to the pilot. Mike could have driven the plane, we were right behind the pilot. I had my Rosary handy. We had 3 stops at dirt strips before we headed back to Nairobi.

What an experience.

Cheetah.